Define Railroad Ballast.
Answers
Railroad ballast is one of the most demanding applications for crushed stone. Railroad ballast serves as a bed for railroad tracks and provides track stability, drainage, and support of significant loads carried by railcars. Track ballast forms the trackbed upon which railroad ties (sleepers) are laid. It is packed between, below, and around the ties. It is used to bear the load from the railroad ties, to facilitate drainage of water, and also to keep down vegetation that might interfere with the track structure.
Railroad Ballast is a recycled product commonly made up of crushed limestone or other rock. It is primarily used during the construction and maintenance of railroads, holding the wooden cross ties in place and in turn, holding the rails in place. This product performs several additional functions for railroads: it distributes weight, provides drainage, hinders the growth of unwanted vegetation, and provides firm yet resilient support while allowing for track maintenance to be performed more easily.