Just a thought - the sand facility on a real railroad would have been in place long before the diesel fueling area, since engines have used sand since woodburner days. So it’s a bit unrealisitic to have to do the gymnastics you’re describing to deliver sand. If possible, I’d move the diesel servicing area somewhere else and allow a separate spur track for the cars delivering sand that doesn’t require going on the turntable.
You bring up an excellent point. Failed to see the forest instead of the tree. Accidental pun.
Unfortunately, there is not really a good way to rearrange the yard area as the whole section that the turntable is occupying is just an NMRA HO module (48" W x 30" D) with a “L” attached to the back and right hand side. The “L” was attached after the turntable was first installed to allow for an additional line into the turntable for the fuel track. The facility is one of those situations where I realized I needed it after I had everything else in place.
Have the same one but as a CP Rail unit.