Ballast? at Kenmore...

[AmeriKenArtist]

As we approached Kenmore Square, outbound, brilliant white stones were apparent between the ties for thirty yards, before we reached the station. Is this some kind of ballast? Is it needed undeground? I cannot imagine any erosion in that location....

[Xplorer2000]

I believe they've been laying down small amounts in some areas...ballast doesdeteriorate and degrade over time,simply from the weight of trains compacting and grinding away at it, and that stretch of tunnel was also the area that was deepest underwater a few years back when the subway flooded out, so maybe that may have something to do with it too. Theres also some new sections of rail at various spots on the line( Haymarket comes to mind) waiting to be spliced into place. With all this track activity , and the impending opening of the North Station Superstation,maybe we'll see Type 8s running past Government Center to North Station soon.[/b]