diff --git a/src/ui/Rail.tsx b/src/ui/Rail.tsx
index 4f4f26f..228c4a8 100644
--- a/src/ui/Rail.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/Rail.tsx
@@ -9,21 +9,29 @@ import { useCtrl, useEditorState, usePersistentState } from './hooks'
 import type { Block, Controller } from '../controller'
 
 /**
- * Left panel: outline + blocks + nodes in one place (no tabs).
+ * Left panel: outline + blocks + nodes.
  *
  * - Outline is a tree with its slots (e.g. a pdp's `info-section` /
  *   `3d-accessories` connections): drag any row by its grip to reorder, drop
  *   palette blocks and searched nodes onto the gaps between rows or into slots.
  * - Blocks are the new types that fit this page (drag onto the page or the outline).
  * - Nodes finds *existing* nodes (type filter + text) to link into the page.
+ *
+ * Stacked (default) all sections share one scroll. Split mode puts the outline
+ * in a left column and Blocks/Nodes as switchable tabs in a right column, so a
+ * drag source and its outline drop gaps are visible at the same time.
  */
 const RAIL_W_MIN = 240
 const RAIL_W_MAX = 640
 
+type LibTab = 'blocks' | 'nodes'
+
 export function Rail() {
   const ctrl = useCtrl()
   const open = useEditorState((s) => s.rail)
   const [width, setWidth] = usePersistentState<number>('cms-onpage.railwidth', 320)
+  const [split, setSplit] = usePersistentState<boolean>('cms-onpage.railsplit', false)
+  const [lib, setLib] = usePersistentState<LibTab>('cms-onpage.raillib', 'blocks')
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!open) return
     // Types carry every schema (titles, groups, slots): one request seeds them all.
@@ -37,7 +45,8 @@ export function Rail() {
     void ctrl.fillHandles()
   }, [open, ctrl])
   if (!open) return null
-  const w = Math.max(RAIL_W_MIN, Math.min(width, window.innerWidth - 24))
+  const single = Math.max(RAIL_W_MIN, Math.min(width, window.innerWidth - 24))
+  const w = split ? Math.min(single * 2 + 12, window.innerWidth - 24) : single
   const startResize = (e: React.PointerEvent) => {
     if (e.button !== 0) return
     e.preventDefault()
@@ -55,14 +64,25 @@ export function Rail() {
     doc.addEventListener('pointerup', stop, true)
   }
   return (
-    <aside className="cms-rail" aria-label="Page panel" style={{ width: w }}>
+    <aside className={`cms-rail${split ? ' is-split' : ''}`} aria-label="Page panel" style={{ width: w }}>
       <header>
         <span className="cms-rail__title">
           <Icon name="outline" size={16} /> Page
         </span>
-        <button className="cms-ico" onClick={() => ctrl.setRail(false)} aria-label="Close panel" title="Close panel (Esc)">
-          <Icon name="close" />
-        </button>
+        <span className="cms-rail__headbtns">
+          <button
+            className={`cms-ico${split ? ' is-on' : ''}`}
+            onClick={() => setSplit((s) => !s)}
+            aria-label={split ? 'Stack panels' : 'Split panels side by side'}
+            title={split ? 'Stack panels (one column)' : 'Split panels side by side (outline + blocks/nodes)'}
+            aria-pressed={split}
+          >
+            <Icon name="flow-row" />
+          </button>
+          <button className="cms-ico" onClick={() => ctrl.setRail(false)} aria-label="Close panel" title="Close panel (Esc)">
+            <Icon name="close" />
+          </button>
+        </span>
       </header>
       <div
         className="cms-rail__resize"
@@ -72,12 +92,32 @@ export function Rail() {
         title="Drag to resize"
         onPointerDown={startResize}
       />
-      <div className="cms-rail__body">
-        <OutlineTree />
-        <Palette />
-        <NodeSearch />
-        <ExperimentsPanel />
-      </div>
+      {split ? (
+        <div className="cms-rail__body is-split">
+          <div className="cms-rail__col" aria-label="Outline column">
+            <OutlineTree forceOpen />
+            <ExperimentsPanel />
+          </div>
+          <div className="cms-rail__col" aria-label="Library column">
+            <div className="cms-rail__tabs" role="tablist" aria-label="Library">
+              <button role="tab" aria-selected={lib === 'blocks'} className={`cms-pill${lib === 'blocks' ? ' is-on' : ''}`} onClick={() => setLib('blocks')} aria-label="Show blocks panel">
+                Blocks
+              </button>
+              <button role="tab" aria-selected={lib === 'nodes'} className={`cms-pill${lib === 'nodes' ? ' is-on' : ''}`} onClick={() => setLib('nodes')} aria-label="Show nodes panel">
+                Nodes
+              </button>
+            </div>
+            {lib === 'blocks' ? <Palette bare /> : <NodeSearch bare />}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      ) : (
+        <div className="cms-rail__body">
+          <OutlineTree />
+          <Palette />
+          <NodeSearch />
+          <ExperimentsPanel />
+        </div>
+      )}
     </aside>
   )
 }
@@ -86,7 +126,7 @@ export function Rail() {
 
 type Gap = { parentId: string; handle?: string; index: number }
 
-function OutlineTree() {
+function OutlineTree({ forceOpen = false }: { forceOpen?: boolean } = {}) {
   const ctrl = useCtrl()
   const blocks = useEditorState((s) => s.blocks)
   const selected = useEditorState((s) => s.selected)
@@ -138,15 +178,17 @@ function OutlineTree() {
 
   const roots = useMemo(() => blocks.filter((b) => !b.parentId), [blocks])
   const [open, setOpen] = usePersistentState('cms-onpage.sec.outline', true)
+  const shown = open || forceOpen
   if (!blocks.length) return null
   return (
     <section aria-label="Outline">
       <h4 className="cms-rail__sec">
-        <button className="cms-sectoggle" aria-expanded={open} aria-label="Outline" onClick={() => setOpen((o) => !o)}>
+        <button className="cms-sectoggle" aria-expanded={shown} aria-label="Outline" onClick={() => setOpen((o) => !o)}>
+          <Icon name="chevron" size={14} className="cms-chev" />
           Outline ({blocks.length})
         </button>
       </h4>
-      {open && (
+      {shown && (
         <>
           <ul className="cms-outline cms-outline--tree">
             {roots.map((b) => (
@@ -315,8 +357,8 @@ function SlotGroup({ parentId, level, slot, over, setOver, dragging, collapsed,
     key = ctrl.openDialog({ id: `insert:${parentId}:${slot.name}`, title: `Add to ${slot.name}`, size: 'sm', content: createElement(InsertPicker, { parentId, handle: slot.name, ctrl, close: () => ctrl.closeDialog(key) }) })
   }
   return (
-    <li className="cms-oslot" style={{ marginLeft: level * 14 }}>
-      <div className="cms-oslot__head" title={slot.def.description ?? `Slot: ${slot.name}`}>
+    <li className="cms-oslot">
+      <div className="cms-oslot__head" style={{ paddingLeft: 4 + level * 14 }} title={slot.def.description ?? `Slot: ${slot.name}`}>
         <Icon name="shape" size={13} />
         <span>{slot.name}</span>
         <span className="cms-muted">{slot.def.to.length ? slot.def.to.join(', ') : 'any'}</span>
@@ -341,7 +383,7 @@ const DRAG_THRESHOLD = 5
 
 type Item = { key: string; label: string; sub?: string; type?: string; blueprint?: string; group: string; description?: string }
 
-function Palette() {
+function Palette({ bare = false }: { bare?: boolean } = {}) {
   const ctrl = useCtrl()
   const [types, setTypes] = useState<TypeInfo[] | null>(null)
   const [blueprints, setBlueprints] = useState<import('../api').Blueprint[]>([])
@@ -428,14 +470,18 @@ function Palette() {
   }
 
   const [open, setOpen] = usePersistentState('cms-onpage.sec.blocks', true)
+  const shownBlocks = open || bare
   return (
     <section aria-label="Blocks">
+      {!bare && (
       <h4 className="cms-rail__sec">
         <button className="cms-sectoggle" aria-expanded={open} aria-label="Blocks" onClick={() => setOpen((o) => !o)}>
+          <Icon name="chevron" size={14} className="cms-chev" />
           Blocks
         </button>
       </h4>
-      {open && (
+      )}
+      {shownBlocks && (
       <>
       <div className="cms-pad">
         <input className="cms-input" placeholder="Search blocks…" aria-label="Search blocks" value={q} onChange={(e) => setQ(e.target.value)} />
@@ -489,7 +535,7 @@ function nodeTitle(ctrl: Controller, n: CmsNode): string | undefined {
   return fb || undefined
 }
 
-function NodeSearch() {
+function NodeSearch({ bare = false }: { bare?: boolean } = {}) {
   const ctrl = useCtrl()
   const [typeNames, setTypeNames] = useState<string[]>([])
   const [type, setType] = useState('')
@@ -563,14 +609,18 @@ function NodeSearch() {
   }
 
   const [open, setOpen] = usePersistentState('cms-onpage.sec.nodes', true)
+  const shownNodes = open || bare
   return (
     <section aria-label="Nodes">
+      {!bare && (
       <h4 className="cms-rail__sec">
         <button className="cms-sectoggle" aria-expanded={open} aria-label="Nodes" onClick={() => setOpen((o) => !o)}>
+          <Icon name="chevron" size={14} className="cms-chev" />
           Nodes
         </button>
       </h4>
-      {open && (
+      )}
+      {shownNodes && (
       <>
       <div className="cms-pad cms-nodefind">
         <input className="cms-input" placeholder="Search existing nodes…" aria-label="Search nodes" value={q} onChange={(e) => setQ(e.target.value)} />
@@ -683,6 +733,7 @@ function ExperimentsPanel() {
     <section aria-label="Experiments panel">
       <h4 className="cms-rail__sec">
         <button className="cms-sectoggle" aria-expanded={open} aria-label="Experiments" onClick={() => setOpen((o) => !o)}>
+          <Icon name="chevron" size={14} className="cms-chev" />
           Experiments{rules ? ` (${rules.length})` : ''}
         </button>
       </h4>
diff --git a/src/ui/styles.css b/src/ui/styles.css
index e9b69b2..3ad5929 100644
--- a/src/ui/styles.css
+++ b/src/ui/styles.css
@@ -61,11 +61,10 @@ button:disabled { opacity: .35; cursor: default; }
 .cms-tile:hover { border-color: #d2a24c; }
 
 .cms-dev header { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; padding: 6px 8px 6px 12px; border-bottom: 1px solid #2a2d3a; }
-.cms-outline li button { display: flex; gap: 8px; width: 100%; background: none; border: 0; border-radius: 5px; padding: 3px 8px; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap; }
-.cms-outline li button:hover, .cms-outline li button.is-sel { background: #242836; }
-.cms-outline li button.is-sel { color: #d2a24c; }
-.cms-outline__type { font-weight: 600; }
-.cms-outline__text { color: #8b8fa0; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; }
+.cms-outline { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 4px 6px; }
+.cms-outline li { min-width: 0; }
+.cms-outline__type { font-weight: 600; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; max-width: 55%; }
+.cms-outline__text { color: #8b8fa0; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; flex: 1; min-width: 0; }
 
 .cms-dev { right: 12px; top: 12px; bottom: 70px; width: min(420px, calc(100vw - 24px)); display: flex; flex-direction: column; overflow: hidden; }
 .cms-dev header { justify-content: flex-start; gap: 4px; }
@@ -232,24 +231,38 @@ input.cms-map__key { padding-top: 6px; }
 .cms-rail__resize::after { content: ''; position: absolute; top: 10px; bottom: 10px; right: 5px; width: 2px; border-radius: 2px; background: transparent; }
 .cms-rail__resize:hover::after { background: var(--cms-accent); }
 .cms-rail__title { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; }
+.cms-rail__headbtns { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 2px; margin-left: auto; }
+.cms-rail__tabs { display: flex; gap: 4px; padding: 10px 10px 2px; position: sticky; top: 0; z-index: 1; background: var(--cms-panel); }
+.cms-rail__tabs .cms-pill { flex: 1; justify-content: center; }
 .cms-rail__body { overflow-y: auto; flex: 1; min-height: 0; padding-bottom: 12px; }
+.cms-rail__body.is-split { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0; }
+.cms-rail__col { overflow-y: auto; min-width: 0; min-height: 0; padding-bottom: 12px; }
+.cms-rail__col + .cms-rail__col { border-left: 1px solid var(--cms-line); }
 .cms-rail__body > section + section { border-top: 1px solid var(--cms-line); margin-top: 8px; padding-top: 4px; }
 .cms-rail__sec { margin: 10px 12px 4px; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: .08em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #8b8fa0; }
 .cms-rail .cms-tabs { border: 0; } .cms-rail .cms-tabs button { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px; }
-.cms-orow { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 2px; border-radius: 6px; padding-right: 4px; }
+.cms-orow { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0; border-radius: 6px; padding-right: 4px; min-height: 28px; }
 .cms-orow:hover { background: #242836; }
-.cms-orow.is-sel { background: #242836; color: var(--cms-accent); }
-.cms-orow__main { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; flex: 1; min-width: 0; background: none; border: 0; border-radius: 6px; padding: 4px 6px 4px 2px; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap; }
-.cms-orow__grip { cursor: grab; color: #5b6075; display: inline-flex; padding: 4px 2px; touch-action: none; user-select: none; }
+.cms-orow.is-sel { background: #242836; }
+.cms-orow.is-sel .cms-orow__main { color: var(--cms-accent); }
+.cms-orow__main { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 7px; flex: 1; min-width: 0; background: none; border: 0; border-radius: 6px; padding: 4px 6px 4px 2px; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap; cursor: pointer; }
+.cms-orow__main > svg { flex-shrink: 0; color: #9aa0b5; }
+.cms-orow.is-sel .cms-orow__main > svg { color: var(--cms-accent); }
+.cms-orow__grip { cursor: grab; color: #5b6075; display: inline-flex; align-items: center; padding: 4px 3px; touch-action: none; user-select: none; flex-shrink: 0; }
 .cms-orow__grip:active { cursor: grabbing; }
-.cms-orow__chev { flex-shrink: 0; }
-.cms-orow__spacer { width: 28px; flex-shrink: 0; }
-.cms-outline--nested { padding: 0; overflow: visible; }
+.cms-orow__grip:hover { color: #c9ccda; }
+.cms-orow__chev { flex-shrink: 0; min-width: 0; width: 22px; height: 22px; padding: 0; }
+.cms-orow__spacer { width: 22px; flex-shrink: 0; }
+.cms-outline--nested { margin: 0; padding: 0 0 0 2px; overflow: visible; list-style: none; }
+.cms-outline--tree { padding: 4px 6px; }
 .cms-ogap { height: 6px; border-radius: 3px; margin: 1px 6px; transition: background .1s; }
 .cms-ogap.is-over { background: rgba(94,224,160,.7); height: 8px; box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(94,224,160,.25); }
 .cms-ogap.is-refused { background: rgba(163,58,74,.35); }
-.cms-oslot { list-style: none; }
-.cms-oslot__head { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px; padding: 3px 6px 3px 4px; color: #8b8fa0; font-size: 12px; }
+.cms-oslot { list-style: none; min-width: 0; }
+.cms-oslot__head { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px; padding: 6px 6px 2px; color: #8b8fa0; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: .04em; }
+.cms-oslot__head > svg { flex-shrink: 0; }
+.cms-oslot__head > span:first-of-type { font-weight: 600; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 10.5px; flex-shrink: 0; }
+.cms-oslot__head .cms-ico { margin-left: auto; min-width: 0; width: 22px; height: 22px; padding: 0; }
 .cms-oslot__head .cms-muted { overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; flex: 1; }
 .cms-oslot-tag { font-style: normal; font-size: 10px; padding: 0 5px; border-radius: 99px; background: #2b3350; color: #9fb2ff; }
 .cms-nodefind { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 6px; }
@@ -258,8 +271,11 @@ input.cms-map__key { padding-top: 6px; }
 .cms-noderow:active { cursor: grabbing; }
 .cms-noderow__main { flex: 1; min-width: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap; }
 .cms-pad { padding: 10px 12px 4px; }
-.cms-sectoggle { background: none; border: 0; padding: 0; font: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; text-transform: inherit; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px; }
+.cms-sectoggle { background: none; border: 0; padding: 2px 0; font: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; text-transform: inherit; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px; width: 100%; text-align: left; }
 .cms-sectoggle:hover { color: var(--cms-accent); }
+.cms-sectoggle .cms-chev { flex-shrink: 0; transition: transform .12s; }
+.cms-sectoggle[aria-expanded="false"] .cms-chev { transform: rotate(0deg); }
+.cms-sectoggle[aria-expanded="true"] .cms-chev { transform: rotate(90deg); }
 
 /* experiments QA panel */
 .cms-explist { list-style: none; margin: 8px 0; padding: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 10px; }
@@ -273,18 +289,14 @@ input.cms-map__key { padding-top: 6px; }
 .cms-exp__actions .cms-input { max-width: 150px; }
 .cms-exp__actions .cms-ico.is-on { border-color: #a33a4a; color: #ff8a8a; }
 .cms-hint { font-size: 11.5px; margin-top: 6px; }
-.cms-outline { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 4px; overflow: auto; }
-.cms-outline li button { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; width: 100%; background: none; border: 0; border-radius: 6px; padding: 4px 8px; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap; }
-.cms-outline li button:hover, .cms-outline li button.is-sel { background: #242836; }
-.cms-outline li button.is-sel { color: var(--cms-accent); }
-.cms-outline__type { font-weight: 600; } .cms-outline__text { color: #8b8fa0; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; }
 .cms-palette { overflow: auto; padding-bottom: 12px; }
 .cms-palette h4 { margin: 10px 12px 6px; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: .08em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #8b8fa0; }
-.cms-palette__grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); gap: 6px; padding: 0 10px; }
-.cms-block { display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; gap: 6px; padding: 12px 6px 8px; background: #1a1d26; border: 1px solid var(--cms-line); border-radius: 10px; cursor: grab; touch-action: none; user-select: none; text-align: center; }
-.cms-block svg { color: var(--cms-accent); } .cms-block span { font-size: 12px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; max-width: 100%; }
+.cms-palette__grid { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 4px; padding: 0 10px; }
+.cms-block { display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center; gap: 10px; padding: 7px 10px; background: #1a1d26; border: 1px solid var(--cms-line); border-radius: 8px; cursor: grab; touch-action: none; user-select: none; text-align: left; width: 100%; }
+.cms-block svg { color: var(--cms-accent); flex-shrink: 0; } .cms-block span { font-size: 12.5px; font-weight: 500; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; flex: 1; min-width: 0; }
 .cms-block:hover { border-color: #4a5a9a; background: #20243a; }
 .cms-block:active { cursor: grabbing; }
+.cms-block small { margin-left: auto; flex-shrink: 0; }
 .cms-dev header .cms-ico { margin-left: auto; }
 
 /* sort snapping: faint markers at every candidate position, the active one animates between them */
diff --git a/test/rail-sections.test.tsx b/test/rail-sections.test.tsx
index c49e003..710a37a 100644
--- a/test/rail-sections.test.tsx
+++ b/test/rail-sections.test.tsx
@@ -114,6 +114,39 @@ describe('rail sections', () => {
     expect(q('.cms-dev__body').textContent).toContain('blockEditors')
   })
 
+  it('split mode shows the outline beside blocks/nodes tabs for drag & drop', async () => {
+    h = await setup()
+    await h.settle()
+    await h.press('Panel')
+    await h.settle()
+    // stacked by default: single column, no tabs
+    expect(h.shadow.querySelector('.cms-rail.is-split')).toBeNull()
+    await act(async () => void q('button[aria-label="Split panels side by side"]').click())
+    await h.settle()
+    expect(q('.cms-rail.is-split')).not.toBeNull()
+    // outline and blocks visible at the same time: a drag source can reach a gap
+    expect(qa('.cms-outline').length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+    expect(q('[aria-label="Search blocks"]')).not.toBeNull()
+    // switch the library tab to nodes: blocks hide, nodes show, outline stays
+    await act(async () => void q('button[aria-label="Show nodes panel"]').click())
+    await h.settle()
+    expect(h.shadow.querySelector('[aria-label="Search blocks"]')).toBeNull()
+    expect(q('[aria-label="Search nodes"]')).not.toBeNull()
+    expect(qa('.cms-outline').length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+    // starting a palette drag reveals outline gaps while both columns stay visible
+    h.editor.ctrl.beginPaletteDrag({ type: 'text', label: 'text' })
+    await h.settle()
+    expect(qa('[data-ogap]').length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+    expect(q('[aria-label="Search nodes"]')).not.toBeNull()
+    await act(async () => void h.editor.ctrl.cancelDrag())
+    await h.settle()
+    // stacking collapses back to one column and remembers the choice
+    await act(async () => void q('button[aria-label="Stack panels"]').click())
+    await h.settle()
+    expect(h.shadow.querySelector('.cms-rail.is-split')).toBeNull()
+    expect(localStorage.getItem('cms-onpage.railsplit')).toBe('false')
+  })
+
   it('assistant sits beside the dev panel instead of stacking under it', async () => {
     ;(navigator as any).gpu = {} // aiSupported() checks for a WebGPU API
     h = await setup()