Did you ever notice the crushed stones which are lying alongside the railway tracks? Have you ever wondered why these stones are placed there? By the way, they are called track ballast. But what are those for, anyway? And how does this bed of stones not fall apart under the weight of a moving train? 

And guys, if you like trains, you might want to look at some other fun railroad facts you can bring up at your next water cooler gathering! Like why railroads have gaps, or how they are protected from rusting, or if it's dangerous to ride on a train during a thunderstorm. Plenty of questions, and we’ve got all the answers you need!

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