Ballast suggestions for UP ROW

[GaryHinshaw]

I found AZRM very disappointing to use. Smith and Sons is a far better product. Their Penn-Ohio #50 blend would be a good match. It might take a little more work to get,  but you won’t regret it. It is hands down the best ballast I have used.

Funny story: I was looking back through my email to see when I last purchased some S&S and it was Feb. 2020.  The thing I forgot is that I ordered it by sending an email to SmithandSonsBallast@yahoo.com.  A short while later I got a package in the mail with everything I asked for.   Hmm...  I hadn't paid for it yet and there was no invoice in the box.  I had to email Paul to see how much I owed him, and he replied with an amount and a mailing address I should send a check to.  Kind of like the country farm with fresh eggs in a hut by the roadside:  take how many you want and leave your money in the box.

I don't know if he's set up for other payment modes now.

[nkalanaga]

If you're modeling well-weathered track, and will be painting it anyway, you might try mortar sand.  I've used a lot for scenery base, but had my track ballasted before I found it.  It's almost perfectly sized, pre-washed (yes, there is a formal standard for mortar sand) and cheap.  I got mine from a masonry supply, probably 20 years ago, and the price then was $20.00 per ton, you haul.  I bought about a cardboard box full, maybe 3/4 of a cubic foot.  Based on NP hopper loading numbers, and some guestimating, we decided it was about 75 to 80 pounds, so a dollar covered it.  They had a scale - for weighing trucks!  I still have at least half of it.

For real ballast I used AR&M. simply because they were the only one with colors close to the GN/BN Essex Pit pink rock.