Our first train was the Bachmann Blue Comet. Our first layout was a figure 8 with an over/under crossing that wrapped around a white pine and a cedar. We then added a back and forth up along the roses.
A year after that had the white pine removed. Then we relocated the back and forth to within the loop at the cedar and added a large loop up and around the roses. We also added a smaller loop where the white pine had been. The figure 8 remained but was elevated to be over the large and small loops.
We gave up on the turnouts and sidings due to the problems keeping them clear of needles, leaves and dirt. We use the Aristo Train Engineer to control the loops and back and forth.
Here are some recent photos:
