An autonomous ballast consist for unloading ballast along a railway and methods for unloading ballast thereby. The consist includes a plurality of ballast cars and at least one control car. The control car includes a controller, a navigation system, and electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic generators that power the hopper cars. The controller employs the navigation system to determine the location of the consist relative to a track survey indicating locations and amounts of ballast to be unloaded. The controller instructs the hopper cars to open/close ballast doors to dump appropriate amounts of ballast in desired locations. The controller also monitors the status of the hopper cars and the accuracy of the navigation system to automatically adjust the operational state of the consist relative thereto. The unloading operation is carried out automatically, without need for operator intervention, and without risk of damage to railroad facilities.