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.During the past twenty year period, extensive ballast material tests have been conducted by the railroad
industry, the railway supply industry, universities and some governmental agencies. This includes the ballast
and roadway tests at TTCI (formerly FAST facility).
From the results of these multiple material tests and performance evaluations, improved information has been
obtained on the desirable physical and chemical properties of ballast materials which will provide performance
characteristics commensurate with current track loadings and cost effective maintenance requirements of the
track substructure.
The following Ballast Specification is the first general revision of the AREMA Ballast Specification in over forty
years. The Specification is the result of the aforementioned test data obtained in the laboratory, field testing,
and the actual performance evaluation of various ballast materials in track.
The efforts to produce a definitive ballast performance specification are not complete. A laboratory test to
simulate performance and evaluation of ballast materials in track has not been developed. However; ongoing
current ballast tests dedicated to the correlation of laboratory tests to field performance indicate that we may
be approaching our goal. The results of these testing programs could dictate further improvement of the Ballast
Specification in the future.