TPBO

[FCIN]

I have had some industry buildings between the front of the layout and the first track.
That was fully functioning and no real technical problem at all (uncoupling etc. worked great). However I did never feel comfortable sitting behind a view blocker. Sounds crazy but I could not stand it after some time and replaced it with a free loading area later. May be wise to start the two front non rail served buildings on the left hand with simple mock up for some time and see how you feel so "separated" from the tracks.

I had considered putting a working industry structure between the layout edge and the track, like you mention, but sort of figured it would be a problem in the long run. Not being able to see the cars spotted behind the structure for one thing.

Even thought about having a structure where the track ran inside the building and you'd be able to look into the structure with a detailed interior. But that could cause problems coupling/uncoupling cars. For example, if there were four cars in the building and you only needed to pull the first three.

I'm thinking this will work okay, as the area where buildings are on both sides of the track, is really nothing more than a switching lead and I wouldn't be concentrating on that area very much while switching the first two tracks. I also like the "canyon" look it gives as you enter the spur. I think there is enough space on either side of the track between the buildings so it doesn't look too crowed.

I'll certainly have to make mockup's of these structures to see if it does or doesn't look/work right.