There was an article in MR within the past few years that was PURELY a loop. Like all the guy wanted / had space for was the loop, maybe with an outside loop to "feed" it. It was pretty cool and direct to the point.
See Jim Kelly's Video: N Scale Insight from January 19, 2011.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
I have a couple of Tehachapi-inspired layout designs on my website. But they were designed for a huge space, so there may not be a lot there that is practical for more typical rooms..
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
The track plan database on this website has four track plans that can be readily found just by searching for "tehachapi." The magazine index on this website comes up with even more.
Jim Kelly's N scale version(s) has/have been featured often but it may be difficult to carry over what he has done to HO.
Dave Nelson
has anyone got a plan for the loop ho scale or n scale that can be modified
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K_a_Xnlyq0
check out my video i am changing layouts ripping out all of the old and i want to build an ho scale loop with a large yard to store trains waiting to go over the loop peter