ON MLK DAY in honor of his I have a dream speech I worked on my Dream.
First I got a 5 gal bucket of ballast.
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Put it in the mixer to brake up any clumps.
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Add 4 of 5 heaping scoops of Portland Cement or Mortar/stucco mix to the mixer and let mix. Add color if it is too gray for you
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Prepare base and track.
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Using the scoop pour ballast from the 5 gal bucket to cover the track completely like this.
![Image]()
Custom made spreading tool
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Spread the ballast till the tracks are visible. I make it the width of the right of way. About one inch on each side of the track.
Put a level across the tracks and check for level. If there is a low spot. Rais the ties till the level reads level, Tapping on the brass rail all the time.
This will allow the ballast to sift down into the crack and crannies. Tap the track the whole length of the area you are ballasting.
![Image]()
In this close up you can see that some of the ballast has settle down into the ties.
![Image]()
With a paint brush or soft bristled brush, brush the excess ballast from inside and out side or the track. The inside excess ballast I brush/sweep towards the next section I am going to ballast.
The outside I brush away forming a berm on either side of the road right of way
At this point some of the ballast will settle down between the ties. If it seems to much then you can do touch up the same way.
![Image]()
Next I wet it with a gentle rain from the garden hose.
It will cause more settling.
If it appears that too much has settled for your liking you can touch it up later. Just wait for the ballast to dry before adding touch up
![Image]()
First I got a 5 gal bucket of ballast.
Put it in the mixer to brake up any clumps.
Add 4 of 5 heaping scoops of Portland Cement or Mortar/stucco mix to the mixer and let mix. Add color if it is too gray for you
Prepare base and track.
Using the scoop pour ballast from the 5 gal bucket to cover the track completely like this.
Custom made spreading tool
Spread the ballast till the tracks are visible. I make it the width of the right of way. About one inch on each side of the track.
Put a level across the tracks and check for level. If there is a low spot. Rais the ties till the level reads level, Tapping on the brass rail all the time.
This will allow the ballast to sift down into the crack and crannies. Tap the track the whole length of the area you are ballasting.
In this close up you can see that some of the ballast has settle down into the ties.
With a paint brush or soft bristled brush, brush the excess ballast from inside and out side or the track. The inside excess ballast I brush/sweep towards the next section I am going to ballast.
The outside I brush away forming a berm on either side of the road right of way
At this point some of the ballast will settle down between the ties. If it seems to much then you can do touch up the same way.
Next I wet it with a gentle rain from the garden hose.
It will cause more settling.
If it appears that too much has settled for your liking you can touch it up later. Just wait for the ballast to dry before adding touch up
