ME Track is go for launch
Today I got my two sample pieces of Micro Engineering track and instantly had this “wow” moment. This is some great looking track. I love the fact that it’s so shape-able too and not “springy” like Atlas flex track. You can bend this track into whatever curve you want and it stays.
I decided to try out a piece on the layout. I picked the small curve on the layout just before the tunnel as my test spot. Removing the existing track was a piece of cake thanks to the caulk adhesive. I cut the ME track to size, formed the curve I needed and installed the track in place with some rail joiners. Works perfectly without any adhesive holding the curve. I love it!
So I think I’m going to ahead with the plan to replace the existing mainline track with some ME weathered concrete track. I haven’t decided if I want to replace the siding with concrete ties as well or leave those as wood ties (and just leave the Atlas in place).
Also, since the ME ties are a little thicker than the Atlas’, I’ll have to sand the cork roadbed a little bit around the turnouts so the rails meet each other at the same height. I really want to avoid having to pull up any turnout.
Very cool! BTW I will be posting pics tomorrow in my Sunday blog update showing the completed ME concrete tie mainline and the partially completed ME wood tie siding. I am very happy so far. I have about 100 pcs of Atlas code 55 flex that will probably be saved for the staging yards now.
Awesome. Looking forward to those photos.
I’d recommedn sticking to the wooden tie look on your sidings. Most prototypes that have gone concrete have done so only on heavy traffic mains, and even not then. Two of the CXS mainlines into and out of Washington DC run right behind my office building (and thus below my window). They see betewwen 10 and 12 trains each direction each day – and are still on wood ties. In fact, CSX changed out dozens of bad ties last fall with wood, so I thin kit’s safe to say you can keep the wood look for your secondary.
Yup, that’s the direction I’m leaning too right now. Leave the sidings as is with the wood ties and only replace the main with concrete.
Not only do I like the contrasting look of the concrete ties against the older wood ties for the siding, it saves me some doing extra re-work, heh.
Here’s a pic of how it would look: http://gallery.upmodelrailroad.com/layout/IMG_1950.jpg.html
And I wish my office window had that kind of view. All I see is a couple ducks and turtles swimming in the waterway around our building.