dennis,
I know this is very late. But I think your plan Ozark Lines is fantastic. I should do! When i saw it something struck me straight away. It is an enlarged version of mine!! Down to the staging curving to make more space and the yard opposite the MPD. Even more, the choke points either side of the staging!!!
How many feet did you have to play with? I only had 15 by 8 Feet?Hence no large through yard for me, just a double exchange line.
Your thinking is very much like my own too in most matters. Long, (er, 9 foot)passsenger trains, The Americans call it 'the varish', lots of Locos and me working the smaller freight operations.
Mine is BR Southern in circa 1965.
To do this by myself, the computer will be running four passengers, the varnish, and a handed over freight, while I shunt the yards or just watch.
In my planning I was influenced by the great I. Rice here of course, but clearly reading the US Railway modeller for three years and Lynn H Westcott had a profound effect on me. I can see it in your design too.
Is it built yet?Once you tell me the layout size I should be able to guess your train length.
Regards
TVBG