ya i like the lift out idea, im thinking wires that plug in and out for connectionsThere are some lift outs in our forum as well, check this thread for a couple examples, also a build thread going on where he is swinging out sideways rather than the drop down hinge, can't remember who's, though...
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?32267-lift-outs&highlight=
I have seen them on you tube as well, however some of that needs a grain of salt along with it
Now if you want to go prototypical, how about 1 of these
[YOUTUBE]NNovpMsAP40[/YOUTUBE]
i have 2 of the arched bridges in the back of the video i can useYou know, depending on the distance to be bridged, that might actually work... Assuming you had your bridge going across empty space, and could find a kit or builder...
I'm also imagining a push-button 'elevator' that lifts your entire scenic-ed section vertically, then returns to the original position like a dumbwaiter. That would be cool.
That was what I had done as well, but the opening was some what restrictive in size, and while the vast majority of my friends could go throught it with no problems, the track would still get snagged by that one person slightly bigger than the rest of us. That's why I was contemplating a change to just a lift out.