Came up with another idea.

Still using the lift approach, I would build a new lift out of wood (on an aluminum brace due to the size), but add a curve to it at the end against the wall

This way a train could roll onto the lift from the layout, and beginning rolling through the curve, stopping before it gets to the end of course.

Then along the wall behind my monitors install a single track leading under the layout into a staging yard located under the under layout.

I would lower the lift to the staging level and the train would continue to move forward into a staging yard. I could then install a reverse loop a corner to turn a train around to head back to the layout.

This would allow trains to be turned around very easily.

Here’s a pretty ugly drawing I did while coming up with the plan.

Shaun Previous Layout