Thanks Dansco, Russ and David.
I know I've just started scatching the surface of possible layouts for this room but I really appreciate any and all the expert advice you guys along with Andrew, Roger and others have shared with me so far.
First of all, I am pretty sure I won't be using too many of my Brass Locomotives on my layout as a lot of the older ones are not great 'runners' and with the newest ones costing me, in some cases in the $1000's, I wouldn't want to wear them down. Since Broadway Limited to mention only one company, is building very detailed 'Hybrids' that run well (and cost a lot less than brass), my thought was to use their Hudsons, Mohawks and then pick up a few Pacifics, Atlantics, Mikados and maybe even a Ten-wheeler from other companys. I would possibly use one of my older brass pieces in the foreground that would be stationary...too early to tell......
My layout #2 right now uses a 24" minimum radius (closet radius is 28.5")
The section I would really enjoy detailing (Cold Spring/Breakback Mountain was a 4-Track Mailline section that ran just in from the Hudson River past Cold Spring and then though Breakback mountain. Meanwhile, straight across the Hudson at Cold Spring, running up and down the river and tunneled under West Point Mititary Academy and at the base of Storm King mountain ran a main Freight line!
I always envisioned my layout to incorporate thes two main train elements with the river being where I would stand and others would view. Given the extreme small size of this room, I will have to compromise...a bit, But David's point about the multiple track is still the most important.
I am attaching some simple reference shot of the general area i want to model.....
As far as my layout #2 is concerned, It's back to the drawing board........