What Is Railroad Track Ballast?

1.	What Is Railroad Track Ballast?
Answer» That being said railroad track ballast is the cover for the subgrade. Ballast has several FUNCTIONS: It enables water to drain from the track. It assists in HELPING control the thermal expansion of continues WELDED rail. As a train passes the rails, it SUPPORTS the train. It distributes the WEIGHT of the train from the track structure to the sub grade. Maintains a smooth running surface for the train to run on. As ballast becomes contaminated with other materials, it looses its ability to do some or all of these jobs. That being said railroad track ballast is the cover for the subgrade. Ballast has several functions: As ballast becomes contaminated with other materials, it looses its ability to do some or all of these jobs.

Answer»

That being said railroad track ballast is the cover for the subgrade. Ballast has several FUNCTIONS:

It enables water to drain from the track.
It assists in HELPING control the thermal expansion of continues WELDED rail.
As a train passes the rails, it SUPPORTS the train.
It distributes the WEIGHT of the train from the track structure to the sub grade.
Maintains a smooth running surface for the train to run on.

As ballast becomes contaminated with other materials, it looses its ability to do some or all of these jobs.

That being said railroad track ballast is the cover for the subgrade. Ballast has several functions:

As ballast becomes contaminated with other materials, it looses its ability to do some or all of these jobs.

Discussion