Designing and Planning my Next N Scale Model Railroad Layout, a Compact Model Railroad Plan

This video is the first in a series discussing my planning process for designing the track plan for a small, 36" x 80", N-Scale layout. (Correrction: in the video I talk about making a 30" x 80" layout. Later I decided to make it larger into a 36" x 80" layout in order to get it big enough to include everything I wanted.)
The series is aimed at a beginner model railroader, but there are a lot of hints for those with more experience. In this session, I will discuss how I used the Atlas Track Planning software (free) to plan the layout.
I have finished much of my previous layout, the Scenic Ridge RR built with a kit from Woodland Scenics.
Here is an outline of my video series on the Scenic Ridge (subject to change as I go along)
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1. Introduction to Layout and Base Construction • Scenic Ridge #1 Intro...
2. Track Laying and Wiring • Scenic Ridge #2 Track ...
3. Switches (Turnouts) and Switch (Turnout) Motors • Scenic Ridge #3 Swi...
--Capacitive Discharge Switch Machine Power Supply • Making a Capacitive Di...
4. Outer Walls and Fascia Boards • Scenic Ridge #4 Outer ...
--Strong, Lightweight Table • Strong, Light Weight, ...
5. Bridges and Tunnels • Scenic Ridge #5 Bridge...
6. Mountain and Terrain Supports, Plaster Cloth, and Rocks • Scenic Ridge #6 Mounta...
7. Roads and Buildings • Scenic Ridge #7 Roads ...
8.Scenic Ridge #8 Final Scenery, Ballast, Tunnel Portals, Landscape, and Rocks • Scenic Ridge #8 Final ...