No room for a layout, so I'm going with a diorama...

It'll be a static display, but at least it'll give me a chance to flex my modeling chops, and display some of my hardware. Sitting on top of a buffet in my living room, this 66 " x 21" display will have as much railroading crammed in as I can fit. In the rear will be 2 elevated lines, with catenery, A stonework viaduct will support them, with an angled arched road tunnel underneath at one end. This will display a Metroliner, and a train made up of MP54 cars. The road will cross the 2 lower lines via a grade crossing, complete with lighted sawbucks. Right after the crossing, a switch will branch off towards the viaduct where a maintenance siding will house a CNJ Bucyrus crane and tending gondola, probably with a few vintage cars parked on a dirt road. From the other end a switch on the near side will provide a siding for a few stray freight cars, with a switchtower (assuming more switching taking place beyond this module). Various CNJ trains will be positioned on the 2 main tracks. 

The base for the diorama is 1" pink foam insulation. The "viaduct" section will be removable, and is constructed from pink foam with a wooden top, which gives both structural stability, and allows the track and catenery to be securely mounted to it. Road surfaces have been printed on cardstock, which will easily attach to the foam base. You can see one section here beneath the NJ Public Service bus that I just completed. It started life in a fantasy New Haven "fallen flags" livery, but is now much more accurately painted. Though it's hard to see in this pic, it even has somewhat accurate NJ license plates.
   

Progress so far... 

Still have to add railings on the viaduct, and wires on the catenary. Lower level is still in total construction mode. When finished, there'll be a 2 track grade crossing on the road, with a siding off each track.

Finished the catenary. It's just a quick and dirty simplified version, but it'll work for what I need. Starting to detail the bottom piece...
 

Work is coming along on ESSAY tower (South Amboy, NJ). Looks like I need to find something to stop the LED from shining through the roof. Still need to add the copper gutters and fill the gaps between panels, but I'm making good progress... 

Moving along, tracks (mostly) ballasted, crossbucks installed, started filling in some vegetation...