Why are there little stones in between the railway tracks?

Ricochet J · 5 Oct 2008 at 20:00

This has always intrigued me

Does it serve any purpose?

Blackvault · 5 Oct 2008 at 20:01

It's called ballast and it weights the sleepers down to the ground to prevent the tracks from moving about.

Blackvault

gumbald · 5 Oct 2008 at 20:02

They're special absorbant stones for your excrement.

Streeteh · 5 Oct 2008 at 20:02

I've always assumed its to stop plants growing, much like shingle is put on flower beds to stop weeds.

[EDIT] Read Blackvault above, apparently i'm wrong.

Gideon Lorr · 5 Oct 2008 at 20:02

To reduce the vibrations from passing trains I believe.

int · 5 Oct 2008 at 20:03

All train tracks are built where rivers once ran, the stones are leftover sediment.

Blackvault · 5 Oct 2008 at 20:03

Streeteh said:
I've always assumed its to stop plants growing, much like shingle is put on flower beds to stop weeds.

[EDIT] Read Blackvault above, apparently i'm wrong.

Yes that's another one of its properties as well as acting as drainage too.

Blackvault

friddela · 5 Oct 2008 at 20:04

http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/ask/anything-everything/302

Rebelius · 5 Oct 2008 at 20:25

so that piggy can pick them up?

Stretch · 5 Oct 2008 at 20:41

int said:
All train tracks are built where rivers once ran, the stones are leftover sediment.

Magic_x_uk · 5 Oct 2008 at 20:43

int said:
All train tracks are built where rivers once ran, the stones are leftover sediment.

I think you maybe a little wrong there.

shauncr91 · 5 Oct 2008 at 20:44

I believe they prevent the tracks moving and bending etc.

int · 5 Oct 2008 at 21:05

Magic_x_uk said:
I think you maybe a little wrong there.

Stretch said:

lokkers · 5 Oct 2008 at 22:03

Magic_x_uk said:
I think you maybe a little wrong there.

Lol

Woooosh

GeForce · 5 Oct 2008 at 22:14

This has intrigued me too. Not enough to make a thread about it though

varial · 5 Oct 2008 at 22:27

Finally an answer to this, allways wondered myself! hmmm... i should do more things

JBuk · 5 Oct 2008 at 22:32

the stones or "ballast" help to distribute the load on the track via the ties

the ballast is also used for drainage, keeping vegetation down and holding the track in place

bigmouse64 · 5 Oct 2008 at 23:29

I've never really thought of it, but that's a good question and it turns out they do actually have a purpose.

Good thread.

M0T · 5 Oct 2008 at 23:54

I have always wondered why you often see old rails left sat on the sleepers, there are areas round here that are absoutely littered with them and they have been there for years.

Are they left there for some reason (i.e. to help secure the track) or are they just left there because it is easier? Surely they are worth a fair bit and worth recycling?

Blackvault · 5 Oct 2008 at 23:56

M0T said:
I have always wondered why you often see old rails left sat on the sleepers, there are areas round here that are absoutely littered with them and they have been there for years.

Are they left there for some reason (i.e. to help secure the track) or are they just left there because it is easier? Surely they are worth a fair bit and worth recycling?

Where are these old rails? As part of the railway line or dotted around the town/city?

Blackvault