PeterAtt turned me onto the acrylic color Rusted Pipe.    I have tried to emulate a busier mainline/yard track color with burnt umber as the base coat, and a wash of the rusted pipe over it.   My technique still needs to improve to get consistent coloring, but i think I like the result.

However, for my yard trackage, I still am looking for the proper tie color to go with it.   Most people have suggested a lighter grey, but it seems to wash out in very light grey ballast.   I think I like a bit of a brown in it, but fairly light.

I was very interested in Nick Muff' article as many of his ideas are similar to my own. The use of push pins is an improvement on the drawing pins I've been using and I also have been hacking around with standard PECO track formations except that I've taken it a bit further and have also changed the curvature of turnouts and scissors to fit situations.

I am in need of N scale wood ties for mainline track. (scale 8' 6") can anyone give me a source other than fast tracks?

Started weathering the Rails with the Rusty Pipe color acrylic paint. It's a bit tedious but looks good so far. May do one more coat.

In the pics I placed a piece of white paper in front to get a better idea of the color, as it tended to blend in with the base color in view.