What came first, the chicken or the egg?

[John from Indiana]

I have never gotten far enough on any layout to lay ballast. I think it is high time I put some down for realism. Question: what comes first, the dirt leading up to the track or the ballast on the track and then dirt and vegetation? Seems like a haphazard mess either way. I tried ballasting a small section a while back and I had a lead foot on the gas pedal...way too much ballast. Anyone know of a good video on ballasting a turnout also?...thanks

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Just like the real railroads. The dirt was there first.
If you ballast first then paint your scenery in, it will overlap the ballast with scenery colored ballast.

 

[PMW]

Just like the real railroads. The dirt was there first.

This is true of course and was the way I first tried it but I found it easier to glue ballast to the shoulder of the roadbed before other scenery near the tracks. I'm satisfied with my results but that's just me

 

[santafewillie]

On the prototype, the landscape came first. On my layout, I paint all of the plywood an earth color before putting anything down except roadbed and track. I ballast next and finally add the ground cover. I don't "paint your scenery in", I just butt it up to the ballast and in places I overlap. When painting the plywood, I mostly paint even where I intend to put roads and structures, just to make it easy for me. I might change my mind before making the final structure planting.

 

[AstroKnight187]

I have never gotten far enough on any layout to lay ballast. I think it is high time I put some down for realism. Question: what comes first, the dirt leading up to the track or the ballast on the track and then dirt and vegetation? Seems like a haphazard mess either way. I tried ballasting a small section a while back and I had a lead foot on the gas pedal...way too much ballast. Anyone know of a good video on ballasting a turnout also?...thanks

Ballast always goes on last. The roadbed should go on before any scenery is started

 

[bcp]

Ballast is for those rich railroads. The rest of us use dirt.

Bruce

 

[RhB Michael]

Roadbed, track, scenery, ballast, catenary.

 

[CambriaArea51]

After putting down the cork I put down some scenery grasses, then paint the cork gray so no brown shows through the ballast. Track and weather the track with rust on the rail face and rustoleum weathered roof for the ties.
https://www.rustoleum.com/product-c...erosol-roofing-solutions/roof-accessory-paint

Then the ballast. Sorry the only examples I have.

 

[John from Indiana]

After putting down the cork I put down some scenery grasses, then paint the cork gray so no brown shows through the ballast. Track and weather the track with rust on the rail face and rustoleum weathered roof for the ties.
https://www.rustoleum.com/product-c...erosol-roofing-solutions/roof-accessory-paint

I use Rustoleum Earth Brown for spraying my track. I like the color and it ready available at all stores here

 

[Toolbelt]

Ballast is put down loose, then glued into place. Scenery is a process of putting the glue where you want the scenery. I would think it's easier to control where you put the glue to determine the scenery edge after the ballast is already in. If there's no glue, it's easier to remove any scenic overspill using a vacuum. It's more difficult to remove misplaced loose ballast if it's run into some grassy areas. At least that's my plan anyways.