Hi all, here’s my HO Scale trackplan I’ve recently started building. 
 

It is 10’x12’ with 22” minimum radius curves and based on the Indiana Harbor Belt in Chicago. I’m trying to work out the staging yard/operations to maximize realistic operations as best I can. 
 

The branch line to Riverdale will feature a hot metal train, and coal cars for a power plant. The yard has two major industries, the ethanol transload and potash facility. On the opposite side of the roundhouse will be the track and signal MOW department and they’ll receive all sorts of items in gondolas. This is my third room sized layout, looking for something that can host operating sessions and be enjoyable to operate. My other layouts lacked staging to keep it interesting. 
 

on the outside town, the layout will be built with a shadowbox for railfanning. There is a Metra commuter stop and many trains will be using the Universal crossover.