Can I use ground cork ballast rather than gravel ballast?

Traditionally gravel ballast has been the forerunner for track beds in railway modelling and gives your layout an authentic look, and is still used as the main form of ballasting today.

Ground cork ballast is relatively new in comparison but offers a lightweight alternative to gravel with a choice of colours and an equally authentic look.

It can also reduce the risk of damage to your locomotives as gravel, if not fixed correctly, can cause damage to your locomotive motor and running gear by flying up off the track and getting caught up in the internal workings.

Obviously real ballast is made of stone, so gravel will always look "more real" than cork as it is made of the real thing.

Another issue with cork is that it is difficult to make very small pieces so it may not be suitable for smaller gauges such as N gauge.