Small layout concept - help please

[steinjr]

Consider only modelling as much of the industry as is on the other side of the fence, enough space to put a car in, and paint the rest on a flat.
Also, a traverser (pivoted section of track) instead of switches.

This is the good advice. The challenge with combining larger modern cars and H0 and on-board switches in 5 feet of length is that the turnouts/switches and the necessary clearance section beyond the switch (so a car being pushed into track 2 doesn't hit a car on track 1) quickly eats up five feet of length.

I would also suggest seriously considering either backdating your layout (so you can use smaller 40' cars and small engines, as suggested by Brakie), or switching to N scale (where 15" x 5 foot is the equivalent of about 27" x 9 foot in H0 scale)

Some 36" x 18" H0 plans illustrating various ways of moving an engine and a car or two between tracks "off board" - engines shown are 40' cars, engine shown is a small diesel switcher:



And here is a quick sketch of a possible largish industry on a 5 foot H0 scale layout with a 3-foot movable switching lead:


Smile,
Stein