East Suffolk light railway (now relocated in Essex innit)

[Gizzy]

Good to see your progress Edward....

 

[mmts]

So this area was never used to its full potential and a glut of extra track lead to some ponderings.....

 

[mmts]

Track removal guys don’t hang around........

 

[mmts]

And the ballast was soon cleared away pending reuse......

 

[mmts]

Now for the relaying of track.......
first the main running line next to the mountain
Then the passing loop leading to the roundy roundy and engine shed
And the head shunt for stabling or truck storage

 

[mmts]

Which might lead to a rejoining in a return loop as pointed out by Mr Parbury........ but that’ll be another days ponderings

 

[Paul M]

Which might lead to a rejoining in a return loop as pointed out by Mr Parbury........ but that’ll be another days ponderings
View attachment 279122

Go on, you know you want to!

 

[mmts]

Which just leaves re wiring the points in their trunking and ballasting for next weekends work party

 

[dunnyrail]

Think I may have asked this one before, what are you using

And the ballast was soon cleared away pending reuse......View attachment 279118

Have asked this one before, what are you using for ballast please? Grit size and where you sourced it would also be helpful. Have run out of the stuff that my mate sourced somewhere in Essex and sadly cant find where as he has now passed away.

 

[JimmyB]

Think I may have asked this one before, what are you using

Have asked this one before, what are you using for ballast please? Grit size and where you sourced it would also be helpful. Have run out of the stuff that my mate sourced somewhere in Essex and sadly cant find where as he has now passed away.

Jon, I use horticultural grit in large bags from Blue Diamond (was Weydale) Garden Centre

 

[dunnyrail]

Jon, I use horticultural grit in large bags from Blue Diamond (was Weydale) Garden Centre

Thanks Jimmy, but this is way too big for me grit size I am looking for is EDIT 2-3 mm is what I need (2-5mm). Have had this before it was from a Coy that made roofing felt. Have found some decent sized stuff but colour is all wrong, what I want needs to be granite grey.

 

[JimmyB]

Thanks Jimmy, but this is way too big for me grit size I am looking for is 2-5mm. Have had this before it was from a Coy that made roofing felt. Have found some decent sized stuff but colour is all wrong, what I want needs to be granite grey.

Jon, max size is supposedly 4 mm!!

 

[dunnyrail]

Jon, max size is supposedly 4 mm!!

Hm may give it a worl, Coton Orchard near US Cemetary?

 

[JimmyB]

Hm may give it a worl, Coton Orchard near US Cemetary?

Jon, as with all these products they do seem to vary, but the batch I have, I am quite content, a little over scale (maybe) but actually works as ballast. My original source was depleted, photo below (just taken) shows the size (it is the white/grey grit).

 

[dunnyrail]

Jon, as with all these products they do seem to vary, but the batch I have, I am quite content, a little over scale (maybe) but actually works as ballast. My original source was depleted, photo below (just taken) shows the size (it is the white/grey grit).

View attachment 279209

Yes something like 50% of that is oversized for my needs and the colour well wrong. This is what I am looking for:-

as you can see it is predominantly grey except for the bit top left which is a type of fowl grit, perfect for size but wrong colour and too rounded. Have posted about then fowl stuff in the past, ballast is a real pain getting the right stuff in the right quantities and correct grey colour. It is out there somewhere and I think that Paul has managed to source it.

 

[dunnyrail]

2-3 mm is what I need, have gor some Rougiete samples from Thurrock Stone which is the right size and suitably rough but wrong colour of pinks and whites!

 

[beavercreek]

If you need a darker grey then 2mm - 3mm granite will be the stuff.
I get mine from a place outside Ipswich BM Concrete Back Road, Kirton Suffolk

 

[dunnyrail]

If you need a darker grey then 2mm - 3mm granite will be the stuff.
I get mine from a place outside Ipswich BM Concrete Back Road, Kirton Suffolk

View attachment 279229

Beaver you are a life saver, think you have mentioned this lot before and I lost the gen. Thanks, will need to do a trip along the A14 when I am allowed.

 

[mmts]

My ballast is joint filling aggregate available where I work and always available

 

[mmts]

Points have been wired up and tested as working so now there’s no reason to climb up on the railway to change points!!! Reballasting will have to wait for a window in the schedule as I’m busy for a while now