Ballasting you layout...thoughts?

[John from Indiana]

I look at my layout (I've been working on it over 20 years). The layout is an around the walls 15 x 24 foot layout and other than some ballast that I put under Joan's town (2 tunnels), I have not laid any ballast. I have tons of ballast waiting to be installed; but after a quick count, I have over 20 turnouts (and I seem to always want to add more). I know that ballast plays havoc with turnouts and it is a real bitch removing ballast to add a new turnout; so I am asking how many modelers have ballast on their tracks. I don't for the above reasons; but I can't be the only person.

 

[RhB Michael]

Ballasting is a PITA, but for realism, it has to be done. I hate it and I don't like doing it, but it's necessary.

You will never see a real railroad without ballasted track. It's what holds the sleepers in place.

 

[bnsf971]

Simply ballast the track, and stop before every turnout.

 

[Rico]

I’m slowly ballasting my turnouts when the mood hits.
I’ve done the real thing and can tell you it’s a pain as well!
You only need a little, like half way up the ties and use a pipette or eye dropper to apply the glue mix.

If you’re looking for a super easy method I have used metal duct tape on the bottom of the switch under the points then pressed the ballast in from the top, works pretty dang good!

 

[inkaneer]

First, I mark where the throw bar will be. Then I remove the cork that would be under the throw bar to prevent any glue migration from messing with the throw of the points. Next, I paint the sides of the ballast strip (I use cork) and sprinkle on some ballast keeping it nice and neat like what a well kept roadbed would be. I then allow it to dry overnight with the glue mixture becoming firm and holding everything in its place. I then do the area between the rails. Also, I have found that using ballast made from real rock is far better than the ground up walnut shells that Woodland Scenic sells. Real rock ballast will stay in place and will not float when the glue mixture is applied.

 

[Iron Horseman]

I look at my layout (I've been working on it over 20 years). The layout is an around the walls 15 x 24 foot layout and other than some ballast that I put under Joan's town (2 tunnels), I have not laid any ballast. I have tons of ballast waiting to be installed; but after a quick count, I have over 20 turnouts (and I seem to always want to add more). I know that ballast plays havoc with turnouts and it is a real bitch removing ballast to add a new turnout; so I am asking how many modelers have ballast on their tracks. I don't for the above reasons; but I can't be the only person.

My thoughts on ballast! GROAN. The one thing about model railroading I actually hate, followed closely by adding grab irons to HO models..

As the others have said, keep the glue and the ballast itself far away from turnout points and throw bars. I have dental picks to help remove stray grains. I use spray bottle of soapy water to get everything moist before I start gluing, otherwise the glue will make the ballast blob up and "roll" down the sides.

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

I need to ballast a number of areas on my layout, but I'm still trying to work the bugs out of a few sections, and the others I'm considering some possible changes.

 

[Espeefan]

If you want realism, you need two things. Painted track and ballast. Like it or not, there it is! In talking with guys at Model Railroader, those were the two top reasons a layout would be disqualified from a magazine appearance. You may not care about getting published, but the track work looks so much better!