Railroad Ballast in Louisiana
Louisiana rain and wet gumbo call for Railroad Ballast beneath loaded rail areas, work pads, and routes that need fast drainage.
- Size: Roughly 1 inch to 2.5 inches
- Grading: Graded to interlock under load while draining freely
- Type: Large angular crushed stone
From $427.00 for 1 ton, delivery included
Larger loads cost less per ton: 500 tons is $27,535.00 ($55.07 per ton). Pick any quantity below for a delivered price.
Free delivery included
Free delivery anywhere in Louisiana
Pick a delivery date
Weekday delivery, earliest Sep 25
“The gravel lot where we park the skidders and log trucks outside Oakdale used to turn into standing water after every good rain since it sits low near the creek. Louisiana Rock Supply brought in twenty tons of railroad ballast to build it up, and the big angular rock drains faster than anything else we tried before. A year into hauling timber across it and the lot has stayed dry even after the heaviest downpours.”
Lawson W. · Verified Buyer
Get a Free Quote
Fill out the form and our sales team will get back to you within the hour.
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
After heavy rain, a pad on gumbo can stay wet and lose support if water has no place to move. Railroad Ballast provides an open stone course for rail track, heavy equipment pads, and access roads where carrying load and draining water matter at the same time. Its angular pieces make contact under pressure while leaving room for water to pass through the layer.
Use Railroad Ballast as a foundation layer beneath the working surface, especially where the ground is prone to staying wet. Building a pad up can be more practical than digging into soft soil, helping keep the stone course above persistent moisture. This material suits work areas that need a tough, free-draining base, not a finer surface meant to pack tightly.
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 our contact form 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
Railroad Track Support
Helps keep ties secure while water drains through the track foundation.
Heavy Equipment Pads
Creates a supporting layer for cranes, containers, and industrial weight.
Industrial Access Roads
Built for the repeated use of heavy trucks and equipment.
Drainage for Big Areas
Its angular pieces let water flow through when the surface is loaded.
Why Choose Railroad Ballast
High Load Capacity
Designed to support substantial weight.
Fast Drainage
Open spaces between the angular stone let water escape quickly.
Interlocks Tightly
The stone settles together to help prevent shifting with traffic.
Long Lasting
Hard stone remains suitable through years of use.
Customer Reviews
Farm road through the wet bottom holds
A low wet bottom on our farm road outside Glenmora stays soggy most of the year from the creek backing up. Fifteen tons of railroad ballast went down over fabric to build it up above the water table, and it drains so fast the puddles are gone within minutes of the rain stopping. The tractor and hay trailer cross it now without sinking, even in a wet December.
Marguerite X. · Glenmora, LA · Verified Buyer
Equipment lot no longer floods
The gravel lot where we park the skidders and log trucks outside Oakdale used to turn into standing water after every good rain since it sits low near the creek. Louisiana Rock Supply brought in twenty tons of railroad ballast to build it up, and the big angular rock drains faster than anything else we tried before. A year into hauling timber across it and the lot has stayed dry even after the heaviest downpours.
Lawson W. · Oakdale, LA · Verified Buyer
Ballast eats tires and dents doors
Put down twelve tons of Railroad Ballast around the shop in Elton to keep the lot from turning into soup every time it rains, and it does exactly that, no complaints on drainage. What nobody warns you about is what it does to equipment. My loader's already thrown three rocks hard enough to dent the bay door, and one of my guys is on his second flat tire this month just from backing the forklift across it. Walking it in regular boots is miserable too, ankles rolling every few steps. Works great for what it's for. Just don't expect your tires or your door to agree with you.
Nolan Y. · Elton, LA · Verified Buyer
Drains fast, dustier than the last load
Used railroad ballast to build up a wet farm lane out toward Kinder where log trucks kept getting stuck every winter. Twelve tons went down and the difference in drainage is night and day, no more standing water after a hard rain. Only complaint is this load ran dustier unloading than the batch we got a year ago, coated the whole cab. The lane itself has held up well through a full logging season.
Odalys Z. · Kinder, LA · Verified Buyer
Feeding area drains even in the mud
Ten tons of railroad ballast for the feeding area behind the barn out near Mamou where the cows churned everything to mud every winter. Drains almost instantly after rain, and the cattle aren't standing in slop anymore at feeding time.
Kimberly V. · Mamou, LA · Verified Buyer
Railroad Ballast has 5 verified customer reviews with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5.
