Smith & Son Ballast Source

[Ian MacMillan]

Anyone know of a good source of Smith & Son ballast other than Scenic Express? I'm looking for Limestone in N scale size and it seems that Scenic Express is only carrying their rip-rap and hi-railer sized ballast now.

[GaryHinshaw]

Ugh, this appears to be a recent change since I was looking at the Scenic Express site about a month ago for Smith & Sons and they did list the fine ballast.  I am not aware of another source for it, but I found this contact info on the web:

Smith And Son Ballast

Owners:  Harley & Dale Smith
13630 GAR Highway (Rt. 6)
Chardon OH  44024
Hours:   none -        just call ahead to make sure someone is there
Phone:  440-286-4890

Ballast for all N, HO, O, S, & G scales.  Coal, ore, and stone of all sizes for model railroad scenery and railroad car loads.

Other sources for real rock ballast are Arizona Rock & Mineral, Hunter Scenery, and Highball, none of which I have tried.  I really liked the Smith & Sons.

[Ian MacMillan]

I really like AR&M, but his availability drives me nutty. I have a very large layout to ballast and I don't want him to not produce a blend like he has already done on me once already. (CR East)

I may go with the Hunter N scale, but has anyone seen it in person? I want a good ballast profile,and not powder.

[CVSNE]

Anyone know of a good source of Smith & Son ballast other than Scenic Express? I'm looking for Limestone in N scale size and it seems that Scenic Express is only carrying their rip-rap and hi-railer sized ballast now.

Ian,

Jim Elster sent me the ballast (well, I paid him for it, but talked to him about the order) he knew it was for a book project so I needed something that he had some expectation of being available.

Sometimes not everything Scenic Express has appears on the web site - call and ask for the item if you haven't already.

AR&M would be a good substitute.

Marty

[inkaneer]

Ugh, this appears to be a recent change since I was looking at the Scenic Express site about a month ago for Smith & Sons and they did list the fine ballast.  I am not aware of another source for it, but I found this contact info on the web:

Smith And Son Ballast

Owners:  Harley & Dale Smith
13630 GAR Highway (Rt. 6)
Chardon OH  44024
Hours:   none -        just call ahead to make sure someone is there
Phone:  440-286-4890

Ballast for all N, HO, O, S, & G scales.  Coal, ore, and stone of all sizes for model railroad scenery and railroad car loads.

Other sources for real rock ballast are Arizona Rock & Mineral, Hunter Scenery, and Highball, none of which I have tried.  I really liked the Smith & Sons.

Chardon, OH [near Cleveland] is just East on US Rte 6 of Kirtland, OH where the NMRA show is held at the Lakeland Community College in March or April every year. 

[Chris333]

One of the Z scalers who lives in Akron went to the guys house. He said it was just a small rock crusher in a shed in the back yard. He paid for a new smaller screen and they made up Z scale ballast with it.

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=79037

[Ian MacMillan]

Anyone know of a good source of Smith & Son ballast other than Scenic Express? I'm looking for Limestone in N scale size and it seems that Scenic Express is only carrying their rip-rap and hi-railer sized ballast now.

Ian,

Jim Elster sent me the ballast (well, I paid him for it, but talked to him about the order) he knew it was for a book project so I needed something that he had some expectation of being available.

Sometimes not everything Scenic Express has appears on the web site - call and ask for the item if you haven't already.

AR&M would be a good substitute.

Marty

Marty,
Thanks I'll call them direct. Was it the #50 that you're using or to you know product # off the top of your head.

[GaryHinshaw]

Here is a shot of the #50 size in some ME code 55 flex:



This is mostly the Penn-Ohio blend with a bit of their lighter gray mixed in.  I'll be needing a lot more too, so I hope you'll let us know how it goes.

Cheers,
Gary

[Ian MacMillan]

Thanks for the shot Gary, its nice to have track to compare the size.

[fhmac]

Perhaps 'Joe' can be of help? ???  http://www.joesmodeltrains.com/real_rocks_ballast.htm

[John]

Perhaps 'Joe' can be of help? ???  http://www.joesmodeltrains.com/real_rocks_ballast.htm

Wow .. thats expensive stuff ..

[inkaneer]

Perhaps 'Joe' can be of help? ???  http://www.joesmodeltrains.com/real_rocks_ballast.htm

Wow .. thats expensive stuff ..

Maybe this is the same "joe" who was a plumber in the last election.  Plumbers ain't cheap.

[CVSNE]

Anyone know of a good source of Smith & Son ballast other than Scenic Express? I'm looking for Limestone in N scale size and it seems that Scenic Express is only carrying their rip-rap and hi-railer sized ballast now.

Ian,

Jim Elster sent me the ballast (well, I paid him for it, but talked to him about the order) he knew it was for a book project so I needed something that he had some expectation of being available.

Sometimes not everything Scenic Express has appears on the web site - call and ask for the item if you haven't already.

AR&M would be a good substitute.

Marty

Marty,
Thanks I'll call them direct. Was it the #50 that you're using or to you know product # off the top of your head.

Penn-Ohio Blend, #50 grade is what the label reads.

Marty

[James Costello]

Here is a shot of the #50 size in some ME code 55 flex:



This is mostly the Penn-Ohio blend with a bit of their lighter gray mixed in.  I'll be needing a lot more too, so I hope you'll let us know how it goes.

Cheers,
Gary

Is that what you're using for Tehachapi Gary? Looks good!!!

[GaryHinshaw]

Is that what you're using for Tehachapi Gary? Looks good!!!

Thanks James!  This shot is from my test module, but I'm definitely going with ME concrete flex and I was planning on using S&S ballast, but that may have to change if the supply has dried up - I only have 2 jars on hand...

Cheers,
Gary