tweeking ... any ideas

Very nice little design.

The 97 coal loader was designed to be placed between 2 tracks so you could unload from the rear track and load into cars on the front track.

Looks like a lot of fun! Without knowing the goals of your layout, it's hard to say, but here are some general comments:

1. Access to the middle and top left of the layout looks to be out of reach, unless you can walk all the way around the layout and inside the lift bridge.

2. I would place the coal ramp and coal loader together as shown in the attached picture. 

3. There are a lot of different routes the train can take, which is nice.  However you're likely limited to one train operation. I would try to get a longer yard lead (to stay off the main lines when switching in the yard) and/or set up a separate path so two trains could run continuous (while still another is switching in the yard).  Perhaps on a second level?

just a few thoughts for you! Have fun!

JD

Thanks ..points well taken