We've used the dining room table as a "temporary" layout since Christmas last year, when my wife gave me a postwar Lionel train set that she got from a friend of hers. ("We" being my almost 3 yr old grandson and I) Since then, we've expanded a bit, adding a Lion Chief John Deere train set, several items of rolling stock and a few engines, most purchased either at DuPage Train Show or a couple of local hobby shops. The time has come to make a bit more permanent layout, or maybe less temporary might be a better description, as it will still reside on the dining room table. Here's a couple pictures before demolition.
Then a couple pictures of my grandson Rex helping with putting on sticky-back foam weather strip tape to the bottom of the framework. The idea is to protect the top of the dining room table, and perhaps to help reduce sound a bit. The framework was built from scraps of wood and chipboard that were left over from set construction of several plays that I was involved with. Holes are drilled for wiring to pass through, although I did just figure out I missed making a couple right near the drop shelf. The slanted section is for mounting of switch controls, operating accessory switches, circuit breakers, etc. The detachable drop shelf is for holding the transformers, which will have quick disconnects so the whole shelf with transformers can be easily removed for safe playing while I'm not home. 
The last picture is of a test fitting for the track layout. I wanted to incorporate both traditional tube track and FastTrack, with the latter being in a perimeter loop for easy access to push train cars around. Rex likes to make LONG trains... He will be allowed to push cars around on the inner tube track layout, as with the previous layout. However, he is still just starting to learn how switches work, so I may still leave the square switch light/operators off unless I'm there so he doesn't accidentally force something in the wrong direction. He LOVES playing trains with me, which is a pure joy for both of us. Of course, he somehow settles for playing trains by himself when I'm not there...
I've thought about maybe making this layout journey a separate thread, as I've been inspired by quite a few threads here, very enjoyable.
Hi Folks: I've been working on the river on the right side of the round the wall layout. I finally added some color to the river bed, and tomorrow I'll start adding the first coat of gloss acrylic medium. There is a stream section under the truss bridge at the entrance to our train shed, and I have experimented with that small area first. That's the first picture.
