Karl: On a section of my layout I have a pasture with some cows. Under the layout I have a speaker and a sound module that has birds singing and cows mooing. The switch on the panel operates the sounds. Its for younger visitors to the layout.
Just like my stock car with cattle mooing.
Greg
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excellent point of focus, nice cliff face too, and the loco looks good at this distance, I bet you could fool. People that it is real
Look up shunting puzzles, the inner track can only be accessed one way so you then have to back out, try to over come reversing by giving more joins between the loops it will give you more options, is it DC or DCC as this will effect how many can move at once in the same space, I would be tempted to have a spur or two off the turntable you can then run a train into it drop rolling stock then use a different loco to pull them away,now I realise this is easier on a British layout where we have much smaller wagons, but mull it over before you decide it irrelevent on a US layout. The more options you have to go from each loop in and out the more playability but also more expense and of course how long your trains,again this may be more appropriate on a British layout. Have you already considered what scenic areas will be in situ, as they will have a major impact the dead end in the centre lends it self to a refuelling spot, you need a spot to dump the wagons,is there a spot you plan a station? If you cut the tunnel hill back you could pop the turntable there admitedly not near the loco housing but you could then have two exits from the turntable, I would use paper to size for track etc and sit trains on there to check the sizes work for you
