Mysterious effect of weedkiller on LGB rail!

Eaglecliff

Eaglecliff

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A month or two ago I bought some "organic" weedkiller spray to curb the trackwards enthusiasm of my New Zealand bur and "Mind your own business" (aka Baby's Tears, Helxine, &c.) It worked well the first time I used it with no ill effects. Yesterday I used it again, and overnight (it rained) the rails have turned pale blue where the spray hit them! Any ideas what's going on???
 
I guess the weed killer must have sulpher in it and it is reacting with the copper in the brass to make copper sulphate.
 
Yes Sulphur and salt are the usual ingredients in "Natural" herbicides.....
Glyphosate ( round up etc.) is as good as the natural herbicides as soon as it hits "earth" it neutralises itself and only works on the green bits on the plants as well.
 
See what happens when you try to go organic? :thinking: No good deed goes unpunished. :rolleyes:
 
funandtrains said:
I guess the weed killer must have sulpher in it and it is reacting with the copper in the brass to make copper sulphate.
Click to expand...

Well that answers a puzzle for me - I have some track with the same effect! I couldn't think what I'd used in the vicinity of that part of the line to cause it.
 
Never thought of CuSO4 as being organic! Anyway, the blue stuff wipes straight off. Looks pretty, though... Didn't the Irish use it to make "blue stone poteen" before they invented Guiness?
 
I think I've suggested it on here before, but the DMA (Domestic Management Authority, aka SWMBO) here uses large jars of cheap white vinegar as a very effective and safe weedkiller - bung it in a watering can and spread it (undiluted) all over the paths/driveway, works a treat, the only downside being the place smells like the local Chippy for a couple of days.

Jon.
 
Does that work on moss though Jon?

I've got too much of the bloomin stuff! Moss killer works, and hasn't effected the track (touch wood - yet), but doesn't last that long with our wet summer. I'm not so fussed about the nice fluffy stuff, it's the wierd flat one that grows under my ballast I'm worried about - plus it's good to remove it from near the track feeds and pointwork to minimise any risk of continuity issues...
 
Don't know, James - haven't tried it on moss, just on all the little nasties that spring up between the block pavers on the drive.

Jon.
 
I swear by Patio Magic.......
.........***!!*! I've run out again...... :laugh:

It really does work and keeps moss and algae away for about 6 months. I spray all of the rock around, and lining, the railway as they are slate, limestone or sandstone and are prone to going a bit 'green' in places if not treated. I also spray the track to get rid of moss if I have neglected an area. In fact it turns the moss a light 'reddy' brown, with faded small stems, which suits how I would like the track bed to appear where it has that 'neglected' look. I also use it where I have used small grade lmestone aggregate for the ballast to keep that clean looking.
We have a lot of cotswold chippings as part of the garden hard-landscaping and I give them a spray twice a year to keep them nice and 'buff'.
 
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