Made a bit more progress hanging the backdrop but nothing worth sharing at this point. I continue to play with the trackplan now that I have decided on the general footprint (29' by 36' L-shaped).
This one is just a two-main loop like the one above with some slight tweaks. I am experimenting with some bridges in the rear section of the layout and some grade separations like I had on my old layout. I also fooled around with the x-over locations so signalling them will look OK. If I raise the mains along the back wall to about 3" the curves will climb and descend a slightly less than 2% grade on the curves which is my self-imposed max grade for big steam. Anything more starts to look nutty. The front yard is 1" above the mains at the front edge of the layout. RR Track file is attached if anyone's interested.
This one is much like my old layout before it was tore down and rebuilt in January 2011. I have three mains with 90", 99", and 108" curves. I really don't want to go less than 90", again so my big scale engines don't contort themselves too badly. This has some grade separations and bridges too. Like the layout above, all switches are #5s. I will not use O72s or anything else since most long wheelbase steam tends to flop all over them clumsily.
Both layouts will let me fart around with some switching and goof off around the roundhouse while two trains can run unbothered.
