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For ballasted track, the "ballast" or stone chippings serve to hold the
track in place, distribute the load from the track (through the wooden or more commonly
concrete sleepers) to the track bed and facilitate drainage of water. The rails
are in fact supported by the sleepers positioned at regular intervals along the
track. It is not necessary for the ballast to be in touch with the bottom of the
rails and may leave a gap between the rail base and the ballast.
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