L&N Industrial Rail Spur

[FCIN]

IMHO I would go with track plan #2,and add another track to the staging tracks.Reason being is because if you have empty's already staged at all your industries,they will need a place to go(staging)to be shipped outbound,and another track(staging) for inbound(loaded).I think it will add more switching oppurtunities for ya
Don Shriner

Don;
Plan is that the inbound train would be staged - enter the layout and switch the industries as required, then go back to staging with the outbound cars. All the outbound cars would then be removed from staging and a new inbound batch staged for the next operating session. I don't like for the same cars to always be on the layout or in every operating session. I have enough equipment that a car would not reappear on the layout after going "off-line" until about 5 or 6 operating sessions later (figuring an average of 4 or 5 cars inbound each session). But adding a second staging track could allow for having say a first shift and third shift crew switch the layout each session.

...can you angle those overpasses just a little bit to eliminate the "right angle" look?

If I include the highway overpass, which I probably will, I will angle it some. Same with road crossings, if it looks right and fits with the track/industry foot print.

Rix Products has a kit for two different style two lane highway overpasses that are 150 scale feet in length and the 18 inch layout width is roughly 130 scale feet, so shouldn't be much of a problem. My track plan designs are pretty rough and I just use them as a starting point. Once I start testing turnout locations and track locations, things tend to change for one reason or another.

I been thinking of a overpass for my layout-a Interstate type ...

Larry;
Have considered the Interstate/4 lane type overpass myself, but that would take up a lot of width compared to a two lane overpass. Still, it could be one way to fill in some of the space if I go with all the turnouts as facing point. One thing I want to avoid as much as possible, is having the first industrial spur on the "main" layout be very close to a bare (no scenery) staging area or staging cassette. Best example of what I'm talking about would be Lance Mindheim's East Rail layout: http://www.lancemindheim.com/track_plan.htm
On that layout, when you're switching the Colmar Storage warehouse, the train is actually on a bare staging cassette most of the time. Not that there is anything wrong with that, just that it would spoil the overall effect for me, if the engine and most of the train were not on the scenic part of the layout. Removable or permanent, I'd have it wide enough to allow putting at least minimal scenery on it so it would "feel" like part of the overall layout, if you understand what I'm trying to convey.

As for the EACH box cars. I've searched the Internet, train shows and every hobby shop I run across to no avail. Maybe one day, when I least expect it, I'll find one. Can no longer get the Herald King decal sets, so painting one myself is pretty much out of the question at this point.