Carl
Congratulations on your new building. You have an enviable amount of space to work with and you are thinking in a way that can make the most of it with an extended E shape. I applaud your request for help to make your design look less square. Many layouts, even large ones, are collections of 4x8 sheets of plywood that leave major areas inaccessible and are less than aesthetically pleasing. You have an opportunity to build a new layout that is both beautiful and user friendly. Scaletrax is a great choice for building such a layout since the flex track lends itself to broad and irregular curves.
Here are two views of wide radius curves made with Scaletrax flex.
Note the the benchwork is curved to produce a more organic shape and an aisleway free of protruding corners.
Here is a look at Scaletrax being laid for yards and a turntable. Again, the benchwork is curved to match the wide radius curves around the roundhouse area. Also note that the turntable is off center so if can be more easily reached from one side and that the entire complex is on a peninsula accessible from both sides to keep reach ins at a practical distance.
Once again, extensive use of Scaletrax flex track made to provide wide curves, six inch center to center spacing on the main lines and smooth, reliable trackwork. Parallel yard tracks are on 3 1/2 inch centers. Six inch spacing on O-72+ curves is needed for articulated steam locomotives and scale passenger cars.
It might be helpful to tell us more about what you would like from your layout. Do you want it to simply run trains continuously for display or entertaining or would you like to have friends and family over for operating sessions where cars get picked up and delivered to industries? What are the trains that will define the operating neds of your layout? Do you have scale articulateds or electrics? Do you have 10 car passenger sets? If so they may define your track spacing and siding or yard track length.
Passenger cars might also contribute to your maximum electrical loads. Have you thought about the layouts power needs? Are you inclined towards Z-4000s or bricks? Do you have TMCC/Legacy locomotives and/or DCS? Do you need to have conventional running capability?
What style of benchwork are you inclines to build, open grid, L-Girder or another type? What sort of carpentry tools do you have and how comfortable are you with them?
I know that adds up to a bunch of questions but the more you think about now the easier the actual construction process will be. You will also have a better operating layout at the end of the project by considering more ideas and options now.
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