Spiral (railway) explained
A spiral (sometimes called a spiral loop or just loop) is a technique employed by railways to ascend steep hills.
A railway spiral rises on a steady curve until it has completed a loop, passing over itself as it gains height, allowing the railway to gain vertical elevation in a relatively short horizontal distance. It is an alternative to a zig-zag, and avoids the need for the trains to stop and reverse direction while ascending. If the train is longer than the length of each loop it may be possible to view it looping above itself.[1] [2]
The term "loop" is also often used for a railway that curves sharply and goes back on itself: if the railway crosses itself, then it forms a spiral or helix; otherwise, it forms the much more common horseshoe curve or bend.[3] [4]
List of spirals
Argentina
Australia
Bulgaria
Canada
China
Costa Rica
Replica of the Brusio Spiral Viaduct at 10.479°N -84.8237°W on the Tren Turistico Arenal, 10 km east of Nuevo Arenal, Guanacaste.[38] [39]
Croatia
Eritrea
- Spiral between Asmara and Arbaroba at 15.3548°N 38.9854°W on Eritrean Railways. This spiral pushes the definition of a spiral as the line crosses itself but then immediately crosses back, and it does this in a tunnel.
France
Germany
India
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway originally had five or six spirals but only five in operation at any one time. The line also has six reverses or zig-zags.[56] [57]
Iran
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Kenya
There are three spirals on the gauge railway line from Kenya to Uganda. This railway has been superseded by the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, which has removed the need for spirals by constructing tunnels and bridges.[73] [74] [75] [76]
Madagascar
Mexico
Myanmar
New Zealand
Norway
Peru
Russia
Serbia
Slovakia
South Africa
South Korea
- Spiral at Hambaek 1st Tunnel at 37.2219°N 128.7027°W between Hambaek station and Jodong station on the Hambaek Line;– one loop, single track.
- Spiral at Solan Tunnel at 37.1585°N 129.0308°W between East Baeksan station and Dogye station on the Yeongdong Line. There is one loop on a single track railway but double track is installed in the middle of the tunnel to enable trains from opposing directions to pass each other.[97] [98]
- There used to be a spiral at Daegang Tunnel at 36.9209°N 128.3795°W between Danseong station and Jungnyeong station on the Jungang Line;– one loop, single track.[99] A new double track tunnel has opened which by-passes the line with the spiral, which has since closed.
- There used to be a spiral at Ddwari Tunnel at 37.2738°N 128.0216°W between Geumgyo station and Chiak station on Jungang Line. A new double track tunnel has opened which by-passes the line with the spiral, which has since closed.[100]
Spain
Sri Lanka
Switzerland
Taiwan
Uganda
United Kingdom
United States
- Tehachapi Loop, at Tehachapi, California at 35.2008°N -118.5369°W on the former Southern Pacific Railroad, now part of Union Pacific Railroad.[115] [116]
- Williams Loop, east of East Quincy, California at 39.9101°N -120.8079°W on the former Western Pacific Railroad now part of Union Pacific Railroad.[117]
- Hiwassee Loop, also known as the Hook and Eye; 2 miles NNE of Farner, Tennessee at 35.1813°N -84.2997°W on the former Atlanta, Knoxville and Northern Railway now operated as a heritage railroad by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, which operates excursion trains from Etowah, Tennessee to Copperhill, Tennessee via the loop, as well as trains just to the loop and back from Etowah.[118]
- Georgetown Loop, at Georgetown, Colorado at 39.7006°N -105.7088°W on the former Colorado Central Railroad. The spiral was completed in 1884, abandoned and dismantled in 1939, rebuilt between 1972 and 1984 and is now owned by History Colorado and operated as the Georgetown Loop Railroad.[119]
- The MAX Red Line, a light rail line in Portland, Oregon, loops over itself at 45.5307°N -122.5636°W in the vicinity of the Gateway Transit Center.[120]
- In the Loop District of the Alaska Railroad at 60.6601°N -149.0413°W between mileposts 48 and 51 northeast of Seward, Alaska, there was a spiral and a horseshoe curve both on an extensive range of timber trestles up to 106 feet high. Track relocation in 1951 removed all of this but added a new horseshoe at milepost 48. [121]
- Abandoned spiral at Riflesight Notch Loop at Rollinsville, Colorado at 39.9001°N -105.713°W on the former Denver and Salt Lake Railway route over Rollins Pass. The spiral was bypassed by the Moffat Tunnel built in 1928, and was dismantled in 1935.[122]
- Abandoned spiral called Double Circle, or Double Loop, or The Golden Circle, at 39.9852°N -112.0441°W east of Eureka, Utah on the former Tintic branch of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. It was bypassed in 1940 and the branch removed in 1943.[123] [124] [125]
- Abandoned spiral on the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad at 37.0426°N -122.0649°W. The spiral was completed in 1963. The spiral was bypassed by two switchbacks after a trestle fire in 1976.[126]
See also
External links
Notes and References
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