The Railroad
The original design called for a loop to loop, but once I began laying track, it became obvious that I couldn’t fit a cross over without having some very steep grades.  So, I compromised on an out and back design.   A yard and turntable will be built at on end of the railway.  A connector links the the reverse loop for true continuous running without the need for throwing any switches.

The yard is called “Green Springs” after a nearby park that my wife likes to visit.  Leaving Green Springs, the train passes a small town, just big enough to have a passing siding and a couple of industries.  Then it makes a “U” and pulls into the town of Jackson. Leaving Jackson, it enters the reversing loop that has a passing siding that will also serve as a staging area.

The idea of staging trains is to make it appear that they originate "offstage" and thus provide more traffic for the layout. The staging track can be either a source or a destination for off-road traffic.  .   I have basically traded yard track for industrial sidings.   There is some room to set out a diner or a sleeper on the two tracks near the depot. It is the main industrial area to be switched from trains originating elsewhere.  

Jackson
Jackson is served by a dedicated switcher and has many purposes:
1.Home for the Shay, which makes daily trips to the woods for logs.  For now, the logging mill will have to be offstage.
2.A stop for bringing tourists north to the mountains, as well as mail and an express reefer.
3.Home to assorted other industries like the Miracle Chair Company, a textile mill, a stone mill, and an LCL freight house.

Standards
1.All switches will be #6.
2.Code 250 rail.
3.Minimum 8’ radius curves.
4.All switches are hand thrown, so there MUST be room to stand near each switch.
5.All cars are hand uncoupled, so there MUST be room to stand near each industry.
6.Trains will be no longer than 6 cars plus a caboose.

Approach
1.Use the loop for staging trains. It has a long passing siding to hold these trains.
2.Trains originate elsewhere (imaginary towns not depicted, but represented by the loops) or in Green Springs, and no trains originate from Jackson.    
3.Some sidings and industry exist along the main, outside of the “main” yard at Green Springs.

Passenger Operations
Passenger Locomotive:  #4 a 1:20 ten wheeler.
One idea is to have it go one way in the morning, and return in the afternoon.   The morning train could pick up the dining car on the way through the yard.  It is then sent to a staging area.   On it’s return, it could add a sleeper and continue to the next staging area.   Or perhaps it picks up a diner and a parlor car.  

Freight Operations
Freight Locomotives:   #2 Connie,  #3 Shay
Trains are staged ahead of time on the loop.   As they enter town, the road locomotive could be detached for servicing and the switcher will take care of all local switching duties.   It could do some of the "easy" switching in town.

Trains also originate at the yard in Green Springs.

Industry Usage
The following chart shows the type of car that can be used by each industry.   Types that are not used may be used for through traffic.


Switching
A boxcab will be the dedicated switcher for the town of Jackson.   It is based upon the Bachmann 45ton Diesel switcher.

Many thanks to the people that have contributed ideas, but special thanks go to Doug Matheson for not only providing inspiration, but also design assistance.