unusual trackwork on prototype Cimarron & Pacific

[gwgardner]

On my Cimarron & Pacific route, I'm using GreatNortherner's track rule. The prototype model for my route is the St. Louis, Rocky Mountain & Pacific. Here is a picture of the trackwork on that turn of the 20th century route. I've never seen this before, where the track is simply laid down on the dirt, and a mound of dirt is centered across the ties between the tracks, I suppose to prevent sparks from lighting the ties on fire. No ballast was used?

EAT146879_JM1.jpg

Another location, still doesn't look like there's any gravel ballast.

[mapitts]

On new construction that was very typical. The big thing was to get trains running. Then as time and money allowed they ballasted. More than likely that is cinders and not dirt. If you look at the second picture, you can see that the ties have been cribbed. A lot of ROW was ballasted with cinders here in the SE. A lot of it was just laid on dirt, although that was mostly branch lines. Made for a very short tie life. Also train speed was very slow. Around 15 - 25 MPH.