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Darren, I would suggest you do some more homework and give up on the 4 by 8 - especially if you want to run 1990 to present loc's. The reason I say this is that contemporary loc's need wide radius turns, something you won't have on a 4 by 8, which traditionally runs 18 inch curves or smaller. With some engines you have to take the minimum radius they will run on seriously - ask me how I know. If you take that same 4 by 8 sheet and cut it into two lenght wise, you'll have a really enjoyeble switching layout that is 10 by 6, and two feet wide. This layout will also look better and more realistic as the "real" RR's don't run round and round. If you want a "gimmick" to get new cars on and off the layout, build a barge area that can take a barge. The barge will carry new cars to be switched and removed already switched cars. This still happens here in Vancouver with a BNSF barge that is very active, out of Vancouver, BC. IF you have the dollars start out with the Zephyr Digitrax DCC unit, it comes with power supply and command station, which you need. You will save yourself money in the long run by going directly to DCC rather than purchasing a traditional power or two - you need more than one power pack to run more than one train. You can get power packs with dual control, but this gets interesting when you run your trains with a buddy. I know you would like continuous running (train goes round in a circle) but this gets old very very fast and you will wish you had a more interesting layout. The WS layouts you purchase - as recommended above - are simplistic in track plans - which means early onset boredom. Many of the guys with the large layouts run the trains "point to point" (no continuous running) and they have a great time with the layout because the track plan provides for interesting and different options to run your trains and engines. The proto 9/12 switcher you have is "okay". I would keep it and use it especially if you do an "L" shaped layout as I suggested. Its still very much in use today.
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