"space for a HO layout along

Do you plan to go all the way around the room or just part way?  In a small room I try to add a cross door removable section so I can run continuously when desired for loco testing or train watching fun.With the section removed I have a point to point line to operate. Lance Mindheim has a nice book or shelf layouts for rooms this size, if you want container operations you might like his Port of Palm Beach layout? .....DaveB

Sorry Dave, missing a w in

Sorry Dave, missing a w in two there. L shape both 9ft legs. I have the Mindheim collection, the approach to Jack's plan is from the same mold however the room is 9ft square so I don't have the space for a cassette on the end of either leg. Lance's small layout book uses a room 11 X 12 which may not seem that much different but it does make adapting the plans rather awkward. I don't have a lot of space to play with unfortunately.  The appeal of Jack's plan is one leg acts as the switch lead but still has a secondary industry there and I can scenic it. As it happens there is a lot of similarity between the Inland Container track layout and the layout in "How to build a Switching layout" book.

Inland Container makes corrugated cardboard boxes rather than shipping containers. The easy of confusion has caused trouble on google as it too thinks I mean the shipping kind.

I do appreciate your reply Dave. I guess what I'm after is a prototype of a cardboard box manufacturer similar to that of Jack's design, with a similar track layout that I can use as the basis of the physical look of the Inland Container building. Jack only based his operational design on his inspiration, the real building looks nothing like his model. 

thanks,

steve

Simple plan could be the

Simple plan could be the best. 3 legs 9 ft in length, two end legs one curve at the connecting end. Connector shorter section as the connector has the 18 inch depth lost due to track being at the front edge of the layout.

Container trans load to ship or to truck on one end of the layout, interchange yard on the other. Removable cassette on the front edge if you like to make moving things on and off the layout easier. extra cassettes could be stored under the layout. Center section connects the interchange and the container facility and has two to four industries of it's own to provide some variety. Corn syrup plant, large food distributor, large ware houses to take goods from box cars, cannery or grain elevator. Should allow good interchange possibilities and variety.

Your engines could be leased units from connecting roads with your short line not actually owning anything, one unit from each really makes sense.

Thanks Rob, something more I

Thanks Rob, something more I should consider

Sidenote:  many plans have

Sidenote:  many plans have spurs that are way too short for contemporary modeling.  We do have to employ selective compression and I know of some examples of 100 ft long spurs, but most spurs around here are 200 to 300 feet long or more, even in "crowded" industrial parks.  (I base that observation on counting cars spotted at industries/warehouses on the BNSF, CN and 3 industrial parks nearby.)

Just a thought.

Good of luck with your planning.