Thanks to all who participated. Case closed.

Initially I liked #1, now I like the more finished photo you posted most recently. #33 in upper corner.

Able to see all 4 photos on Safari on my iPhone 8’s whose spellcheck thinks it’s smarter than I am. It’s probably right.

I like option two. The varying heights flow nicely from the existing buildings on the right to the woods on the left.
Dave

Mike, that short spur at the interlocking tower could be lengthened a few inches more. Hopefully room for two reefers or box cars.

I wasn't sure if the tower is put to best purpose being there. More likely the spur will have coal and water, rather than send locos back to the main yard facilities. Some thing small would work.

That's for your ideas. I do listen. (But don't tell my wife)

Dave,

I really like where you're going on this area, especially the larger buildings; they look more real and fill the area nicely. Better than a lot of small buildings.

It looks like you realigned the short spur that I questioned. Looks better and seems to make more sense. Could you lengthen it to hold more equipment and still have a small building? Doesn't really need a building; it would serve as an overflow track. I'm not sure an interlocking tower is needed in a switching district.

Mike

I'm attaching two photos so that you all have a an overview of the harbor area. The foreground area to the left, is missing the Toadsuck Cannery as it is still in the box. I tossed a few paper buildings on, as place keepers only, to help fill the scene..

Along the wall you can see where pieces of advice, public and private, from several of you, are shaping the area. I broke down the four story gray building from earlier in this thread to use as a low mid foreground building on the cannery row siding. I also added another panel to the red building against the backdrop to make it wider.., and now has a loading door. Likely to be cold storage or ice facility.

You'll also note the four story mill (plastic ) was also lengthened by one section, giving it a different feel to its character as well.

I think I'm close now.
Your impressions , observations, ideas and criticisms are always welcome.

Option #2 got the most votes.

You'll see that below, this is essentially option #2 with extended length to both buildings, and repurposing the gray building that is now out of the background role determined by your opinions and votes.

Dave

Tough decision'. but I have to go with two'...

Got em all now. I like #2 (first choice) & #4 (second choice).

I like option #5 better. No reason other than it looks better than the 1 thru 4.

Bernd

Center spur was intended for switcher engine storage, watertower and coal, maybe a control tower, or just a few boxcars, being that storage space is so limited everywhere.

Thanks for the ideas.

David,

That looks better and makes more sense.

Here are some suggestions to consider. Shorten the new siding from what you've mocked up so that it runs in front of the red and center gray buildings only. Angle it and the buildings a little as it runs toward the backdrop. Move the leftmost gray building out to the siding that currently exists. The new siding would run towards the side of the leftmost building.

That very short spur in the center: I'd remove it unless it has a clear purpose. Right now it does not look realistic.

Mike

Jbvb, the buildings are simply propped up for illustrative intent. Final clearance will not be an issue later, but thanks for bringing up that point to remember. As mentioned nothing is finalized, nor nailed down. Just getting opinions and ideas from fellow modelers as this point.

The track closest to the buildings would be the service track for (un) loading. The track farther away but parallel, is what I would consider as "the storage track"

Here's the Federal Register link:
https://www.federalregister.gov/docu...es-and-charges
Search the page for "1910" to find the historical background. There is probably a lot more on demurrage out there, but Google doesn't seem to think it's interesting to people they want to show ads to.

In your latest post I see 2 pictures. In front of the leftmost building, there are two spurs, implying bridge plates must be used to reach boxcars on the closer track. There isn't clearance to spot a boxcar in front of the taller part of the red building. I don't think the rearmost track can really be considered 'storage' if it's actually a customer siding.

In your earlier pictures, you're putting buildings with loading doors behind turnouts. This would be awkward for the customers, as before forklifts it was difficult to get a boxcar full or empty in less than 8-12 hours. RRs charge 'demurrage' for cars that sit at a customer's spur too long. In 1939 2 free days were allowed for loading or unloading. In 1975 it changed to 1 free day to load, the Federal Register doesn't mention changes to unloading time..

Sometimes I am amazed by what I discover. Tonight I discovered taking pictures works much better when I put the memory card back into the camera.

I mentioned in response to GeeTee about making no major track alignment changes. I played with the idea of putting in a turnout at the left edge of the malting house (tall tan structure to the right) Also it would not be big deal at this point in planning to alter the red structure to add a loading door.

Here's two pictures for consideration of "option 5". It takes what Mike pointed out about the spacing looking to regimented (even) and the lack of usefulness of the red building without loading doors. the additional trackage also adds storage space which in is short supply in the harbor area.

Nothing has been decided yet, so your opinions matter. Please post them up.
Let me know if you are unable to see TWO pictures below.