In the early days of the U.S. Railroad Industry, a variety of materials were used for track ballast to support the
track superstructure. Almost any ballast material which could be procured on line at a low unit cost was used
and considered satisfactory under the traffic loadings. As rail loadings and speed increased, track geometry
deterioration became a problem for the industry.
Track geometric deviations and rail wear were recognized as major maintenance problems in the early teens.
This resulted in the organization of a special joint committee sponsored by the AREMA and A.S.C.E. to study
stress in the railroad track structure under the chairmanship of Professor A. N. Talbot. The committee
immediately began their study of the track superstructure support, i.e. rails, cross ties, and fastenings. The
study produced the “U” value as a measurement of vertical track stiffness as defined in the AREMA Bulletin,
Volume 19, Number 205, March, 1918. The “U” value represents the stiffness of the track and involves
conditions of the ties, ballast and roadway. Study of “U” values in the superstructure indicated that the
influences of the track substructure (ballast and sub-ballast) were significant. Thus the need for better ballast
materials became more obvious.
Extensive ballast material tests were conducted by Rockwell Smith of the AREMA during the middle fifties and
sixties. The test results indicated that the ballast was an integral part of the track substructure and that
support in the roadbed section has a direct relationship to the quality of the ballast materials.
Today greater demands are placed on the track superstructure and substructure. Heavier wheel loads, higher
operating speeds and unit train consists demand better total performance of the track system. The
improvement of the performance of the substructure appears to be an economical approach to increasing the
strength of the track system.
More emphasis must be placed on the quality and type of ballast materials used in the substructure. Improved
geotechnical techniques and test methods together with a better understanding of soils have provided the
opportunity for ongoing tests to evaluate the quality and support characteristics of ballast materials.