If not a continuous run, how best to return?

Yep  you could use a siding ,  Wye  , reverse loop, or just back up, be careful over any road crossings if backing up.

On my switching layout that is 20' long, I put in 2 separate "run arounds" in order to spot cars in both directions and arrive/depart from either direction. On many long but narrow point to point track plans, you see a small turntable at 1 end, sometimes both ends to turn the power.

The run around will work just fine, and makes it more interesting being able to spot cars in both directions. You can run down the lead with cars on both ends of the engine to spot different industries, and you need a run around to get the cars on each end of the engine anyway.

how about a return loop with a load in - empties out type operation.

You can use a back drop to separate the industries:

Gregg...funny thing, the other day I was looking at my Lionel grade crossings and thinking just that!

LOS...good point....!

J Daddy...a tried and true plan but my layout will be around the wall leaving the center open for shop space (to park a Model A Ford).

Thanks Guys...

Rick.

As stated above, at least one run-around siding will make that work. Mainline steam engines tended to need to be turned around at the ends of the line, but switchers ran both directions all the time. A lot of road jobs involving diesels had them in pairs for power, plus you could run back operating from the other cab. One design I was tinkering with was point-to-point modeling an area near my home.

My next layout will be a point to point with hidden staging for the trains to come and go from the layout.  I might include a wye to turn larger locomotives.

Still a few years away though.   I want to finish my current layout 1st.

Matt's example is spot on.

Bob

Go to Google Images and type in SECTOR PLATE SWITCH, I think you will see some very clever ideas being used in a very limited space.  Think of it as long turntable that doesn;t quite do a 360!   Russ

Small around the room layout with a wye track for reversing engines and trains.

Here is a small "around the room design".  The wye track is used with an "island" stub yard to allow reversing of an engine. The layout uses O-54 and O-72 curves  but a more compact layout could be made using other radius track.

The layout uses "narrow" benchwork. Most sections are about 18 inches wide which make access to the tracks within arms reach. The largest section is about 3 feet by 6 feet. 

The runaround will put the locomotive on the front of the train. 

If you are worried about "turning" your locomotive...I would remind you that many railroads have NO method to turn their locomotive.  The local short line where I live is one example. 

If you run steam engines and you prefer to have the locomotive running first, trailed by the tender (rather than tender first) then consider turntables. 

That said, keep in mind that many logging operations and many branch line trains ran tender forward on lots of rural rail for quite a few miles.

Finally, I am running a "point to point switching, shelf style railroad" but I do have a continuous run connection.  I simply ignore that connecting switch on layout.  I have scenery in place, I just do not use that switch for daily operation.  I only use that switch to complete the continuous run so I can run trains for display when people come over. 

The layout is intended to be operated "around all four walls and out onto the peninsula."  On the south wall where the peninsula joins the shelf is a hidden staging yard behind a view block.  There is also a switch that is left in the "diverging route" (thrown for the curve) and "thru route" is ignored.  The "end" of the operational layout is the "end" of the peninsula. 

However, on the west wall is the "yard" (main, passing track and two stub end "yard" tracks.  There is also a switch from the west wall that goes off the pass track to the south wall that is treated as an industry track.  I have a fuel dealer on that track and spot cars on that track.  But it connects to the "thru route" track of that peninsula switch.  If I have guests or I simply want to see and hear the train run while I am working on the layout, I will pull that tank car, throw the peninsula switch and let the train get some mileage running loops.

Serendipity:  I am modeling the Santa Fe Oklahoma City Stockyards switching district in 1963...more or less, kinda sorta.  Railroaders name everything. The main road a few blocks east of the stockyards is Pennsylvania Ave in Oklahoma City.  The locals just call it Penn.  So, on my layout, I have named that continuous run switch "Penn Switch". (Peninsula switch...get it?)

By using the ruse of hiding in plain sight, no one even realizes there is a continuous run when operating point to point.

I hope something in that helps...

Thanks Guys...

Tony...I would like to see pic's of the "Penn Switch" which sounds very interesting.

Rick.

No clue about your question, but I would like to point out that I have bought the following tubular switches ...

Lionel O-72 switches made in the 1990's,

K-Line O-72 switches first run,

Hirth switches, not O-72, maybe #4???, made in the 1960s.

And they all have had problems and required lots of work by me. Many people have said they had no problems with K-Line, but that has not been my experience, but it is most likely because they were first run. One of Lionel or RMT took them over.

It might be that Lionel O-72 switches currently made are better, I don't know. Its sort of like getting me to buy another GM car or Ford pickup, once bitten twice shy. Maybe that's why Lionel went to Fastrack.

In my opinion, if your layout relies on switching operations, you need to find a switch that works well, and then shape everything else around it. Otherwise you are going to want to throw something at the wall, and the deal is switches are sort of difficult to just pick up and throw with all those pins into neighboring track and wires connected to it.

I have an "itch" as sales people call it, and I am thinking I need to bite the bullet and try Rossplate tinplate tubular switches, I just can't figure out if I should get O-72 or the numbered switch, or the DZ-1000 or DZ-2500. Or buy a set of SD40-2's from Charlie Nassau.

I run on the basement work room floor, I don't think Gargraves with its real wood ties would work well.

My choice was the old loop to loop

With uncouple magnets on the mainline and on the spur track to do switching

Steve

Rick...I wish I could...like many layouts, I have pulled up a lot (most) of the track to do the things I should have done first...I painted the bench work and my next project is to run the track power...then I will replace the track.

Additionally, I do not know how to post photos nor do I know how to post the only remaining copy of the track plan.  Let me try to email it.