Well, this is my redesign using the wall instead of a central 4x8 table. I must say I'm much happier with this layout and feel it a little less of a cluster $#% in terms of track. I hope others share the same opinion.
Anyways.... some operational details.
Minimum radius is 11", but has the ability to be modified for a min radius of 13" if needed. (which will probably happen, as my heavy weight passenger cars still look fugly on 11" radius)
The western section will be filled by a small town; north of that will be a passenger terminal, south of the terminal (the large industrial section) will be a brewery. The brewery track layout is based off the 'Model Railroader Magazine Workshop Tips, Layout planning ideas' mini-mag that accompanied the Model Railroad Planning 2008 mag.
The engine mtc facility's exits will lead imediatley to the sanding and water towers with an ash pit on the far side of yard (not very egronomical, but I plan on fixing that in my first revision)
the eastern side of the layout is where I find I'll have my biggest hill to climb in terms of modeling. The turnout that has a track to nowhere and a connecting loop to the main section of the layout will be at a mouth of a southern facing tunnel. The tunnel will encompass most of that run around track, but will also hide the ramp that will lead downward into my hidden staging area below the main layout. The staging area also has a reverse loop so that trains will be able to run a very long, and full circuit to simulate longer train trips (naturally) I also have many sidings for auxillary trains, locos, and extra rolling stock.
The theme of the layout has also be revised, taking place in the late transition era:
While still a fictional roadname, the 'Pacific Great Southern' is owned by 'BC Rail'. The fictional town of which it resides (yet to be named) is situated in a small valley within the Canadian Rocky Mountains near the southern border of BC (about 200km from the Idaho border). This town houses one of Canada's favourite brewerys as it's main industry, but is also home to a small oil pumping facility as well.
The town also sees four passenger trains a day during the week, with limited service on weekends, mostly commuters, coming in from Canadian National and Union Pacific railways.
The PGS also has purchased many of it's motive power from the three neighbooring major railways of the UP, CN, and CP. The fleet is made up of a majority of steam power consisting of Pacific, Lt Mountain, Mikado, and Hudson class locomotives, with a couple of F7 A&B's making up for light diesel power. There has also been rare sightings of UP Challangers, CN Northerns, and CP Selkirks steaming through the area.