Mike, I added some info about the grades and etc in the previous posts.
Here is an idea for a layout with no duckunder, except for access to the far side of the layout. Figure-8 mainline is level with O54 curves, with a 5% grade down to a hidden reverse loop with O48 curves. The lower and upper tracks have 6" clearance, railhead-to-railhead. Grey areas are open floorspace.