The continuing fight against the weeds - Track bedding. We no longer have the ability to run trains when ever we want. It is the peak of the summer with week long heat waves and days of rain cheering on the weeds. Usually I have to pull weeds for half an hour to make it clear enough to scrape a train down the line. The track is on pea-gravel sitting on landscape fabric. Note to everyone who are within the sound of me clicking on the computer keyboard: Landscape fabric is next to useless for keeping weeds away!!! (SEE THE FIRST PHOTO!) But I digress...
I've been looking for something else to slip under my track that weeds can not penetrate. I drove down to the Home Depot and walked up and down all the aisles to evaluate all the products to find one that was cost effective, functional and good looking if coverage of stone ballast becomes thin. The product that made the biggest impact to me was something I had extra of in my garage: asphalt shingles. They are thin, solid, have a stone texture and only costs $35 for a bundle. I lifted up the tracks for the rail siding going to the brewery and removed 1/4" of rail ballast, layed the shingles, re-instated the stones and track.
I hope this works. I'll let you know if it does/does not, though it might take a year to find out. I'm optimistic and plan to do the rest of the rail bed over the coming weeks with the hopes that I've finally solved the problem of the weeds eating my train tracks.
It looks real good! I like it!
ReplyDelete