Railroad Ballast in Rhode Island
Railroad Ballast has a coarse, open feel for Rhode Island projects that need drainage beneath a loaded support layer.
- Size: Roughly 1 inch to 2.5 inches
- Grading: Graded to interlock under load while draining freely
- Type: Large angular crushed stone
From $430 for 1 ton, delivery included (larger loads cost significantly less per ton)
Free delivery included
Free delivery anywhere in Rhode Island
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Weekday delivery, earliest Nov 3
“Nine tons of railroad ballast went in to firm up the gateway between two pastures in Exeter, right where the herd bottlenecks and churns to soup by June. Rhode Island Rock Supply delivered it within two days of the call, and it drains faster than anything tried there before, including the crusher run that packed with manure and stayed slick. Six months of hoof traffic later and it drains within an hour of a storm.”
Sherman H. · 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
A common mistake is using Railroad Ballast where the job needs a smooth, tightly compacted finished surface. Its coarse angular stones are meant to remain open for drainage while bearing load through their contact points. That role fits rail track and other heavily loaded foundations, especially where water needs to move away from the base.
Rhode Island lots can be small, with inland till and ledge contrasting with shore sand. Drainage may need to lead into a dry well rather than onto adjoining property. Place Railroad Ballast in the draining support layer for the project, then choose a material made to compact if the upper course must close up. Deep frost and repeated freeze-thaw make that separation worth planning before surface work begins.
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 (401) 210-4557 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 ties seated while water exits the rail base.
Heavy Equipment Pads
Forms a stable foundation for cranes, containers, and industrial loads.
Industrial Access Roads
Built to handle repeated traffic from heavy trucks and equipment.
Large-Scale Drainage
The open angular stone structure moves water through drainage areas.
Why Choose Railroad Ballast
High Load Capacity
Made for applications carrying extreme weight.
Fast Drainage
Spaces between angular pieces let water pass through quickly.
Interlocks Tightly
The stone pieces knit together to help prevent shifting under traffic.
Long Lasting
Hard, durable stone withstands ongoing use for years.
Customer Reviews
Easy From Start to Finish
Every winter the feeding area behind our barn in Coventry turned into a churned up mess, and after trying crusher run and plain gravel with no luck, we switched to railroad ballast on a neighbor's advice. Went with eighteen tons split between the feeding pad and the worst stretch of the farm lane leading to it. The tri-axle handled the narrow approach off the town road without trouble, dumping in two piles exactly where we marked with stakes. A full winter later, including a stretch of thaw that turned everything else to soup, this area alone stayed firm enough to walk across without boots sinking, cutting down on morning chores.
Nathaniel G. · Coventry, RI · Verified Buyer
Equipment lot finally drains fast
Built out a heavy equipment lot behind our shop in Glocester with fourteen tons of railroad ballast since the excavators and dump trucks were sinking the old gravel every spring. Drains so fast that puddles never form even after an all day rain, which the crusher run we used before could not manage. The tandem driver spread it in two passes across the whole lot without us needing to direct him twice.
Theresa L. · Glocester, RI · Verified Buyer
Dustier to handle than crusher run
Ten tons of railroad ballast made a rock solid overflow lot behind a garden center client in North Smithfield. Drains instantly and the trucks delivering mulch and soil no longer rut it up during a wet week. Dustier to handle than the crusher run I usually spec, kicking up a lot more when the loader worked through the pile.
Pauline R. · North Smithfield, RI · Verified Buyer
Fast delivery beat the June mud
Nine tons of railroad ballast went in to firm up the gateway between two pastures in Exeter, right where the herd bottlenecks and churns to soup by June. Rhode Island Rock Supply delivered it within two days of the call, and it drains faster than anything tried there before, including the crusher run that packed with manure and stayed slick. Six months of hoof traffic later and it drains within an hour of a storm.
Sherman H. · Exeter, RI · Verified Buyer
Mud pit turned solid footing
Eight tons of railroad ballast turned a mud pit by the feed troughs solid out in Burrillville. Drains almost instantly, and the tractor no longer gets stuck reaching the herd.
Bradley N. · Burrillville, RI · Verified Buyer
Railroad Ballast has 5 verified customer reviews with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
Railroad Ballast delivery across Rhode Island
- Providence
- Cranston
- Warwick
- Pawtucket
- East Providence
- Woonsocket
- Cumberland
- Coventry
- North Providence
- West Warwick
- Johnston
- North Kingstown
