Cinder Ballast

[garethashenden]

I need cinder ballast to match my prototype. What are the best options out there for fine cinder ballast?

[Wolf N Works]

I use from Arizona Rock and Mineral

https://www.armballast.com/product/1031-2023-lbs/ and like it.

[Erik W]

I also used the Arizona Rock and Mineral cinder ballast, as well as the old Highball ballast.  Both are made from real rock/cinder, so look good and are easy to work with.

Erik

[mu26aeh]

Scenic express also has a fine cinders available

[robert3985]

I've used both Highball and Arizona Rock & Minerals Cinder Ballast to good effect.

I do screen them before using to get rid of both large rocks and smaller rocks, along with a lot of dust.  Too much dust makes your ballast resemble concrete.

Photo (1) - Here's Highball Cinder Ballast on my hand-laid Code40 Park City Branch trackage:


Photo (2) - Here's Arizona Rock & Mineral Cinder Ballast I used on my late friend Nate Goodman's Branchline Yard and on his Branchline:


Since Highball Ballast isn't in business any longer, Arizona Rock & Minerals works just as well.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Tad_T]

I've used both Highball and Arizona Rock & Minerals Cinder Ballast to good effect.

I do screen them before using to get rid of both large rocks and smaller rocks, along with a lot of dust.  Too much dust makes your ballast resemble concrete.

Since Highball Ballast isn't in business any longer, Arizona Rock & Minerals works just as well.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

What size screen do you use?

What percentage of the material typically passes your screening?

Thanks,

Tad

[Erik W]

Bob,  that looks a lot like my Highball cinder ballast.  This was done close to 20 years ago (Atlas #7 turnout with SPDT slide switch manual throw and power to frog), so I hadn't remembered if it was Highball or Arizona Rock and Mineral.



Erik

[robert3985]

What size screen do you use?

What percentage of the material typically passes your screening?

Thanks,

Tad

@Tad_T - Tad, here's a link that will tell you everything you need to know about what size screen to use and how to use it, as well as prototype ballast rock size: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58219.0

In my experience, the screens I use give me about 85% of the total amount of un-screened ballast I put through my grading setup, most of the excess being smaller rocks and dust.  BUT, I don't remember exactly the type of screens I used it's been so long ago. 

I save both the larger stones and the dust for using in various other scenic applications, such as using the dust to make game trails on my desert scenery.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Tad_T]

Thank you, sir!

Tad

[chuck geiger]

[Chris333]

My cinders came from the P&LE's Gorilla yard in Youngstown.