FrenchChuffed
Registered
Hi i am just getting to the stage i need to lay track, i used a nice fine 4mm to 2 mm grey gravel in a trough with a weed supresent membrain, any ideas for a fine gravel except Hortiultural grit?
Balast again
- Thread starter FrenchChuffed
- Start date
Try finding some Priora stones, I'm looking out for some too, the are the small stones used for blocks work paving, driveways. They look about the right size, but I can't actually find any for sale!
Try Ced Stone West Thurrock 01708 867237 they do Rougeite Minichip. At 2-3mm this may do.
www.cedstone.co.uk
There is another crowd near Ipswich that appear to sell what I believe to be Stone that is used for Drives that is Bonded a bit like Clear Fibreglass. They do I think 4-6mm which is probably better but I have lost their link. Both would need to be glued with a 50/50 of Waterproof PVA with a drop or two of washing up liquid on pre wetted tamped Ballast. This will only work in Warm Weather otherwise it does not go off well.
Rougeite Aggregate | CED Ltd for all your Natural Stone
CED Ltd, supplier of calcinced flint aggregate, red and white in colour.
There is another crowd near Ipswich that appear to sell what I believe to be Stone that is used for Drives that is Bonded a bit like Clear Fibreglass. They do I think 4-6mm which is probably better but I have lost their link. Both would need to be glued with a 50/50 of Waterproof PVA with a drop or two of washing up liquid on pre wetted tamped Ballast. This will only work in Warm Weather otherwise it does not go off well.
Edit to above post, not suggesting that you buy the sample box but one or two options here.
resinbondedaggregates.com
Daltex Sample Box | Resin Bonded Aggregates
Our stunning Daltex sample box is now available to order. This robust 29cm x 29cm plastic display case containing 25 samples of our aggregate and selected blends, already bound in clear resin....
resinbondedaggregates.com
Northsider
Modelling the Northern half of the Isle of Man
Just be careful, some chicken grit is sold with pieces of crushed (brilliant white) shell in them. Not good for ballast! How do I know? ...it was years ago, and there are still traces along the line...
Fred Mills
Registered
Whenever a quarry provides "Crushed Stone" which is basically crushed limestone in various sizes, for road construction, and concrete mixes; the by-product is what is known as "Crusher fines, or stone dust".
This type of material has sharp edges, needed for the "interlocking" of the stones when used for ballast. "Chicken Grit" usually has rounded particles which does not interlock as well, and tends to run off easily.
The ballast used on real railway roadbed is formed of crushed stone with sharp edges, in larger sizes.
Surely there is a quarry within 20 miles of most places in Great Britain, that has an active crusher, because you guys do build and maintain roads, railways, and aerodrome runways.
All those crushers produce the crusher fines as a by-product, and often will give you a pail or three of the stuff for no charge...it is used also for laying interlocking stone patios, (Cobble stones) and pathways
The stone dust, if watered will often bond together when it dries, but will easily return to a loose state with agitation from a trowel.
Fred Mills
This type of material has sharp edges, needed for the "interlocking" of the stones when used for ballast. "Chicken Grit" usually has rounded particles which does not interlock as well, and tends to run off easily.
The ballast used on real railway roadbed is formed of crushed stone with sharp edges, in larger sizes.
Surely there is a quarry within 20 miles of most places in Great Britain, that has an active crusher, because you guys do build and maintain roads, railways, and aerodrome runways.
All those crushers produce the crusher fines as a by-product, and often will give you a pail or three of the stuff for no charge...it is used also for laying interlocking stone patios, (Cobble stones) and pathways
The stone dust, if watered will often bond together when it dries, but will easily return to a loose state with agitation from a trowel.
Fred Mills
FrenchChuffed
Registered
Thanks for the replies yes i think i had crushed stone on my track in France i purchased a ton of it (literally) i left a load there it was just too much with everything else to cart back.
FrenchChuffed
Registered
Try Ced Stone West Thurrock 01708 867237 they do Rougeite Minichip. At 2-3mm this may do.
Rougeite Aggregate | CED Ltd for all your Natural Stone
CED Ltd, supplier of calcinced flint aggregate, red and white in colour.
There is another crowd near Ipswich that appear to sell what I believe to be Stone that is used for Drives that is Bonded a bit like Clear Fibreglass. They do I think 4-6mm which is probably better but I have lost their link. Both would need to be glued with a 50/50 of Waterproof PVA with a drop or two of washing up liquid on pre wetted tamped Ballast. This will only work in Warm Weather otherwise it does not go off well.
I just lose laid my grit in France and never had any problems but it was a large layout.
Northsider
Modelling the Northern half of the Isle of Man
I think you are in danger of touching a raw nerve there, Fred! Road maintenance is a hot potato this side of the pond.
England's local roads resurfaced once every 92 years
The Transport Committee launches an inquiry into the condition of England's local roads
www.motoringresearch.com
FrenchChuffed
Registered
Well that’s another story...
Unfortunately Fred, whilst there's lots of quarries local to me, they're all sand and gravel or chalk, no scrapings available
I have been for a while looking at doing a long Journey to either Essex or Suffolk to look at varying Ballast Offerings before buying. But yesterday in Aldi they were offering Perlite and Vermiculite in good sized bags. As these are Brown and White respectively I am going to mix them to see how they fare for Ballast. The size is about right up to roughly 5-6mm so may just be what I am looking for to freshen up the existing and do unballasted sections. If all fails they will come in for use in other Gardening Projects.
Mine will be held down with a slip of 50/50 Water PVA so be interesting to see what happens when I do the business, perhaps I should experiment today.
Demiel1910
Tramway Demiel 1910 en France
cat litter! perfect
Fred Mills
Registered
Cat litter is basically clay, and when it gets wet is just like mud. You might use it indoors, but it will NOT make good ballast, out in the real World. Vermiculite is not good for ballast...but it does make a good load for a hopper car...
Fred Mills
Fred Mills
Demiel1910
Tramway Demiel 1910 en France
Iguess it depends on the cat litter.I've used it for the last 7years with no probs
Greg Elmassian
Guest
All cat litter is not clay, but they are all designed to absorb moisture (except the plastic stuff in my automated litter box)... it would worry me to have anything that would absorb moisture, because it would stand to reason it would give off that moisture later...
Demiel, do you saturate it with some kind of glue?
Greg
Demiel, do you saturate it with some kind of glue?
Greg
If it absorbs water it will expand, that could cause problems too