My Initial Design for the Barn

Would you be interested adding 4 more switches so that the inner folded dogbone loop could be modified to also serve as 2 revering loops?

It appears this could be accomplished without reducing the functions you currently have in this layout.

As long as you are not interested in reversing direction or operations, and are satisfied with just enoying the trains running around, I like it.  It allows for 3 trains.  It allows for trains to 'switch' tracks they are running on.  Those BIG open areas are ripe for a great scenic expression.

I also like @SteveH's idea.

my thoughts as a Christmas layout only guy.

- walt

As I'm new to this design theory,  where would you suggest setting up a reversing function? If necessary a paint edit photo will work and I'll take a stab in software.  Thanks

Eventually I want an elevated line as well. I'm definitely going to use some of that amazing stuff from East Coast Enterprises

Cheers

@CLH7508 posted:

As I'm new to this design theory,  where would you suggest setting up a reversing function? If necessary a paint edit photo will work and I'll take a stab in software.

Just off the top of my head, using 4 turnouts and 4 double slips, you could join the tracks together. A train could travel between all loops and you'd get your reverse loops built in.

I won't have access to my computer for a few hours. What track are you using and what is the minimum curve required?

There are a few ways to include reversing loops.  Since the current plan has all switches on the same side, I went with that.  Here's one possibility using Ross track, O72 curves and #6 switches*.  *Note that for design simplicity, I substituted a #175 double crossover at the bottom in place of the arrangement originally modeled.

Not having Anyrail, here's what it would essentially look like in SCARM, though not exact.

This SCARM file is attached and SCARM is a free download if anyone wants to see this approximation in more detail.

Here's one with a passing siding.