Coal mine tipple track roadbed?

I'm modeling a coal mine tipple on my layout for the first time. Is the track running under the tipple typically on raised roadbed for irrigation or does the track generally lie flat on the landscape? From most of the pictures I have looked, it would appear the latter is true - track is flat and NOT raised with sloping ballast ie. no water irrigation or run-off.

Thank you,
Jas

 

So much coal spills over onto the ground under those things, who can tell? I imagine it varied from mine to mine.

 

Agreed. Here's an old photograph of a mine served by the N&W and a modern load out on NS. (Neither of these photos is mine.) I'd imagine that track at a flood loading facility might appear better maintained.

 

Though I am late to this post, my understanding is the earth is leveled with a grader. Then ties are layed right on the ground under the shoots. Reason is simple; the cars go like 1-2 mph here. It doesn't have to be up on shouldered ballast. so, no, track is not up on shouldered ballast same as any freight yard
Since it looks to be on the ground, just model it that way, anyway. ..

 

Back in the day when steam was in vogue RR's accumulated a lot of ash and cinders. Rather than having the expense of shipping it elsewhere the RR's used it as sub roadbed or even as ballast in low speed areas like mine load outs. In addition mines would make use of 'tailings' in the same manner. I've seen photos of old mines where the ground was to the top of the rail and flange ways were cut by the cars wheel flanges leaving just two ribbons of shiny or, as the case may be, of rusty steel showing. I would not use high profile roadbed for any siding. Also one needs to take into account the height clearance under the loading chute. Hoppers have to roll under the chutes. Using high profile roadbed may necessitate raising the mine building also. RR's also tended to have sidings lower than their mainline as a safety factor to prevent a car from rolling and fouling the main.