The entire CNJ Bronx Terminal block between Third Avenue Bridge, Bruckner Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue is an industrial area painted in various shades of grey, even today. The driveways between the team tracks 2 and 14 were paved with Belgian (Granite sett) blocks as is most likely the driveway along track 1.
The photos of the freight yard do not show a lot of ballast in place. If there ever has been ballast it has been covered by dirt and gravel. Likewise, there’s no shoulder and tracks are flush with the ground.
The 1944 photograph of the CNJ Bronx Terminal shows that all of Bruckner Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue was covered with same type of cobblestone as were the driveways and the courtyard of the freight house. The sett pavement was replaced by asphalt concrete, however, probably in the 1950’s. As a 2017 photo of the pavement at the Lincoln Avenue and 132nd Street intersection reveals, the cobblestone pavement was not removed but simply covered with a layer of asphalt.
While the end of Lincoln Avenue at Harlem River was simply a concrete wall, some photographs suggest that a short piece of shoreline was stabilized with granite stone rip-rap. A recent photo supports this assumption although it is quite possible, too, that the reinforcement was added when the Oak Point Link was built.
Track Bed
For the track bed between the driveways I use Scenic Express #50 Blended Ballast mixed with Arizona Rock & Mineral (light) Gray Granite powder. The first few tracks got too dark and grey so I modified the composition over time until what appeared to me the right mix and added Gray Granite more liberally. To brighten up the dark ballast I airbrushed it with Titanium White. In the final mix I also used a small amount of Arizona Rock & Mineral Earth powder pigment. This would give it a bit a warmer tone. To glue down the ballast I spread it between tracks and pavement. The ties were almost entirely covered, though still visible – just as in the prototype. I had to make sure that the rails were free of any ballast grains. Once all in place, I nicely and carefully sprayed 70% Isopropyl Alcohol using a sprayer, first indirectly and then directly onto the track bed until it was soaked. After that I added a glue-water mixture (50/50) with a few drops of dishwasher detergent. For the glue I use matte Mod Podge. This was the first time I’ve ever done ballasting and it was much easier than I thought. And I’m really happy with the result.
To weather the ballast I used Arizona Rock & Mineral pigments, specifically Earth for rusty areas and and Black for oil drippings between the tracks. This proved to be a much better method for weathering than using the airbrush, and it gave it a more natural appearance.
Freight Yard Pavement
The plans for the Bronx Terminal are very explicit about the ground cover of the freight yard and the extent of the Granite sett pavement is well documented. Sources for the Mott Haven area indicate that the blocks in that area were about 20 x 14 x 13 cm. I used MonsterModelWorks’ N scale cobblestone sheets for the driveways. This product is great to work with, it can be easily cut and blended with other scenery material, and when painted and weathered looks very realistic. As can be seen in the photo below, it blends well with the ballast and dirt ground cover of the freight yard.
Lincoln Avenue
Lincoln Avenue south of Bruckner Boulevard is the access road to the team tracks of the CNJ Bronx Terminal freight yard. As noted above, the original cobblestone pavement was simply covered with asphalt. The street is heavily used and the asphalt worn out quickly. To vary the somewhat monotone 450 feet long section of Lincoln Avenue in my model, I designed it in 3 distinct parts. The most northern section (about 2/3 of the block) is properly modeled with intact asphalt pavement. The second part has asphalt pavement as well, but it is worn out and broken. And the final very short third part is an unpaved dirt road.
I created the smooth asphalt by adding a mix of Arizona Asphalt and Base Color Powder to watered down matte Mod Podge and by spreading it evenly on .040″ or .080″ Styrene sheet. The resulting surface is not completely perfect and its color varied a bit until I corrected it by airbrushing it with light gray acrylic paint. For the broken asphalt and the concrete sidewalk I again used MonsterModelWorks’ products. When ink-washed, painted and/or dry brushed the resulting surfaces look amazing and very prototypical. The only issue I’m having with their (rectangular) cobblestone sheets is that seems are sometimes hard to close and may still be visible after painting.