3 weeks and it feels like 3 days

some photos of the new concrete code 55.  All wired, elevated and rolling on both the 55 and atlas 80

Hidden tracks

Some hidden track work, in a dark room, is ware code 55 meets 80. It happens here and another hidden staging location for antelope mine. I kept the code 80 for the simple reason that i had already once bought it. These areas hold about 10 electric atlas switch machines, their would be little expense recovered on selling and upgrading to 55 with turtious.

Stageing was built and designed in the earlier stages of my Orion line.  A few turnout relocates where need to make the operations more flexible. Also its hardly noticeable but i had to move the cork for the 3 mains over. The track cutting across the mainlines roadbed was only temporary to get trains moving.  Around the bend is Nacco Jct. construction has come to a slow, their is a lack of supply in the form of atlas 55 turnouts and the bridge that crosses Antelope Creek.

I cant recall ware i read it but the joining of 55 to 80 can be done by simply filing away the bottom edge of the 80 rail. They appear to be soldiered together in this photo but its actually code 55 joiners.  In order to figure out the difference in height i purchased a digital thickness gauge from harbor freight for $9. It seems a bit cheep but is good to hundredth of an inch (.00) not .004 like it says.  The difference between ME 55 concrete and Atlas 80 was .04". In order to overcome this i bought evergreen models plastic sheets. Then tapered down .01" at a time.  This turned out far better then I expected it was going to.

Continuation...

Some more progress today. Another 3 or 4 lengths down, another 4 or 5 to go. Its taking some time soldiering the wire feeds on and connecting the rails without rail joiners  I'm being very particular on making sure the track is straight and the curves look good.

On the Orion line they have used wood ties ware roads and culverts cross the right of way. I'm not sure why this is, maybe someone can explain? but anyways that's the reason for the wood ties in this section ware i will have a road crossing.

Hopefully in the next few days i can get all wires connect to the dcc wires and get some trains running.

I managed to get half of the first mainline down today. This is my first time working with Micro-Engineering track. It is far different then atlas 80 but i think its much better and easier to work with. I love the smooth curve you can create with it. More to come soon.....

Written in concrete

Concrete has finally made it onto my Orion line!
Work is being done on the final grades and the corners have been super elevated to install another main line. Their was hopes of adding 2 lines but office personal wrongfully placed half the ordered for wood ties.

Along With the news and publicity surrounding the new concrete track. GE wants to showcase one of their ES44AC demonstrator units as the lead locomotive up to antelope mine. No dates when the line will open but i will get my camera ready!

A long awaited shipment

Its been almost 3 months since I ordered ME concrete track for my mainline but it appears that it should be here soon! Last week I called in to see what was taking so long, I guess they lost my order, but at least they changed my mistaken order of wood ties for concrete ties.  Now all I need is my atlas and ME code 55 turnouts to come in (from a different online dealer)  While I wait I have lots of curves and that means a ton of super elevating.