Simplicity

We've all heard that tis a gift to be simple. I think this layout will live up to that gift. And this more focused approach will hopefully help this layout end up closer to what I have in mind. But on the simplicity.
This railroad will have one purpose and that is to serve the sawmill. Loads in, empties out. The sawmill is much like the one I work on, a portable mill powered by portable power. Manpower is limited and our production must balance our operating costs. The product remains local after sale and it's a family run operation.
The idea of a sawmill based railroad came from a digital book I came across about how to build and operate a sawmill. I plan on perusing this book a bit more to learn how you plan to build a railroad to serve your mill and what the cost vs. benefit is.
-The railroad will be single track built on little to no ballast. This will be my first layout based around Code 83 as opposed to Code 100.
-There is no interchange with another railroad. I hope to make this railroad insular as defined by current FRA standards. The sawmill company will own all the land the railroad occupies.
-Minimum radius will be 18". I would like to go 15" but operating at those extremes limits my motive power and rolling stock options.
-Grades will minimized as much as possible to allow for ease of operation. There will be a single switchback en route to the upper camp. Lower landing will occupy this switchback.
-I want every piece of scenery, track, motive power and rolling stock to have a reason for it's inclusion on the layout.
The layout is to be L-shaped foam core on a wood grid base. Deck level will be optimized for operation and it will be conventionally powered with blocks for two locomotive operation.