First diorama....Opinions wanted

[Patrick]

Nicely done diorama.

Another thing to consider on the rails Sherrel posted is the some of the rusty ballast may come off the railcars as well.

 

[Rico]

Yes wet rail cars do spray rust as the wheels spin, my hirail used to get covered!

 

[GeeTee]

Yes wet rail cars do spray rust as the wheels spin, my hirail used to get covered!

Apparently rust covered tracks were not uncommon in the Great Lakes region all the way to the smelters , the rust was from the taconite pellets being hauled in hoppers .I would imagine a good rain storm would wash the dust out of the hoppers and on to the tracks .

 

[GeeTee]

Not that i can determine ... Track is used enough that the tops of both sets of rails are shiny.
It looks to me like a combination of rust and Texas red clay mud from the track pulsating as the cars go over the crossing.

I doubt that its mud the tracks are to well ballasted and well kept. I suspect its from the cargo . It all depends on where it was taken.