Progress continues   Even with the pre-fabrication of sections using the Fast Tracks fixtures, this is a slow process.  I am thinking that I might temporarily fill in the gaps with flex track just to be able to see a train go around the layout.

Even though the sub bed was leveled, I use a vibrating corner-style sander to tweak the cork road bed as needed before securing the track sections. I tried using Floquil track weathering pens but was not impressed by the results.  At least on the ones I have, track brown and tie brown are the same color, and the rust is just wrong.  Back to the airbrush.

 A lot of photos I have seen via the Internet show track and ties as one solid (pretty much indistinguishable) shade of dark - brown, black, grey, whatever. I presume this would vary by local, age, weather, etc. I want at least some tonal variation.

Joe's Model Trains' dark brown is a match for the Floquil tie brown and it is acrylic so it can be thinned with isopropyl instead of tolulene (Dio Sol). This does the ties well and for contrast I mix Joe's rust with his weathered black for the rails.  I use his rail painter for that to avoid masking and needed touch up.

Couldn't resist setting some props in place. These are 2 private car tracks at the station. Area has since received all the ties and been spiked.