Hmmm. What about another rolling 4x8 that could butt up to that one modular style, or be connected bridges, etc. keeping "stand alone" running an option..?
4 x 10? 4 x 12? (straights are nice, so are long snake-y S curves)
Yep, every inch counts. That foot = near a mainstreet plus the buildings if not more room for track that isn't an exact oval.
Or room for reverse loops, longer sidings, etc..
After running for a while, what have you learned about how you actually run your trains and what changes would enhance running "DF style" ?