Model Railroading > Ballasting track in the great outdoors

We have tried numerous methods of speading rock ballast on outdoor 7.5" gauge track, from filling various cars and then
shoveling rock out of gons, shoveling rock out of hoppers with hinged end doors, dropping rock on the track with
front end loader in places where one can spot the bucket properly, but all require expertise on the business end
of an old fashioned shovel.  

The track owner has some hoppers with bottom chutes but was told when he bought them that their usefulness
was futile, like talking to a wooden indian.  Well, being the enterprising man he is, he decided to find out why, fix them
up, and use as they were intended.

First up is two black hoppers, one seen here, with center opening doors on the bottom.  We drive the train to the work spot,
uncouple the hopper(s), and manually push the car over the track needing rock.  One opens the bottom door and pushes the
car across the track dropping rock between the rails.  Trying to do with with an operating locomotive results in uneven distribution,
as the speed of the car needs to be constantly adjusted.  This spot will require two passes.

Then Texas Mexican hopper has side chutes only, left and right.  We usually run the car with one side chute open, then make
another pass with the opposite chute open, as seen here on a different car with side chutes (and extra capacity bin).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/19 19:08 by WrongWayMurphy.

---

---

---

Here is the result after middle and sides properly dumped.  Nary a shovel has been used yet.

There is still manual labor ahead.  The rock must be tamped and leveled, and tamped and leveled again
with a little more rock being added each time.
 

---

---

---

Here is the help going to get more rock to be loaded into the cars, via a tractor with front end loader.

I'll be back Wednesday to do some of the aforementioned tamping.

---

Stupid question, but where is this?

Private track in East Texas.

That looks like work to me.  Hopefully happy work.

Do you have a tank car full of Elmer’s Glue to hold it all in place?

SeaboardMan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That looks like work to me.  Hopefully happy
> work.

I always  say, "1/8th scale is real rocks, real dirt and real work."  The plus side, no glue required.

But, towels are a good thing to have.

I love it. Beautiful work and I love the trees. Very realistic!!!

tomstp Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> But, towels are a good thing to have.
Yes they have them ready to wipe any dirt off of the rock I see that load wont need any cleaning, LOL. They do a wonderful job on there track and pushing cars is the best way to control it unless you can have an engine which will creep.  LOOKING GOOD hope to visit one day in the coming years. Boyd in Chiloquin where all are track is white right now.

Noop, for sweat!

And where do you find a giant Brite Boy to clean the glue residue off the tops of the rails?

John Acosta
Palm Springs, CA

Not this time of year, 72 degF and low humidity in winter


tomstp Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Noop, for sweat!