Proses O BS-O-01 Ballast Spreader Hopper Tool

A useful track ballasting tool the Proses ballast spreader is available for several track gauges, this one is designed for 32mm O gauge tracks.

The Proses ballasters comprise a hopper unit which is filled from the top with the ballaster tool positioned over the track at the start of the section to be ballasted. The ballast material flows through three holes in the bottom of the hopper, speading the ballast between and to either side of the rails. The tool is simply slid along the rails, the ballast filling in the gaps between the sleepers as it passes over them and automatically pushing excess ballast forward into the next void.
Ballast can be spread quickly and evenly along the track, with the hopper being re-filled as required.

Ballast can be permanentley fixed by dropping or spraying with PVA (or similar water soluble glue) mixed to a watery consistancy to throughly soak into the ballast. Once the glue has dried clean the rail head with an suitable abrasive cleaner (eg Peco track rubber) to remove the glue film from the contact surface.