I've been operating on the CR&N for a while now, and have experimented with different ways to switch my cars around.  I started out just randomly picking places to move cars, but that gets old pretty quick.  I moved on to the Switch List Generator available here at MRH.  That Excel-based generator works well, and I like it. 

My layout is not big.  It’s a 9x4:5 foot shelf-style switching layout that only runs one loco at a time.  I started out using straight DC before switching over to a NCE PowerCab (nice system).  I had heard about using wifi to control trains, so eventually bought an NCE USB adapter. It was amazing to put down the tethered throttle!  But...I had to have my laptop up and running and wires running here and there.  There had to be a better way!

Structures are an on-going concern on the CR&N.  I am using a combination of scratch-built and what seem to be mostly DPM buildings, along with some Walthers backdrop buildings.

 This is the Soylent Corp.  It is the biggest shipper on the line, and takes boxcars, covered hoppers, and tank cars.  The building itself is made of foamcore with photocopied walls from another building glued on.

To create my benchwork, I used 3/4 inch birch plywood. 

I cut 22 inch "C" shaped pieces, and then notched them for cross pieces.  My cross pieces are also 3/4 inch plywood cut into 1.5 inch wide strips 56 inches long.  Wood glue and brads hold everything together.  The upper and lower shelves are 1/4 inch pine plywood, held down with sheetrock screws.  I glued 1 inch foam to the lower shelf.

This is my first post on my Coeur d'Alene Railway and Navigation (CR&N) layout, currently under construction in sunny West Texas.  The layout (see attached plan) is 9 feet by 4.5 feet on two 18 inch shelves.  I built the benchwork from 3/4 birch plywood and mounted it to the walls in my train room.  I used 1 inch foam over 1.4 inch plywood for my decking.  All the track is down, and most is ballasted.  I have got some basic scenery roughed in, and have building low profile buildings for industries.