Thank you, Steve, Firewood, and Pat!
Yes, I have trouble putting down on paper what I am thinking of in three dimensions. Maybe it is from my early training in drafting, where I did fine on each side view, but the isometric drawings were always a challenge. Fortunately, when I went into electronics, I was just doing schematic drawings and front views of equipment panel layouts. This was all with T-square and triangle on vellum or mylar. (Yes, the Dark Ages) 
I had a time of it trying to make a drawing for DoubleDAZ Dave to see what I had in mind for the town on the hill.
The timber pier purchase was a surprise. We have a gift shop in the little shopping center near us. Greater Butler Mart. What an ambitious name for a town of 13,000, but it was state of the art back in 1960 when it opened. Back to the gift shop, the lady has a lot of trains in the shop. They are mostly from the MPC era and up to, but not including any command control. Anyway, there was this K-Line box there brand new without any of the inner wrapping open. She wanted $20 for it, and I realized it was just the ticket for a stand in until I can come up with a more permanent arrangement, which I plan to be long after I do scenery work behind it. I do plan to paint it to make it a little more realistic looking.
You are right, I am itching to get a train running around the whole layout. Now the two challenges will be:
1. To get the wiring in so I don't have to move alligator jumpers everywhere.
2. Receive my small order from Mianne to complete the last leg (literally) of the table. I sent the order and paid Tim already. (I could build it up with a 2x4 as the missing leg and swap in the Mianne leg and I-beams if he is too backlogged.)
3. Build the lift up bridges and electrical work in so I don't have any accidents.
