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Ballast question

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kcsivils

May 11, 2017 05:30PM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 735

Please forgive my ignorance on the topic.

From what I can gather, ballast serves several functions. It allows for drainage, supports the track structure and holds the track structure relatively stationary (or at least it should).

Evidently, crushed rock, if available and affordable, makes the best ballast.

Railroads have used:

scoria
gravel
dirt
cinders
other?

What makes crushed rock superior to the other forms of ballast?

Other than available at the location and cost, what led to the selection of the type of ballast used?

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Subject	Author	Posted
Ballast question	kcsivils	May 11, 2017 05:30PM
Re: Ballast question	Chris Walker	May 11, 2017 05:32PM
Re: Ballast question	Brian Norden	May 11, 2017 07:53PM
Re: Ballast question	narrowgaugejoe10	May 12, 2017 04:41AM
Re: Ballast question	Colorado76	May 11, 2017 06:09PM
Re: Ballast question	narrowgaugejoe10	May 11, 2017 06:50PM
Re: Ballast question	nedsn3	May 12, 2017 08:49AM
Re: Ballast question	Tomstp	May 12, 2017 03:04PM
Re: Ballast question	jim pallow	May 12, 2017 06:16PM

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