Railroad Ballast in Vermont
Railroad Ballast supports Vermont sugarhouse and barn pad builds where spring-soft ground needs a stone layer that bears load and drains freely.
- Size: Roughly 1 inch to 2.5 inches
- Grading: Graded to interlock under load while draining freely
- Type: Large angular crushed stone
From $438 for 1 ton, delivery included (larger loads cost significantly less per ton)
Free delivery included
Free delivery anywhere in Vermont
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Weekday delivery, earliest Oct 27
“Parked the hay equipment on a low corner of the yard in Orwell that used to hold water for weeks every April. Eight tons of railroad ballast spread and rolled with the tractor bucket fixed it in an afternoon. Drains faster than the crusher run we tried on another part of the yard years back, and the equipment sits high and dry through the whole mud season now.”
Geraldine W. · Verified Buyer
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Everything You Need to Know About Railroad Ballast
Size and Grading
- Size
- Roughly 1 inch to 2.5 inches
- Grading
- Graded to interlock under load while draining freely
- Type
- Large angular crushed stone
On a Vermont mud-season driveway rebuild, Railroad Ballast belongs low in the construction, supporting the area before a finer travel layer is considered. Its angular pieces brace against nearby stone as load is applied, and the open grading helps water pass through the course instead of collecting there. That makes it suited to rail track and heavily used pads, not a surface expected to pack smooth.
Champlain Valley clay and hill-country till can both soften during spring thaw, and deep frost adds movement below the work. Ditches still need to carry water away from the site so the stone course is not asked to solve every drainage issue. Where the finished travel area needs a finer compacted surface, place a finer compactable base material over the ballast support layer.
Quickly Calculate How Much You Need
Material: Railroad Ballast
How to Measure
Measure the length and width of your project area in feet
Decide on depth in inches (2" for landscaping, 4" for driveways)
Enter the values above and we'll calculate the tonnage you need
Need help figuring out the right amount? We can help!
Call or text us at (802) 214-7850 and we'll help you calculate the right quantity for your project.
Not sure how much you need? The Stone Calculator has depth guides, coverage charts and worked examples for this material.
Common Uses
Rail Track Bed
Keeps rail ties aligned while water leaves the track area.
Heavy Equipment Pads
Provides a stable base for industrial loads, cranes, and containers.
Industrial Access Roads
Handles travel from heavy trucks and equipment.
Large-Scale Drainage
Its angular shape maintains water flow when carrying weight.
Why Choose Railroad Ballast
High Load Capacity
Handles extreme weight.
Fast Drainage
Water moves out through open voids in the stone.
Interlocks Tightly
Traffic is less likely to push the aggregate out of position.
Long Lasting
Hard stone remains serviceable over time.
Customer Reviews
Happy With My Order
Seven tons of railroad ballast for a wet corner of the barnyard in Hubbardton where the cattle churn it up every year around the water trough. Drains faster than anything we've used, no standing water even after days of rain.
Vivian P. · Hubbardton, VT · Verified Buyer
Farm road finally drains through wet spots
Built a short farm road through a low, wet stretch for a client outside Benson where nothing else had held up, not even the crusher run they tried two years back. Ordered twelve tons of railroad ballast and the tri axle dropped it right along the worst hundred feet without sinking itself. Graded it flat with the tractor and it's carried heavy equipment through two full mud seasons without settling.
Milton C. · Benson, VT · Verified Buyer
Gaps big enough to trap tires
ballast for the equipment turnaround in castleton, ground stays soggy every spring. two tons, drains better than anything we've tried.
Clarence Y. · Castleton, VT · Verified Buyer
Equipment lot drains even in April
Parked the hay equipment on a low corner of the yard in Orwell that used to hold water for weeks every April. Eight tons of railroad ballast spread and rolled with the tractor bucket fixed it in an afternoon. Drains faster than the crusher run we tried on another part of the yard years back, and the equipment sits high and dry through the whole mud season now.
Geraldine W. · Orwell, VT · Verified Buyer
Winter feed pad stopped the wallow
Our herd stands in the same forty by sixty foot patch around the feed bunks and the gate all winter, and it used to turn into a knee deep wallow by February. Fifteen tons of railroad ballast went down over that pad in three separate truck trips since our lane out here in Addison is narrow and the tri-axle could only carry so much at a time. The driver worked around our schedule and knew right where to tip each load without me standing out there directing him. The cattle have stood on it through a whole stretch of freeze and thaw without sinking an inch.
Floyd R. · Addison, VT · Verified Buyer
Railroad Ballast has 5 verified customer reviews with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5.
Railroad Ballast delivery across Vermont
- Burlington
- South Burlington
- Colchester
- Rutland
- Bennington
- Brattleboro
- Milton
- Essex Junction
- Williston
- Middlebury
- Springfield
- Winooski
