Ballast

What do people use and where do you get it from?

In France getting scale ballast seems a problem. None of the garden centres I have ever visited seem to know anything about 'horticutural' or 'alpine' grit.

The DIY stores or builder's merchants don't seem interested in anything smaller than about 10mm.

I had until last year used 'sable de loire' which is like large sand 2.5-3.5mm available for aquariums. I could at one time get this locally in 15kg bags but the price has gone silly now.

I have found a place up north near Lens that sells it for 6.90€ for 25kg. but the delivery cost is more than the product and as yet you can't collect.


Sable Loire

I have found another place which is a large commercial aggregate company and will supply 25kg sacks of granulat and deliver by the tonne.

Carrieres Roy

They are down in Deux Sevres...Geoff's neck of the woods.

Again delivery to Paris is cost prohibitive.

I need to get some this summer as the birds have stolen large patches of mine!

Hi Carl

We have a sand /gravel quarry near us and I believe you can order pretty much the spec you want. We were investigating them for sand for an exercise area for Zelda (the horse).

What is the optimum spec 3mm ??

Let me know and I'll see if it's possible to get a few bags. How much do you need? I could get a double quantity and bring it to Geoff's in July if that's not too late for you?

Cheers Brian

I need some ballast as well and have been unable to find anything suitable in my neck of the woods.
I will have a more thourough search around in April when we get back to France.

Thanks Brain.

3mm is about the ideal maximum.

To be fair I would need about 100kg.

I'm going to try another couple of ideas my end first regarding delivery. If it is unsuccessful I will let you know and then maybe I'll hire a bigger van in July and collect some ballast that way.

Carl ,Brian can get gravillon from the local builders merchant here in Le Dorat,but its between 10 to 15 mm.I`m not to bothered about scale as long as it looks right,but in this case I`ve tried some round a lenght of track and it do`sent look right.I have to add a caveat here and say that sometimes when I expect to get home in two weeks I sometimes end up being away up to two months.But if you would like a few bags of grit picking up in England and your not in a hurry give me a shout.I`ll try and post a pic of track and gravel in Carls ballast thread.

I've used the gravel called "6-12" (size in mm) - it's rounded so not perfect, but looks all right: got it from 3Ms in Ruffec: take a dustbin (but remember to fill it inside the car - not liftable once (half) full! I'm in France April 5-18, so call/PM folks and I'll do the same...

Phil

Thanks again chaps for the offers.

I have merged some posts from Brian's railway thread.

I wouldn't mind a couple of bags of horticultural grit from England when and if you can please.

I don't want to use larger stuff than about 3 or 4 mm for track ballast as that is what I have lready and much of its is PVA glued down.

I will be in England next Sunday then having a couple of days off while the Volvo is in the worksop for its MOT.Will visit a few garden centres and let you know whats available.

Hi Van

If you're anywhere near Essex and still after a "Steamy" you might be interested in this ...

http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=370175294972

Collection only !!!

Brian

Hi Brian
It would not be my first choice of loco good as the Edrig is reported to be,I prefer 0-6-0 and I`m a bit wary of buying S/H for my first steamy.Having said all that I`ve just placed a bid of £255.00 and it has not reached reserve so will let that one go

Thanks Van

As I think I have said somewhere else, I have a quarry near Redon that has all sizes of grit / gravel. I went to get some 6mm but on seeing the various piles (no mountains of grit) they had I got 1,000 kg of 2 /3mm it is a bit grey but looks quite good. As someone said transport can be a problem but I could bring a few small bags down in July if required.

2 to 3mm sounds just about right for my line, I must get the track ballasted this year.
By the way Peter, I have a surplus coaling stage and crane if you would like it?
I will bring it out to France in April if you could use it.

GeoffW wrote:

2 to 3mm sounds just about right for my line, I must get the track ballasted this year.
By the way Peter, I have a surplus coaling stage and crane if you would like it?
I will bring it out to France in April if you could use it.

Looks like that is a request for some ballast.

I simply wanted to know if you want the crane and coal dock, it was from a Pola kit I think.
I will bring it out to FR in case you do

Sorry Geoff, my poor sense of humour. I blame The GOON show, Round the Horn, The Navy Lark, and the Goodies, who made one of their Christmas shows partly in the village I lived in in Dorset.

The kit would be great.Thanks.

No problem at all Peter.

Looks like Peter has solved the ballast problem.I`ve found a garden centre near Wakefield selling3 to 6mm alpine grit at 4 sacks for £10.00.Eack sack covers a square metre at 5mm depth.The girt is a dirty brown and dark yellow colour and rounded as if its been put through some sort of grinding machine.Peters seems a better proposition but if anyone would like me to bring some sacks along to the July get together,then please let me know.

I think we'll be alright now Van with the ballast. Thanks for looking though. If you've already bought some I have it but don't buy any specially.

Hey what's with this Lawley then.....

No have not bought any yet,Peters sounds to be the better bet.Although not laying track until next year theres no rush for ballast.Got the Lawley last Wednesday,plus I bought some rollers of zman on G scale.But and theres always abut,whilst collecting some track I had bought some weeks back,the seller mentioned he had a live steam loco to sell.This the day after I bought the Lawley,its a Pearse Lew a 2-6-2 tank loco with single channel RC .Apart from some play in one of the wheels it appears sound.Asking price is £500.If I had not bought the Lawley I would have been sorely tempted.
Anyway Sue and I will be at Geoffs in July with L plates on the Lawley.

Hello,

I found several places for the ballast, they might be interesting.

Here the link to the page with all the "gravier" :

http://lci-pierres.net/ListeProduits.php?type=Famille&ID=21

They have 3 wharehouses

- Sargé sur Braye (Vendôme)
- Pontault combault (Seine et marne, east of Paris)
- Parcay-Meslay (Tours)

The other one is in Swizterland

http://www.luginbuhl.ch/graviers_laves.htm


No price but lot's of choice for the first one.

Well done Laurent....Excellent....They have exactly what I want, sable de loire foncé 1/3mm

Why didn't you tell me before there was a place at Pontault Combault....That's just up the road from me (us).

Je croix que nous rendrons une petite visite ensemble avec des seaux et des pelles.

Drat, the locations are a bit far from me!

GeoffW wrote:

Drat, the locations are a bit far from me!

I have the same problem Geoff.

Shame as it looks like a fantastic range!

Brian

Well done Laurent...

I visited LCI at Pontault Combault this afternoon and although they don't keep vasts stocks they can order for 7-10 days.
So I ordered 75 kilos of Sable de Loire at 14.75€ per 25kg sac. I need about 50kgs to completely reballast the 'main line'.

Once the man realised what it was for he was very interested and helpful and even suggested alternatives.

But as my line already uses this 'gravel' I shall continue with it especially as at 3-4mm it represents scale ballast in size, colour and form.

[quote="carl hibbs"]Well done Laurent...

.
So I ordered 75 kilos of Sable de Loire at 14.75€ per 25kg sac.
.

Ouch @ 14.75 per 25kgs
Carl I take it you don`t originate from Yorkshire then