Kitty Litter as a ballast?

[NozomiFan]

So I was wondering, does kitty litter make a better ballast, and is it more cost effective?

I really don't want to buy tons of the Woodland Scenics ballast, and a more "Japanese" style?

[grumbeast]

all I can say is

 

Nozomi..

 

NNNOOoooooooooooooo!!!

 

:grin

 

seriously, at least the kitty litter I use for my Cat just turns to mush when it gets wet AND its far coarser that commercial ballast.

I think it wil just result in an awful mess and is really false economy.

 

my tuppence worth anyhow! :)

 

Graham

[to2leo]

So I was wondering, does kitty litter make a better ballast, and is it more cost effective?

I really don't want to buy tons of the Woodland Scenics ballast, and a more "Japanese" style?

 

Hi Nozomi, I was half kidding when I suggested it.  This idea has been running around in many scales especially in HO and greater.

 

I think this all started by an issue of Model Railroader magazine back in the 90s with someone who also has cats as pets.

 

A quick search of the Web comes up with these interesting links.

http://www.trainweb.org/danderso/tips/track-tips.html

 

this one shows how kitty litter is used on the layout

http://www.ilovelbny.com/files/trains5.jpg

[Claude_Dreyfus]

Can be a little smelly! 

[Bernard]

all I can say is

 

Nozomi..

 

NNNOOoooooooooooooo!!!

 

:grin

 

seriously, at least the kitty litter I use for my Cat just turns to mush when it gets wet AND its far coarser that commercial ballast.

I think it wil just result in an awful mess and is really false economy.

 

my tuppence worth anyhow! :)

 

Graham

 

Graham surely knows his kitty litters. 

Seriously you will regret using it. Most kitty litter have a clay base in them for easy "clumping" when it gets wet and turns to clay and when you put down ballast you have to wet it and glue it in place. I even tell people not to use kitty litter as a substitute for "ice melt" salt to melt the ice in their driveways or sidewalks. It makes a big mess when wet and very hard to clean up after the fact.

A large container of WS ballast should do it and Kato also makes their own ballast to match Unitrack.

[NozomiFan]

all I can say is

 

Nozomi..

 

NNNOOoooooooooooooo!!!

 

:grin

 

seriously, at least the kitty litter I use for my Cat just turns to mush when it gets wet AND its far coarser that commercial ballast.

I think it wil just result in an awful mess and is really false economy.

 

my tuppence worth anyhow! :)

 

Graham

 

Graham surely knows his kitty litters. 

Seriously you will regret using it. Most kitty litter have a clay base in them for easy "clumping" when it gets wet and turns to clay and when you put down ballast you have to wet it and glue it in place. I even tell people not to use kitty litter as a substitute for "ice melt" salt to melt the ice in their driveways or sidewalks. It makes a big mess when wet and very hard to clean up after the fact.

A large container of WS ballast should do it and Kato also makes their own ballast to match Unitrack.

 

Can you give me this link, to said kato ballast?

[to2leo]

Hi NozomiFan

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/KATO_24039_Unitrack_Ballast_p/kat-24039.htm

[NozomiFan]

Thanks to2leo! And it really does look like the unitrack...

I know how to ballast regular track, but what about the super elev's and switches? Because the super elev's have a lighter color. I seen a very light ballast somewhere, but I can't think of it. Also, with the viaducts and concrete ties how does one go about the color difference between wood and concrete.

 

Sorry to ask so much...