Railroad Guide

Choose ballast by the prototype, territory, and kind of track you are modeling.

Modern East

Norfolk Southern & CSX

Start with 1333 Bright Gray for cleaner modern mainline track. Use 1553 Louisville where medium gray and tan limestone fits Kentucky territory.

See eastern products →

Appalachian

B&O, CSX & Industrial East

Use 1543 Baltimore & Maryland for warm gray and buff stone. Darken yards with 2013 Rail Yard or 1513 Pit Run.

See Appalachian choices →

Western Mainline

BNSF, Santa Fe & UPRR

Use 1503 near St. Louis and Midwest routes, 4003 Desert Plum for Southwest Chief territory, or 5003 Cactus Berry for warmer desert color.

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Northern Routes

Great Northern & Empire Builder

1153 Empire Builder Basalt gives a dark gray mountain-mainline appearance that also works for heavy modern traffic.

See northern choices →

Narrow Gauge

Cumbres & Toltec / Rio Grande

1093 uses warm tan decomposed-granite color for Southwestern mountain scenes, sidings, and narrow-gauge territory.

See Cumbres products →

Industry & Mining

Yards, Ore Country & Branches

Use 1513 Pit Run, 1523 Stamp Sand, or 2013 Rail Yard where clean mainline stone would look too new.

See yard products →

A useful rule

Match the main line first, then vary the secondary track.

The main line establishes the railroad’s territory. Sidings can use older, dirtier material. Engine facilities and industrial spurs can be darker still, with cinders, coal, oil staining, weeds, and exposed dirt.

Main line: cleaner and more uniform.
Passing siding: similar color, more weathered.
Yard: mixed stone, dirt, and darker staining.
Industry: local material, coal, cinders, and weeds.

O gauge coal hopper in an industrial railroad scene