I took the upper level board off so I could work on the yard. I really like the idea of metal L channel to add support to the upper level it would also give me a place to mount the Masonite on the edges to make them look finished off . and also hide wires behind. so what I was working on is ballast for the yard. there are many companies out there that supply yard ballast. and in reading about he topic old yards are black oily places, never been to one. then I read where someone used a product called black beauty for there yard looked it up can't find it anywhere near me . but did find a product called black diamond basically the same as black beauty it's coal slag. and at $8.98 for 50 lb bag why not give it a try. I bought 2 bags yea 100 lb's 2 different grades fine and course. didn't know which one to get so got both. I have been using the course for what I did tonight. funny back story on it was as a kid I grew up in a small town in Il. named Coffeen my father working in the coal mine there and with all the coal slag everywhere I grew up basically playing in the stuff. there was a area just outside of town that it was mounded and people had made a motor cycle track through the woods using the slag mounds as jumps. we use to take our Bikes out there and jump our bikes on the slag mounds too. well My father and I were in the garage tonight talking about my latest purchase of the coal slag and I read on the bag manufacturing sites and there was about 6 one being coffeen Il. so the coal slag I am putting on my layout could be the same slag I played on as a kid 
doubtful but cool to think about.
