Why Are There Stones by Rail Tracks

The stones lying close to the rail tracks are collectively called track ballast.

It forms the trackbed on which the railway sleepers rest. In order to guarantee that the stones stay in place, they use sharp and edged stones in the ballast.

A railway sleeper is a rectangular support that is usually kept perpendicular to the tracks. Sleepers are known by a few other names too, like a railroad tie or a crosstie.

A track ballast makes sure that tracks stay in place when super-heavy trains roll by on them. It also plays an instrumental role in keeping any vegetation in check that might grow around the tracks (and make the ground beneath the tracks weaker.) Another important aspect of track ballast is that it seals out any water that may be around the tracks to actually reach the tracks on a regular basis.