Ballast.....What are folks using.....

My tubular track is supplemented by rubber ties. I have chosen not to ballast between the rails, at least, not yet. However all my space between tracks and general railroad property space is being covered with chicken grit. I think its a little large for use as ballast, but its fine for industrial / railroad ground cover. This grit costs 6 bucks for 7 pounds at the local rural big box store. 

I used stone dust from the same rock crushing plant that CSX used to get their ballast from. Took it home, hosed it off outside in a colander, picked out any big stones, baked it a hot oven in throw away aluminum pans (to kill any wee beasties), screened it down to size in a homemade sifting box, ended up with about 100 coffee cans for a little work and a $10 tip to the yard foreman at the crushing plant. About as prototypical and authentic as you can get.

This is what I was looking at. Tractor Supply sells it for $7 for a five-pound bag.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/...it-5-lb?cm_vc=-10005

the old standby, kitty litter, cheap, plain gray, looks great

Matt, you'll be pleased with the grit. Here's a pic of an area on my layout using grit. Note that this size is called "starter granules" for smaller chicks. It comes in several sizes, some which is too large, starter grit is perfect...

Last week I attended an operating session at a huge 2-rail scale layout.  It is modeled after the Milwaukee Road in Northeast Iowa.  He used regular garden sand available at home improvement stores and it is cheap.  It looked like the tracks that I see other than the BNSF or UP mainlines.  So, I applied it to my branchline that runs along side my river valley tonight and will see what i think of it when it's dry in the morning.  I want that to look older, small rail, and less used.

By the way, the layout that I was at has over 8000 feet of track  and over 300 hand laid switches all #8 and #10's.  Fabulous layout and I can see why he chose an affordable option, but it looked really good to me.  I'll post a picture tomorrow after it's dry.

Art

Here is Dennis Brennan's Main Line Ballast...

We've used chick starter/grit for our layouts and continue to do so. Cheap and looks as good as any 'commercial' ballast I've seen...

Here's what I'm using and I'm satisfied with the result.   Isn't that what really matters?

As an added bonus, it's from Scenic Express, one of our sponsors!

Chief Bob (Retired)

T4TT posted:

Here is Dennis Brennan's Main Line Ballast...

What color paint do you use to weather your track? It looks so realistic! Sorry to get off topic. Thanks.

Something a little different.  The Fort Pitt Highrailers use a rubber crum landscape material. 

Brummy's landscape.   Here is a link to their website.  Their Facebook page indicates they  advertise with OGR Magazine.

A sample

Used on these modules with other landscape materials.

Steve24944 posted:

I use a coarse sand from large ant hills found here in Western Colorado.  The Ants are great at sorting.  I scoop up the sand into buckets and take it home and run it through a kitchen sifter to get rid if the fine stuff and pick out the pieces that look too big.  When ballasting the track I use tweezers to pick out the junk that doesn't look good.  Use a brushes to shape the ballast between the ties and along the side of the track.  Next spray on a water/isopropyl alcohol mix, then using a medicine dropper apply water/white glue mix.    Don't have a picture of an ant hill but here are pictures of my ballast in place on my Layout.

I love this solution!

One can always search around and find a cheaper alternative.  However, the idea that commercial ballast is too expensive is not true in comparison to other train related purchases.

To put it in perspective, a 5 pound bag of my ballast will cover 22 feet of Atlas O or GarGraves track.  And, I can fit 5 bags of my ballast in a USPS Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate box for 13.95 shipping.  So, 25 pounds of Brennan’s Better Ballast (if you need that much) is about equal to the cost of a Lionel , MTH or Atlas O boxcar, or even less than a Menards or Woodland Scenics pre-built kit .  Remember, ballast is a limited expense. In the grand scheme of things, you will purchase many more train cars or buildings.  And, even on the largest layout, using 10 or more bags of ballast, the cost will be less than the cost of a mid range steam engine. And if your layout is that big, I offer a discount on 10 or more bags.

The point is, I have many satisfied customers and I don’t expect to get everyone’s ballast business. But, before you make a decision on a major scenic element of your layout, don’t base it solely on a misguided sense of economy.

While I have not seen your product, others have said it is great stuff. Cost was ONE factor in my choice.  Getting it local was one. Seeing it before I buy was another.  Combine that with a very limited budget today and that helps make my choice. 

I went with the chicken and chick grit because I was able to buy it 7 miles from my house. Walmart is 50 miles away so anything that close is a good thing if I need more (I will). And a total outlay of under $15 for over 50 pounds.  I hope you can see my side too. 

Any way......I did get one cup each of chicken and chick grit out of the bags, different sizes of grit, and I think this will work out fine for me. The great thing about this hobby is so many options!!

Thanks! 

AMCDAVE, I understand completely. Like I said, I don't expect to get everyone's business. I simply want to present a different perspective.

Starting to rebuild my  hi rail RR  after moving it last year to my new house - what a nightmare but that's another story - used Brennan's main line and yard ballast previously with MTH Realtrax - great stuff - this time I will use it with wooden ties on  Menard's tubular track and  and will send some pictures - Dennis is a very nice guy!

Brennan's Better Ballast...

I  have used Woodland Scenic but changed to Brennan's. Price, How easy it is to remove if I changed track locations (did several times), and appearance are the three big reasons. In hindsight I would have bought it in 5 gal buckets if he had it. I purchased 5 USPS Priority boxes and that was when I was 2/3 done ballasting. Used it all except for 1/2 bag and loved it.

I have used Brennan's ballast.  He is great to deal with, very helpful.  The  delivery was fast and reasonable shipping cost.   Highly recommend.

Marty