Hey Dave - Glad for your speedy and complete recovery. That kind of surgery is scary stuff.
I had to extend the yard to install the Lionel Saw Mill. I was not expecting to have a mill when I laid out the yard but it's a neat accessory. I had some Homasote left over so I have been putting it to use in the widened and extended yard. I supported the Homasote with 1/2" plywood. The longer log cars required an extension of the track in front of the loader as well. There was just enough room by the switch motor for the track extension. I had shifted the Saw mill as far as I could without fouling another passing siding adjacent to the yard.