With over 300 feet of track I needed a lot of Ballast and inexpensive. So, this is what I came up with, I made several different colors, I really like how it turned out. DSteckler I made the brown for you

I visited the SIDOR steel mill in Venezuela in 1999 while working there.  Alco (re-engined) and GE switchers a plenty in a place no one has heard of. 

https://ageologistchasingtrains.blogspot.com/2020/08/sidor-venezuela-may-25-1999.html

Marc Simpson

I've said before that it's ironic that layout owners seldom operate their own layouts, often playing host for operating sessions instead.

Just received Rapido Trains Inc. CN Dash 8-40CM “Draper Taper” in N Scale.

As a member of the Operations Special Interest Group, OPSIG, I have been following their virtual meetings on You-tube. During one of these meetings a question and answer one mention was made of "active staging".

I use "active staging" on my medium sized layout. "Active staging" allows us to run more trains out of the limited number of tracks in the staging yard and also allows us to run more trains with the limited amount of rolling stock that can be held on the medium sized layout. 

Another large building is being planned.  Bekins Van Lines will be in Encanto.

Summer is two thirds done, and traditional summer ends in a week. Through this pandemic I have been working regular hours at the gold mine I work at. Vacation was staycation this year so no new adventures to model railroads, new hobby shops or railway museums. Lots of virtual participation and online hobby shop purchases.