Looking good Mark. Can't wait to see trains passing each other on the grades in the back. Gonna look cool. 
Bob
There are several sources which can help teach you how to paint backdrops. I've been a recent fan of a TV painter Jerry Yarnell who has episodes on PBS stations where he shows people how to paint. He did a 4 series show on painting a thunderstorm. Absolutely fascinating how a blank canvas, turns into something that looks odd and then into awesome. Mark, I am sure you could blend your backdrops so they look continuous. All in acrylic paint so something we can manage. Who knew model railroading included scenery painting?
Thank you, Bob, and Jeff!! 😄
I haven’t heard of Jerry Yarnell, but I sure have heard of Master Sergeant turned easy going Bob Ross! 👍🏻
Yes, I have that section that the previous painter left with only white primer beside the interior window and the totally blank section of my Masonite behind the engine house that need painted. Jeff you are right the joints need blended as well. Both Jerry and Bob can help me do that; I’ve seen Bob Ross videos are on YouTube. There are just so many great projects to work on once a layout gets to this point, sometimes it is hard to pick what to work on next! 🤔
Bob said it best, I need to get track in so I can show multiple trains running passing each other on the grades!
And maybe a happy little tree can bridge a gap here and there! 😊
I started watching Bob Ross and was intrigued. I've only seen him work in oils which can be different than acrylics. Fun to watch and there are others who show up on PBS stations and the internet. When I stumbled across Jerry, I knew I found someone I could get good tips from. BTW there is a very interesting story behind the commercialization of "Bob Ross" some might say not so happy.
Good thing about acrylics is the ability to blend colors. Mark - that's why I think you could touch up sections and make it look like the new section is supposed to be there. Jeff
BTW I had that Yarnell series recorded but lost it when I switched TV providers. BUMMER His local series now airing is using water colors. Something I've always thought intriguing, but not so much for model railroading.
Jeff, I agree the acrylics are the way to go. I did find Jerry Yarnell on YouTube. The first episode that came up was ‘painting thunderheads’. I’ll do some more looking around to see what is there. Thank you!!
Leaving the backdrop painting discussion for another day, I want to show what I accomplished on the high line construction. Here is an overall view of the switches and track I installed this past week. The switch on the left still needs the passing track connected and the switch on the right will start the downgrade.
How about a closeup of that area showing the power drops for the track and DZ1000 switch machines? The connecting wires will be tied up near the tops of the piers and then drop down an opening to the right.
I decided to save about $25 per switch since I already had two DZ1000s. I also wired the underside like Ross Custom Switches does on their Ross Ready switches so all track sections will have power. My underneath is about 100 times uglier than Ross's, but who is going to see it now? Tomorrow, I plan to jumper power to the whole upper level mainline and see how my engines run on it before I go further.
Thank you for looking!
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Looking dang good Mark. I thought for a minute something was odd with the track in the back, then I realized that they weren't laid, just laying out of the way for now. A lot of cars viewing the rail work. Hopefully these folks are retired or young kids that don't have to be anywhere yet.
You are really making progress. Good luck tomorrow with the testing. I vote for 100% success on the first run.
Excellent Mark! Nice overview of recent work, well done. I second what Bill said, hope the test goes well and you have success.
Andy
Thank you, Dave, Bill, Andy!
Dave, yes I have lots of track just laying around. I shuffled through what I have for the closest fit before cutting. I think the cars look like they are set up for a Drive In Theater. 😄 I have a bunch setting on the other side of the layout too!
Test run is set for this afternoon as long as something else doesn’t pop up to pull me away. I already moved one riser up a bit after I laid the track. I didn’t notice a problem with just the roadbed down. 🤔
This is as exciting as a Space-X countdown! How about sharing it on a Zoom call with a countdown beginning 5 minutes before startup?
@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you, Dave, Bill, Andy!
Dave, yes I have lots of track just laying around. I shuffled through what I have for the closest fit before cutting. I think the cars look like they are set up for a Drive In Theater. 😄 I have a bunch setting on the other side of the layout too!
Test run is set for this afternoon as long as something else doesn’t pop up to pull me away. I already moved one riser up a bit after I laid the track. I didn’t notice a problem with just the roadbed down. 🤔
Drum roll please 😄!!!
Thins are really looking wonderful Mark! I wish I could be a little neater like you. But Oh well as long as were moving forward. I can't wait to hear the outcome of your test run! I hope maybe you will do a little video!
Best of luck!
Great job Mark! Your layout gets better and better with every update.
Great going Mark!!! You are rolling right along for sure.
Awesome work Mark! Looking forward to the update tonight!
Thank you, Bill, Jay, Mike, Trainmaster04, John, Rich!
Well the pressure was on, but Bill was right; the first run went without a hitch. I did leave things a little messy, Mike, beside the auto show lineup. When I posted yesterday, I had forgotten I had left a rail gap to the left of the outside window where I need to add a yet-to-be purchased switch to direct trains down a yet to be built ramp. So, I cut a section of track and fit it in temporarily.
Without further ado:
Super Mark! Looks great!
Bob
Hi Mark - Cool milk run - I tried to leave a YT comment but they were turned off, rated for children. 👍
Outstanding @Mark Boyce! That is one smooth run! I bet it's the most satisfying thing to watch after the work you've put in 
Whooeee! PERFECT RUN,
Congratulations. All the hard work is rewarded. It looks absolutely great.
Outstanding job Mark, things really went smooth, says alot about your bench work and track laying!
Nicely done Mark. Trackwork looks perfect.
After the drum roll comes:
TAAA DAAA
congratulations Mark, well done.
Perfect! Mark that is one smooth run, congratulations! Well done.
Andy
Great job and congrats!
Looks and runs great, Mark. Nice job!!
Impressive Mark - not a wobble. I only heard engine noise, nothing from the tracks. Is that correct? Nice job, one can tell you spent time to get the roadbed flat.
Very smooth ride Mark! Congratulations and having the trains able to run while you’re working on the layout is a huge bonus! Keep up the great work.
Congratulations Mark! Another milestone completed with flying colors.
Dave
Thank you, Bob, Gary, Bill, Bill, Mike, Dave, Jay, Andy, Trainmaster04, John, Jeff, Rich, Dave!
Gary, yes I selected ‘Kids’ when they came out with that feature. I didn’t realize that turned off commenting. I only use YouTube to have a place to make a link to embed on the OGR forum. Thank you for pointing this out.
Jeff, I agree I didn’t hear any appreciable track noise in person. I used the level a lot, both linear and sideways.
Thank you again!
@trainroomgary posted:Hi Mark - Cool milk run - I tried to leave a YT comment but they were turned off, rated for children. 👍
Gary, commenting about YouTube, I forgot to address the milk cars. When I first saw one of the Otto Milk cars at the Greenberg Show, I had to get it. I remember Otto Milk advertised with the Cream Top bottles. You can tell how long ago that was. Before buying, I saw it read 'Pittsburgh, Pa' above the doors. Once I got it home and opened the MTH Premier box, I noticed to the lower right of the doors, it read 'Plant - New Bethlehem, Pa' My wife's grandparents were from New Bethlehem along the Redbank Crick in neighboring Clarion County. I never knew they had a plant there. Last winter I learned MTH was going to produce two more identical cars, but with different road numbers, so I pre-ordered. Then I saw one offered here on the Forum, and checking it was a different road number, I bought it.
The other billboard refers are: Pittsburgh Provision and Packing Co., Heinz Ketchup, Libby's, The Merchants Biscuit Co., Simpson Products Co., The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea co. (A&P), Marsh Wheeling Cigars.
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Nice story Mark and that’s one sharp looking car.
Yesterday, I ran my largest steam engine with the refer train on the new upper level. I had one little hiccup on one of the new switches that was easily spotted and corrected. I’ll have to do another run and post a video later.
Looking forward to it!
Nice looking layout, luv the milk cars.
Thank you Darrell and Dave!
I didn’t get a chance to run the train yesterday, but hopefully will today.
Good luck Mark, I hope the switch fix resolves your issue.
Andy
Thank you Andy!
The problem I had with one of the switches was that the pilot wheels would derail going through the switch. I saw that the diverging route of the switch was off the roadbed by about 1/16th of an inch. Dating back to my HO days, I read numerous times to not fasten down a switch, but to let it 'float'. This is supposed to help keep a switch from binding when thrown. I continued this practice with O gauge, so the switch was 'floating' too much. I attached a piece of track and screwed it down to remedy the problem. Here is the result.
Here is the video for the H9 Consolidation pulling the same train, although reversed.
You may notice that the double track bridge is just a smidgeon higher than the track off each end. It wasn't as noticeable with the SD9, but is with the consolidation. I will have to shim the track at both ends. No big deal. To get power to the rails on the bridge, I really jerry rigged it with two short pieces of rail after the bridge is lowered into place. I know, it is really hokie (not to be confused with a Hokie, someone from Virginia Tech) 
I did receive a spool of wire and the clear WAGO connectors yesterday, so I will be wiring permanently soon.
