You know what shunting is . Stop complaining .
If you have Google Earth (why not ? it’s very good and good fun too ) have a look at the
“Superior Tie and Timber” works whose layout would make a super operating thingy .
Try —32deg 49’ 30" N , 93deg 58’ 51" W .
This puts you in the throat of the system just to the east of the main north south Kansas City Southern off which this appealing looking system spurs . Note the holding line and so on . Around 150 foot square should do it at 1/20 .
Details courtesy a local member of railfanning . Not far from you .
Mike
Not half bad!
But I like this one better better
50 23’ 41.20"N 119 13’ 42.40"W
It’s also a lot closer for railfanning, watch for the article in a Large Scale magazine in the (near) future. 
Hans ,
That facility is very impressive . I like the two way traffic involved , raw timber in and processed out . And in my favourite Canadian province , British Columbia . BC has an abundance of facilities like this , and odds to what the tree huggers might say , it’s all renewable–they plant where they fell . In fact they plant more than they fell .
I hate to disagree with you over a small point , I think the essence of the Alabama site is that it offers easy reduction ,without losing the spirit of the place . The main line with a spur at right angles makes a telling statement about its intent . From the layout point of view , forming the main into an oval surrounding the facility would keep the original attraction intact . Particularly the “parallel to main” pickup sidings with the works sidings at a right angle .
It would not be very difficult to model it as is without adding to or leaving out tracks ,that is the attraction , and there are not too many crowded together tracks .
However , like all things modelling , it’s down to what you enjoy , I could happily model either .
The Canadian one probably gives a wider choice of operating companies , I would think there would be a good mix of American and Canadian stock in there . That gives it a decided advantage when one is tempted to buy another
operating company loco and needs the excuse to get it .
If I had the room I would build both .
Thanks for the Navigation info .
Hans , what’s gone wrong ? We are agreeing on something . That will have to stop straight away .
Mike
And , Hans , this is where all my favourite railways are .
I can’t get there often enough
46deg 53’ 39" N ; 7deg 17’ 56" E .
Mike
Mike Morgan said:
… Hans , what’s gone wrong ? We are agreeing on something . That will have to stop straight away . Mike
Mike , I tell you what’s wrong, you’re getting so close to 70 that you’re mellowing. 
Keep your eyes peeled for articles in the
. Various themes “getting treated”.
Hi all, “Perfect” is always relative (at the best of times!), but … A few weeks ago one of the “not so imaginative” Swiss participants on a German forum posed the question: “What could one do with four elements each measuring 31.5” by 59"? " Naturally I had a variety of suggestions and all of them fit the “Turnouts have to be R1 and the theme has to be North American; also there should be continuous running and plenty of switching” requirements.
Maybe not “perfect”, but small enough to take to shows and keep spectators entertained for a while… The assembled square would measure 90.5" by 90.5". A few industry suggestions to follow.
PS Oh yeah, the blue track in the Top-Right segment going “off layout” is the fiddle connector track.
A shorty railcar (how about chopping an Aristo?), a critter and short cars (forty footers), a car forwarding system, a simple but reliable DCC system… Hours of fun to distribute and pick up cars.
Of course the railcar would be strictly for “fun” i.e. once the switcher starts the chores on the blue track of the industrial district, the railcar keeps running. That will prevent any of those well-known “let’s do it the easy way” moves back on to the red “main line”. To make it really interesting one person could play “yard master” - decides what goes into the industrial peddler consist and what needs to be picked up. The second person does the switching while the “yard master” runs the railcar and watches the m-a-n-y switching moves.
HJ that is a brillant layout design , I really do like it , I printed it , and have been operating and switching on it , and it really works well , for me . I had been wondering what I could do inside , maybe with some O scale/gauge trains I have , and this works very nicely , thanks for shareing a great work . If I ever do build it , I will name something on the layout after you .
Thanks Dennis!
Check out one of the upcoming “BigTrainOperator” mags (#120??) for another switching challenge using the same basic elements but in a different configuration and even more industries.