Thanks for the kind words everyone. Lester, I am not a member of any club - It is just my 2 foot x 8 foot switching layout. It is built so that I can expand at either end. At the moment I am working on an extension {2ft x 4 ft } that will allow me to expand it to 2ft x 12 ft. In a way it is a modular layout insomuch that it allows me to easily move the layout if that becomes necessary, and to be able to add on at either end as space and time become available. However, there are no set track guidelines or standards in the classic sense of modular layout building. My main goal is to have easy access to all turnouts [handthrown], and ease of maintenance. I plan in the future to have most of the add-ons a depth of 18 inches or so, so that each scene will have more of a trackside feel to it when photographing the layout. Thanks again for everyones feedback.
Stuart