Thank you for the kind words, but honestly, I get most of my ideas from looking at the quality work found right here on this site. I only wish MORE pictures were posted here...there's so much to learn from actually seeing the work instead of only reading about it.
Yes, that is EZ track, but there's nothing ez about putting ballast on it. Since the track roadbed is plastic, I found the typical water/glue/drop of dish washer detergent mixture that so many recommended didn't stick too well. Maybe it was the plastic, maybe it was the user. Either way - when I added a few parts carpenters glue, the ballast stayed in place much better and didn't run off the roadbed sides. Also, there is no absorbtion to the roadbed...so any excess runs off right away. It takes a little while to figure out just the right amount of glue to put down that will hold the ballast but not drip off and carry the ballast with it.
Of course...that layout isn't even closed to being considered "finished". So you guys post more pictures of your layouts so a newbie like me can get some more ideas to improve mine.