11.5' x 18' 10" Need feedback/ideas

A wye is handy to turn a train or loco. A loop will work also and depending on what type trains you run it can be a simple switch and O-27 curves. If you run scale stuff it will require O-72 which will take up more room but you can hide it if needed.  Also your overall goals of a layout come into play. Toy layout or High rail realistic type?

I am just starting on a 12x24 layout. I am building it with a scale look. I will have a wye at the yard throat but no 'loop' as such. I like to get 4-6 trains going then just watch 'em. But if you want switching, operating accessories or a more toy 'bowl of spaghetti' that will affect your plan.

Maybe more info on what you want.....

Well, I guess that info probably would help. 

Everything will be scale or scale looking, no toy style features, no postwar style operating features.

I am trying to keep a minimum O72 curve so I can run everything everywhere.  Nothing in my roster requires O72 yet, but some things on the list do for sure.  I will be using Scaletrax, which will also make a difference.

I want to be able to just run trains and watch them run, but be able to do a little switching and moving when I or one of my boys feels the urge.  I have one plan I think will be good, although I don't know that it's as interesting as it could be.  I view so many that I have an interesting look and I am just creative enough on that level.

If you're using ScaleTrax, the wye that takes the least amount of space is a "pinwheel" wye made from three left (or three right) turnouts and additional curves to make a 60-degree arc total off each turnout. I did a two-lap design for another forum member. This layout and wye here is using O-54 track, but could easily be done with O-72 curves and turnouts.

If you can find room for it, a reversing track gives operating variety. It might also be a way to include a sweeping S-curve on a layout. Trains look good on a well-engineered S-curve.

Thanks for the feedback so far.

I came up with this, let me know your thoughts.  The purple figure 8 through the middle acts as my revers loop, and passing areas to park trains when not running.  The blue upper section that dead ends to the right is the riser to the second level.  The black lines represent the two main loops, and the green is the station.  Staging will be done underneath.

Tex I live in Fort Worth.  I'm in the process of designing a layout for almost the same dimensions as you have.  One of my issues is access to the center and/or a walking aisle around the edge of the layout.  I've pretty much decided to do an open oval.

Do the grey blocks represent industries, or "pop-up" hatches to reach your trains?  How much of an aisle are you leaving around the perimeter?  -Ted

Ted, the gray areas are access except for the one rectangular in the top left which represents where the wall juts out in the section.  I did them like that so I could move them around as I saw need in the design.  Some may be hidden, some not.  The corner access hatches will most likely be open and not hidden.  In the bottom left section the first 6.5' is open as that is the entry into the room, no door.  It's the upstairs game room area.

I and my kids can crawl around quite well so I don't see the access the way I designed it being an issue.  I have run the simulation in RR Track quite a bit and feel comfortable with this setup.  I just don't know if others see something I don't.