1 Step Forward, 2 Steps Backwards
But in a good way. 
It seems every time I go to start something new on the layout, I decide to tear up and change something else on it… but for the better of course.
This time I’m considering the track on the lower level. Way back in day I thought about using concrete tie track for my lower level, but was turned away due to the cost of the ME track compared to Atlas flextrack.
Lately, I’ve been following Jamie’s CSX Dixie Line blog, which has a lot of great information and a great look layout under construction, and see he’s also using concrete ties for his modern day layout. So it’s got me into thinking about using concrete tie track again, and that if I really want to change track now would be the ideal time to do so before too much scenery gets put down.
I think may order a piece or two to examine it up close and see how it looks in person.
Decisions, decisions!
It’s good stuff. I ordered the weathered rail in mine because I figured it is not easy to paint the rails without getting paint all over the nice gray ties. With wood ties, you really can’t tell. BTW my upper level will be all wood ties because that is what CSX uses on the Chattanooga sub in TN. Will still be using ME flex for that.
Jim Reisling’s BNSF Oakville Sub layout also makes extensive use of the ME concrete tie track on his layout:
http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=99466&highlight=oakville
He is much further along than I am and you can see how beautiful his track looks with some super long trains running on it. One of his newer layout pics is the background wallpaper on my laptop
Ah, that was going to be a question for you later. If you got the weathered track or not cause I was thinking the same thing about keeping ties clean.
My plan of action would be to first remove the flex track and leave the turnouts in place to see how the ME track lines up them. However, based on your experience the Atlas will be a hair shorter and I may have to pull those up to add some spacers.
I also want to superelevate two additional curves on the lower level near the rock wall. I really like your tape method so I would use that technique to do so. I used business cards cut into strips for the one curve I did, but it was rather cumbersome to do.
I also plan on leaving the city scene on the upper level as wood ties. I’ve only put down a little bit of track there so a not huge task to switch to ME if I really like it. The helix and entry/exit will have to remain Atlas Flex of course.
Thanks for the link too. I saw that on your blog and have it bookmarked to review tonight.
I’ve been laying ME code 55 with wood ties for my secondary and spurs, as wood is protoptypical for my locale. There is a short section of “main” which mostly serves for photos and car storage, and I kept it as Atlas code 80 flex track (since I had several pieces on hand). I’ve managed to get good transitions between each by working slowly and carefully, and keeping a few large mill files handy. I’m going to work on weathering it soon, and I’ll be trying the Floquil Paint Pen method that Cody Grivno used in his MR Cody’s Office segment a few months ago.
After considering my options I decided that the only way I’ll replace the track is if I can leave the existing turnouts in place. I don’t think it’s with the time, effort, and possible additional costs to remove and maybe replace the 5 or 6 turnouts, with possible “tweaking” of the tortoise mounts at each.