If you keep the grade at 2% or less you will have no problems with starting and stopping the grade. So, that means 100 inches to rise 2 inches. To clear the track below I would use no less than 5.5 inches from the lower rail to the upper roadbed. This means 275 inches to reach 5.5 inches of clearance. It not only works right but it looks right. With a 2% grade or less you can continue the grade on curves without difficulty. I use Gargraves Phantom Rail and it works beautifully . It is used with cork roadbed from Midwest. The sub roadbed is 1/2 inch a-c plywood. I strongly recommend so called open grid construction as described by Linn Wescott in his classic book on model railroad benchwork which you can easily find on Amazon. My layout is 30 years old and I have never had to revise a grade because of problems with derailing or engines failing to climb the grades. Good luck and start with Linn Wescott's great book.
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