Three, you can add a backdrop that in turn adds miles to the depth of your scene. So, we planned a route around the basement much as a real survey team may have with no thought of town locations or where yards could go. We made a benchwork plan of the basement and then added the towns and yards later where wide spots occurred in the road, just like real. The northbound ore passes by a feed and seed dealer as it leaves Lou's Ford on its way to Fort Woodward. This prompted a heated discussion on standards.
Standards are part of the plan, son.
Fine, now while we were at it, how about some practical people standards. More heated discussions including weight watchers, famous Detroit restaurants and conventional table silver versus yard implements for eating found us agreed on 36-inch aisles. After that, table height reared its head. I am 6 feet 4 inches and like to view trains at near eye level. Some of my friends needed ladders and stools to achieve the same altitude or be picked up.