For those who are “more sophisticated” this may all be a ‘ho hum’, so you can feel free to click on another link. For those just getting started, or those who don’t have any garden to play in, Here’s what can be done with little space and not a whole lot of money… Most of my stuff is second hand and reworked on the kitchen table. 
The basic layout is a simple R-1 loop with a short siding taking up about 5 feet by 8 feet, sitting on top of an old diningroom table. It is in 3 sections, so it can be broken down and moved. I had a bit more room after the last move, so I added a short spur line. For those coming up from smaller scales it might look a bit lacking is some details, the AV was started outside, and hopes to be again…eventually. This is very much a garden railroad moved indoors. Bare board (taken as I was breaking it down to move last time) track is held in place only by the ballast. Ballast is cheapy cat litter kept where it belongs with good old diluted white glue.
The spur line under construction
Primary motive power is a reworked LGB 2017 bought well loved then kitbashed. Cars are Lehmann Toytrain for 2 very good reasons, they are (or at least were) cheap, and their short length looks the best on those sharp curves.
The village of Kimberly part 1 - All buildings are Piko Wild West/Pleasantown, with gabled fronts to represent an eastern company coal town (plus they are small and fairly cheap, at least used)
The village part 2 - The “business district” consists of a general store and a coffee shop…all I had room for. Newbie tip: Remember, you don’t have to model EVERYTHING, just enough to convey an impression.
The back side of the stores. This is usually the first part of the layout a visitor sees.
The schoolyard, school is out for the day
The mine takes up about 1/3 of the spur. The bottom is scratchbuilt the top another Piko house to maintain the “company” feel
The farmyard is on the outside corner of the spur
The 4 guys cutting up firewood is a mini scene I scratchbuilt just a few weeks ago
Shadetree mechanics.
This building I had custom made for about $40 by a guy who sells them on evilBay, it was my Christmas gift from me to me 2 years ago. The traction engine is a cast metal toy.
scratchbuilt oil well (no derrick) helps hid the fact that the table just ends in empty space behind it.
feeding time… I think it’s simple everyday things like this that brings a scene to life.
Not everything need be serious…The villagers all scoff at the tales of a monster living in the woods
You never know who you may run into down by the lake
That’s enough (too much?) for one post. Hope you liked the tour