Matt's drawings are of the star itself. If you look at his FreMo picture, you will see that the two star ends with the #4 or #6 switches continue on to the mainline. So, if an eastbound steam engine backs into the star from the east, it takes the left leg turnout to the wye switch stub. It then backs from the wye stub into the other switches stub. That last switch is thrown and the engine is now heading back to the mainline westbound. Turnaround successful.
Chuck