Keokuk would have probably gotten river rock ballast from
a pit at La Grange MO. Source of supply for river gravel in
Illinois was either Yagan Pit or Sheridan.
Slag was the mainstay of Mainline ballasts and screened slag
was also used in yards. During the 50's most was purchased
from Illinois Slag & Ballast which got it's slag from Wisconsin
Steel. Routing on this would be CWP&S Irondale IHB
La Grange CB&Q. By the early 60's the CB&Q had switched
to Gary Slag which used slag from U.S. Steel, Gary Works.
Routing EJ&E Lakefront IHB La Grange CB&Q.
In the late 60's CB&Q bought slag from a company who's source
was Granite City Steel. I've heard this was poorly crushed and
difficult to unload.
Another screened slag source was Bethlehem Steel at Burns
Harbor IN. Shipped an awful lot to Missouri Rockwool
in Cameron MO via NYC Miller IHB La Grange CB&Q but
I never saw a single load purchased for ballast.
Russ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cynthia & Duncan Cameron" <d.cameron@s...>
To: <BRHSlist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, 13 June, 2002 07:26
Subject: Re: [BRHSlist] CB&Q Ballast
> I can't comment on the ballast in Illinois either, but I do know that some
> of the track charts used by the Q indicate the kind of ballast used right
on
> them. For instance, my chart of Keokuk shows gravel on the main line with
> gravel, cinders and slag all being used once you enter the tracks from
> Keokuk Union Depot through the yard. It even shows the dates that some of
> the ballast was put down. If you can get the chart for your specific
> location it may give you the details you're looking for.
> Duncan
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John D. Mitchell, Jr." <cbqrr47@y...>
> To: <BRHSlist@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2002 1:17 AM
> Subject: Re: [BRHSlist] CB&Q Ballast
>
>
> > I can't tell what kind of ballast that was used all
> > over Illinois, but on the Beardstown Division, all
> > spurs, branch lines, and secondary main lines and
> > their sidings used good old steam engine black coal
> > cinders. Most of the main line did too, up until the
> > 60's. Before that a few places used river gravel,
> > which was light colared with a little brown in it,
> > about 1/2 inch screenings. Later some 2 to 3 inch
> > crushed limestone (white) was used, but the mainstay
> > was 2 to 3 inch crushed steel mill slag (very white
> > and very hard). Shoveling that stuff was murder!
> > John D. Mitchell, Jr.
> > --- sdoyle19@i... wrote:
> > > Could anyone on the List tell me what is acceptable
> > > for types and color of ballast
> > > for CB&Q mainline, spurlines, etc. in Illinois. I'd
> > > probably be using HO scale ballast.
> > >
|