Congratulations!

For deciding to create a layout.  I'm still kind of new in the model train world, but I would suggest adding some turnouts and sidings to add interest to your layout.  Sidings leading to industrial spurs will also give you something more to model with your scenery.  If you want trains to run continuously be sure to add passing sidings.  Other than that I think it's a good start.  Have fun!

I concur.....

You don't have to go overly complex but the addition of at least one long passing siding and a couple of other spurs would add much more "play value" to what you have. You have a great start but adding four or five turnouts would make trains more fun to run.

Michael

The Adventure Begins

You state the first layout is for learning. Building your first layout for the purpose of learning is a wise step. Around here the term is chainsaw layout meaning it is destined to be dismantled. This attitude keeps you from falling in love with layout #1 and also keeps you from investing way too much time into it. To that end...

I know the first impulse is to create a continuous run configuration (loop). Suggest you reconsider. Instead, a point to point switching layout is often a better choice for a learning layout. It requires less $$ investment, less benchwork, less scenery, less of everything. Even though it is less railroad it still provides equivalent or greater learning opportunity. And they can be a ton of fun.

Check out the work of M.C. Fujiwara, Byron Henderson, or Lance Mindheim. There are countless others but these three are off the top of my head.

The point is you can get all the learning needed, spend less time and cash, and have a blast with a small switching layout as your first model railroad adventure.

First layout

I am planning much the same layout. See this post https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/layout-rebuild-12192930. I have drawn up a track plan in SCARM and will have to hunt it up and post a picture.

Here is a picture of my track plan as I built it 30 years ago. In my rebuild I am planning on expanding it to go around 3 walls.

Only Point to Point?

Alan

No reason why he couldn't add some terminal yards inthe return blobs in addition to some spurs/sidings.  John Amstrong had a number of layout designs that used the blob space for operational considerations.

Alan (T.)

A few thoughts

1-turn-outs i will be putting some in cannot visualize them just yet going to build benchwork first.               2-continuous running is a must grandkids ages 3 and 4 love to watch trains. um so does grandpa.                       3-Alex this was drawn on scarm i've just had scarm for 4 days and am enjoying learning it.                                      4-not sure this will quailify as a chainsaw at present time the room for bench work is fixed due to this room being my bedroom.                                                                                                                                                                        5-i love looking at M.C Fujiwara's post of his work but don't think that is the route for me.                                             6-i did not mention scale in original post but currently have HO stuff but am thinking of getting some N scale stuff of e-bay.P.S. thanks everyone for your thoughts and advice.

Design

I would suggest putting a couple long sidings on one of the long straight legs so you can park trains on it an can swap out orbiting trains for your grandkids.  I would also suggest a siding along the front because kids like to watch trains pass each other.  Later you can put up a low backdrop, trees,buildings,hills, whatever to hide he staging tacks when you go to put in actual operations.

The rest of the story

Ah, grandkids. Makes sense. Never mind. 

Might be kind of small for such young children.