It sure got your attention; There are always broken pieces of broken stone on and around the railroad tracks. But what is the reason for this; Have you ever wondered? Why are there small pieces of stone next to the railroad tracks?
This is a good question with an interesting answer… These stones are originally known as ballast. Their purpose is to hold the wooden cross braces that hold the rails in place.
On this subject, Indepent comments: Consider the engineering challenges faced by those who build miles of narrow strips of steel above ground… These include heat expansion and contraction, ground motion and vibration, from inclement weather to precipitation accumulation, and bottom grass and grass. are exposed to plant growth. So it is very difficult for them to stand still. In addition, it should be kept in mind that while they stand unloaded 99 percent of the time, they are exposed to heavy live loads in the remaining 1 percent of the time.
So how can we overcome this problem? The answer starts with starting with bare ground and then building a foundation to raise the road high enough so it doesn’t get flooded. You leave a load of crushed stone (ballast) on the foundation. You lay a row of wooden beams (perpendicular to the rail direction) on the stone. You then proceed to pour crushed stone around the joists. The sharp edges of the stone make it harder for them to slide over each other (the way smooth, round pebbles do), effectively locking them in place. Next comes the steel rails; you place them end-to-end over the ties.
You can nail them or screw them into their ties, but that won’t work. Insignificant movement caused by heat expansion and contraction along the length of the rail causes any of the rails to break or bend when secured in place. Instead, the rails are attached to the sleepers by clips or anchors that hold them down but allow them to move lengthwise as they expand or contract.
Ballast distributes the load of the ties (which carry the load of the train on the rail, held by the clips) along the foundation, allowing ground movement, thermal expansion and weight change, allowing rain and snow to glide along the track. And it inhibits the growth of weeds and vegetation that will quickly take over the road.
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