Stephen,
What does Athearn, Lifelike, Model Power, etc. have to do with Bachmann?
I don't see you complaining when those companies are mentioned.
Or was your comment just meant to rag on other board users?
I have both Lionel and Bachmann on my layout.

I'm returning with you now to those thrilling days of yesteryear when the Iron Horse rolls again. High ball Mogul awayyyyyyy........

If you're able to count the number you have, then you don't have enough.

Goofy126 - And I thought that only happened on model railroads.

I guess it depends on what your definition of "curved" is. 
I've never heard of anyone speak of angled bridges. They're either curved or straight.
I'd call these curved even though they are made of straight sections.

I am not sure what you mean by "shortening of rail".
Are you talking about cutting off a section of the EZ Track?
Or cutting individual rail(s) on a piece of EZ Track?
With all the EZ Track I've worked with, I've never had a problem with an individual rail or both rails on a piece of EZ being too long for the roadbed.
Bad batch from the factory?
I'm also not sure what you mean by "re-alignment at the joiners".  Are the joiners cockeyed on the piece?
The only time I've had to replace joiners is from frequent assembly and disassembly where they get bent out of shape or where they get bent down from picking up long sections, like a half moon, without proper support in the middle.
I guess it's possible they could be screwed up from the factory but I've never seen it.

Barry,
Sorry I overlooked your question.
Here is the book -


http://www.bestwebbuys.com/Empire_State_Railway_Museum's_Tourist_Trains_2006-ISBN_9780871162243.html?isrc=b-search

Put an ad in the local paper or a note on a local bulletin board.

1. Have you ever rode on a steam train? Yes

2. Where was your last steam train ride? Jackson, Missouri

3. What year was your last steam train ride? 2006

4. Do you often "chase" steam trains for enjoyment or photo ops.? Whenever I can. The Black Hills Central is a good one for that the way it winds around.

5. Bonus Q  What is your all time favorite steam train? Can't say.

I thought that was really neat.

Usher - I don't see why you couldn't use cereal boxes. The others have good ideas, too.
When I was a kid, I use to use cereal boxes and any other boxes I could find to make castles and forts.
Scissors, Elmer's glue, markers, old magazines (to cut out pictures of things like trees, people, etc.), and construction paper were all that was needed.

BJ,
Why cut the EZ Track when the 2"ers are already made, just not sold separately.

PDS - I've never used the crossovers.
Jonathan - I'm not doing any more experimenting for now. I'm sticking with my 4 scale Christmas layout and concentrating on working on the cars and locos.

PDS -
It was Bojangle having trouble with the turnouts.

Jonathan,
There are an abundance of "S" curves on the pics above, depending on which direction I set the turnouts.
As for everybody else, you tell me. Sounds like you're just dying to jump in with your comments on the merits or non-merits of the "S" curve.