New track plan advice

James,
 
Creating needs to be fun, and a bit loose to begin with, so after others get a look at my advise below, you may get some really good refinements, or at least I hope it will help you get past your current state.
 
One ruling factor may be the continuous loops you want, and the length of locomotives and rail-cars you want to use.  Shorter locomotives and rail-cars will tolerate tighter radius curves, which will be critical in determining the minimum width the ends of the legs of the L can be.  If you are going for the larger side, the minimum radius might be good at 13 inches or so, and allowing double track and about 1.25" center to center spacing, the outer radius would be 14.25".  Half the track and road bed extends beyond this, and you may want a bit more space beyond that.  So maybe this works out to the minimum width of the end of the L legs of 33".  If you use a plain double track loop at each end for maximum run, it ties that part down. 
 
You should avoid keeping the loop track perfectly doubled up everywhere.  Splitting the track (not the marriage) up for some of the run will give some visual interest.  Also avoid keeping the loops on the edge of the board.  And try to avoid a single level mainline (the loops).  Mountains do not exist on just a corner, so try to let the hills ramble a bit and give the track a good reason to have some grades and different levels.  Avoid grades over 2%, which will tend to restrict the total amount change of grade for the space you have, but make the best use of it.
 
Try to locate materials sources and destinations  (the industries etc.) apart based on geographical reason, but also to give you different locations on the layout to do things.  The logging also gives you the chance to have an interchange where the logging railroad brings logs out of the hills to the mill, and then down to the interchange with the main railroad.  Incorporate a couple of towns that exist partly on the layout but built as if they continue for some distance beyond the boarders of the board.  This will give you locations for industries that use raw materials from mining and logging etc.  As well as major locations for passenger service.  Include a couple whistle stops for tiny towns too.
 
Work on what siding and spurs you need for the industries, and some location for a small yard for the main railroad.
 
Wave the magic wand and ta-da, you have a lot of work to do, but it is a good and fun job.  Let us know how things are progressing.  You will get more help with the more specifics you can provide!
 
Happy railroading for you and your wife!
Charles

It looks like the picture doesnt load everytime it works for me if I remove everything in the address bar of the error page past .jpg http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f258/a393512/trainset.jpg that is what the link is supposed to look like but when I like it from here it adds some stuff not sure why, oh well

James 

The tracks are going to cross at different elevations.  I am going to have 2 different places to switch lines i put them on the drawing but you can barely see them.  And I have not measured the radis yet but when I put it on the table I was happy with it as the cars were very far from touching.

-James