9 x 11 Layout

Scenery...I like that. Scenery is my specialty...and ties a lot of the train scape together. Re vegetation, when you think you have enough...double it. I don't know why everyone is so afraid to add foliage to their layouts. Looking forward to your progress and remember...have fun.

Yea, maybe a connection from the red line to blue...if you want. If you had a valid reason for separate line what you want rules. Only you know how to run your railroad.

Looks like fun.

I look forward to your posts, you have crafted some outstanding scenes and structures.

I like that kind of party.  Great game plan.  Have fun with your scenicking.  I am in the camp that the scenery and the terrain that the trains operate in is more important than prototypical operations or a boxcar with all the right rivets.  Go for it.

On the contrary, I can not think of a valid reason to connect the two loops. If connecting them only allows a chop choo to run 6 inches inside or outside the same route it's already on, what's the point? By not having switches on the outer loop, I am able to run anything and everything without derailments. The inner loop has switches so that I can run the trains up behind the structures, or down close to the station to add smoke fluid or rolling stock. 

That's my perspective as well. I've never been interested in prototypical operations. The scenery is where it's at.