Spiral (railway)
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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.<ref name="Wolmar2014">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Nachsch1972">Template:Cite book</ref>
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.<ref name="Hay1982">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Harter2005">Template:Cite book</ref>
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List of spirals
Argentina
- Two spirals between Tacuara and Meseta at Template:Coord and Template:Coord on the heritage Tren a las Nubes section of the Salta–Antofagasta railway part of the General Manuel Belgrano Railway.<ref name="Hollingsworth1982">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="BorsdorfStadel2015">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Australia
- Spiral on the uphill track at Bethungra Template:Coord on the Main Southern railway line in New South Wales. The downhill track remains on the original steep plain 1 in 40 gradient.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Spiral on the single track at Cougal Template:Coord on the North Coast railway line, New South Wales.<ref name=SHR>Template:Cite NSW SHR</ref><ref name="Bayley1973">Template:Cite book</ref>
Bulgaria
- Four Spirals on the Rhodope Mountain Line between Septemvri to Dobrinishte railway between Velingrad and Cherna Mesta at Template:Coord, Template:Coord, Template:Coord and Template:Coord.<ref name="Hollingsworth1982"/><ref name="TCMap2011">Template:Cite map</ref><ref name="Bulgaria2017">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
- Spiral just outside Klisura at Template:Coord on the Sofia to Tulovo railway.<ref name="Ball2016">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref name="Bulgaria2017" />Template:Rp<ref name="datamap">Template:Cite map</ref>
- Spiral just outside Radevtsi at Template:Coord on the Ruse to Dimitrovgrad railway.<ref name="Ball2016"/>Template:Rp<ref name="Bulgaria2017" />Template:Rp<ref name="datamap" />
- Spiral and horseshoe bends just outside Raduntsi at Template:Coord on the Ruse to Dimitrovgrad railway.<ref name="TCMap2011" /><ref name="Ball2016"/>Template:Rp<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Bulgaria2017" />Template:Rp<ref name="datamap" />
Canada
- Double spiral at Big Hill at Template:Coord on the approach to Kicking Horse Pass on the Canadian Pacific Railway route.<ref name="Pole1995">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Stewart2004">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Cross2014">Template:Cite book</ref>
- There used to be a spiral at Template:Coord at Trinity, Newfoundland on the former Newfoundland Railway.<ref name="Harding2008">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- There used to be a spiral at Rogers Pass at Template:Coord that was superseded when the Connaught Tunnel (British Columbia) was built.<ref name="Downs1985">Template:Cite book</ref>
China
- There used to be a spiral at Guanjiao at Template:Coord on the Qinghai–Tibet Railway; it was replaced by a tunnel in 2014. (see photo).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Spiral between Qingshiya and Guanyinshan at Template:Coord on the Baoji–Chengdu Railway.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Six spirals on the Chengdu–Kunming Railway at:
- South of Baishiyan at Template:Coord.<ref name="Quail2008">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Lewu at Template:Coord.<ref name="Quail2008" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Wazu at Template:Coord.<ref name="Quail2008" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Tiekou at Template:Coord.<ref name="Quail2008" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Ananzhuang at Template:Coord.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Longgudian at Template:Coord.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Spiral at Shangshali at Template:Coord on the Harbin–Manzhouli Railway.<ref name="Quail2008" />
- Spiral at Daheba at Template:Coord on the Sichuan–Guizhou railway.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Three spirals on the Liupanshui–Hongguo Railway at:
- Maocaoping at Template:Coord.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Duchuanzhai at Template:Coord.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Sanjiazhai at Template:Coord.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- There are four spirals on the Southern Xinjiang Railway at Template:Coord, Template:Coord, Template:Coord and Template:Coord on a by-passed section between Yu'ergou and Hejing that is now freight only. This line was rebuilt on a shorter route in 2014.<ref name="XJDaily20141229">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Costa Rica
Replica of the Brusio Spiral Viaduct at Template:Coord on the Tren Turistico Arenal, 10 km east of Nuevo Arenal, Guanacaste.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Croatia
- Spiral between Rijeka-Brajdica and Sušak-Pećine at Template:Coord on the Rijeka–Karlovac railway, part of International corridor V. The spiral is mainly in a Template:Cvt tunnel.<ref name="Balkans2017">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
Eritrea
- Spiral between Asmara and Arbaroba at Template:Coord 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.Template:Cn
France
- Three spirals on the Col de Tende line between Ventimiglia to Cuneo as it passes through France, a further spiral on this line is in Italy.<ref name="TravellersMap2013">Template:Cite map</ref><ref name="Ballitaly2016">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref name="Braun">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Michelin2011">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Just north of Fontan at Template:Coord.
- Saint Dalmas-de-Tende at Template:Coord.
- Tende at Template:Coord.
- Spiral at Moûtiers at Template:Coord between Albertville and Bourg-Saint-Maurice used by TGV.<ref name="Michelin2011" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Spiral partly in a tunnel at Claveisolles at Template:Coord on the Paray-le-Monial to Lozanne line (between Saint-Nizier-d'Azergues and Poule-les-Écharmeaux).<ref name="IanAllan2015">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Spiral north of L'Hospitalet près l'Andorre at Template:Coord on the line between Latour-de-Carol and Ax-les-Thermes.<ref name="Spain2019">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- There used to be a spiral in the Sayerce tunnel at Template:Coord on the former Pau–Canfranc railway line between Pau and Zaragoza (Spain) in the Pyrenees. This spiral is now a footpath.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Michelin2011" />
- The proposed spirals between The Gravenne and Montpezat at Template:Coord on the partly completed Transcevenole line between Le Puy-en-Velay and Lalevade-d'Ardèche in the Cévennes were never constructed.
Germany
- Spiral, known as the Rendsburg Loop, on the northern approach to the Rendsburg High Bridge, a railway viaduct and transporter bridge crossing the Kiel Canal in Rendsburg, Schleswig-Holstein at Template:Coord.<ref name="Ball2016"/>Template:Rp<ref name="HarlinghausenMerleker1986">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
- Spiral on the Wutach Valley Railway at Template:Coord. The line was built partly for strategic reasons and had to be built to a reasonable gradient in order to haul heavy military trains over it. The alternative, shorter Singen–Waldshut route was not available for this traffic, since it crossed Swiss territory. The line is now a heritage railway.<ref name="Ball2016"/>Template:Rp<ref name="Division1945">Template:Cite book</ref>
India
- There are currently three spirals on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway:
- Chunbati Loop at Template:Coord.<ref name="Martin2006">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Agony Point at Template:Coord.<ref name="Martin2006" />
- Batasia Loop at Template:Coord.<ref name="Martin2006" />
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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- There used to be a spiral at Dhulghat at Template:Coord between Khandwa and Hingoli on the metre gauge railway, the spiral was apparently removedTemplate:Citation needed when the track was upgraded to broad gauge.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
Iran
- Spirals near Dowgal station at Template:Coord and extensive horseshoe curves in the Alborz Mountains on the Trans-Iranian Railway.<ref name="Hollingsworth1982" /><ref name="Hughes1981">Template:Cite book</ref>
Ireland
- The St. James's Gate Brewery, Dublin, Ireland formerly had an internal Template:Track gauge gauge railway with a loop in a tunnel to gain height between buildings.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Italy
- Spiral at Bortigiadas Template:Coord on the Sassari-Palau railway on Sardinia.<ref name="italy2009">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref name="Organ2013">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Spiral near Lanusei Template:Coord on the Mandas–Gairo–Arbatax railway on Sardinia.<ref name="italy2009" />Template:Rp<ref name="Organ2013" />
- Varzo Spiral Tunnel near Iselle di Trasquera Template:Coord on the Swiss Federal Railways just south of the Southern Portal of the Simplon Tunnel.<ref name="TCMap2011" /><ref name="TravellersMap2013" /><ref name="italy2009" />Template:Rp<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Spiral near Vernante Template:Coord on the Col de Tende railway from Ventimiglia to Cuneo. There are a further three spirals on this line in French territory.<ref name="italy2009" />Template:Rp<ref name="Ballitaly2016" />Template:Rp<ref name="Braun" />
- Spiral close to Savona at Template:Coord on the Savona–Altare line.<ref name="Kalla-Bishop1967">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="italy2009" />Template:Rp<ref name="Ballitaly2016" />Template:Rp
- Spiral just north of Salerno at Template:Coord on the Salerno–Mercato San Severino railway.<ref name="Ball2016"/>Template:Rp<ref name="italy2009" />Template:Rp<ref name="Ballitaly2016" />Template:Rp
- Spiral at Ragusa at Template:Coord on the approach to Ragusa from Modica on Sicily.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Ballitaly2016" />Template:Rp
- Spiral between Medaglie d'Oro and Salvator Rosa at Template:Coord on Line 1 of Naples Metro. Vanvitelli and Quattro Giornale stations are on the loop itself.<ref name="transit2007">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Spiral at Casole Bruzio Template:Coord on the Cosenza to San Giovanni in Fiore line (line exists but is not in service).<ref name="Ball2016"/>Template:Rp
- There were three spirals at Template:Coord Caprareccia and Template:Coord and Template:Coord near San Martino on the former Spoleto–Norcia line.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Japan
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- Spiral South of Echigo-Nakazato at Template:Coord on the Tokyo bound Jōetsu Line.<ref name="JapanHistory">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="JapanMap">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref name="NDTA">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Spiral at Shimizu Tunnel at Template:Coord on the Tokyo-bound Jōetsu Line.<ref name="JapanHistory" /><ref name="JapanMap" />Template:Rp<ref name="NDTA" />
- Spiral South of Tsuruga Station at Template:Coord on the Hokuriku Main Line to Shin-Hikida Station.<ref name="JapanHistory" /><ref name="JapanMap" />Template:Rp
- Spiral at Okoba Station at Template:Coord on the Hisatsu Line. Okoba Station is situated on a zig zag part way around the loop.<ref name="JapanMap" />Template:Rp
- Spiral on the Nakamura Line just after its junction with the Yodo Line at Template:Coord.<ref name="JapanMap" />Template:Rp
- Spiral on the western approach to the Rainbow Bridge at Template:Coord on New Transit Yurikamome automated transit service in Tokyo.<ref name="transit2007" />Template:Rp<ref name="JapanMap" />Template:Rp
Kenya
There are three spirals on the Template:RailGauge 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Spiral South of Mazeras at Template:Coord near Mombasa.
- Spiral near Makutano station at : Template:Coord.
- Spiral near Equator station at Template:Coord.
Madagascar
- Spiral at Anjiro at Template:Coord on the main line from Antananarivo to Toamasina.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mexico
- Spiral between Creel and San Rafael at Template:Coord on the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico.<ref>Template:Encyclopedia of North American Railroads</ref><ref name="Wampler1969">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Planet2014">Template:Cite book</ref>
Myanmar
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- One spiral on the Burma Mines Railway at Template:Coord.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- One spiral close to Shwenyaung at Template:Coord on the Thazi-Taunggyi line.<ref name="Enriquez1935">Template:Cite book</ref>
New Zealand
- Raurimu Spiral at Template:Coord on the North Island Main Trunk. The line is single track and involves two short tunnels around a suitable hill.<ref name="Pierre1981">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Nock1978" />
- Spiral on the Driving Creek Railway at Template:Coord. This railway also has several reverses or zig-zags.<ref name=WATERWORLD>Template:Cite news</ref>
- There used to be a spiral at Template:Coord on the Ellis and Burnand Tramway, Ongarue, which closed in 1958 and is now part of the Timber Trail.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Norway
- Spiral on the Flåm Line between Myrdal and Flåm at Template:Coord.<ref name="IanAllan2015" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Spiral on the Vestfold Line around the town of Tønsberg at Template:Coord.<ref>Sigurd H. Unneberg, Sem og Slagen, en bygdebok Bind 2, Kulturhistorie, del 2 . Tønsberg: Høgskolen i Vestfold, 2001. Relevant chapter is online here Template:Webarchive Template:In lang</ref>
Peru
- Spiral between San Bartolome and Matucana at Template:Coord on the Central Railway.Template:Citation needed
Russia
- Spiral just north of Indyuk at Template:Coord on the North Caucasus Railway route from Tuapse (Tуапсе) through Gornyy to Belorechensk (Белореченск).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- There used to be a spiral at "Devil's Bridge", Template:Coord on the now abandoned line from Kholmsk to Yushno-Sakhalinsk on Sakhalin Island.Template:Citation needed
Serbia
- Spiral at Jatare at Template:Coord on the Šargan Eight Heritage Railway in Western Serbia between from Mokra Gora and Šargan Vitasi.<ref name="IanAllan2015"/><ref name="Balkans2017" />Template:Rp
Slovakia
- Spiral at Telgártska slučka at Template:Coord on the Brezno to Gelnica Line. The spiral is constructed of two viaducts and a Template:Cvt tunnel.<ref name="IanAllan2015" />
South Africa
- Spiral near Komga at Template:Coord on the branch line to Mthatha as it descends to the Great Kei River.<ref name="AfricaBoard1947">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Spiral at Van Reenen's Pass at Template:Coord on the line from Harrismith to Ladysmith.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="ShortenCouncil1970">Template:Cite book</ref>
South Korea
- Spiral at Hambaek 1st Tunnel at Template:Coord between Hambaek station and Jodong station on the Hambaek Line;– one loop, single track.<ref name="Quail1996" />
- Spiral at Solan Tunnel at Template:Coord 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- There used to be a spiral at Daegang Tunnel at Template:Coord between Danseong station and Jungnyeong station on the Jungang Line;– one loop, single track.<ref name="Quail1996">Template:Cite map</ref> A new double track tunnel has opened which by-passes the line with the spiral, which has since closed.Template:Cn
- There used to be a spiral at Ddwari Tunnel at Template:Coord 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Spain
- Spiral near Toses at Template:Coord on the Ripoll to Latour-de-Carol, France line.<ref name="TCMap2011" /><ref name="spain2003">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
- Spiral at La Granja de San Vicente at Template:Coord on the Palencia to A Coruña line.<ref name="spain2003" />Template:Rp<ref>Template:Cite map</ref>
Sri Lanka
- Spiral at Demodara railway station at Template:Coord on the line from Bandarawela to Badulla. Demodara railway station is located above the spiral tunnel.<ref name="Cumaranatunga2009">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Switzerland
- The Gotthard railway has spirals and horseshoe curves or bends mostly in tunnels on its standard gauge, double track line. The spirals are:
- North of Wassen at Pfaffensprung on the Northern approach at Template:Coord, this loop is followed by two horseshoe bends around Wassen.<ref name="Nock1978">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Swiss2016">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
- Piottino spirals on the Southern approach at Template:Coord and at Template:Coord.<ref name="Nock1978"/><ref name="Swiss2016"/>Template:Rp
- Biaschina double spiral near Anzonico at Template:Coord.<ref name="Nock1978"/><ref name="Swiss2016"/>Template:Rp
- RhB Albulabahn has four spirals, mainly in tunnels, on its metre gauge single track. The spirals are at:
- Filisur at Template:Coord.<ref name="Nock1978" /><ref name="Swiss2016" />Template:Rp<ref name="Westwood2009">Template:Cite book</ref>
- South of Bergün at Template:Coord.<ref name="Nock1978" /><ref name="Swiss2016" />Template:Rp<ref name="Westwood2009"/>
- Double spiral North of Preda at Template:Coord.<ref name="Nock1978" /><ref name="Swiss2016" />Template:Rp<ref name="Westwood2009"/>
- It could also be argued that the horseshoe curves immediately South of Bergün at Template:Coord also form a spiral as it appears that one curve overlaps the other.<ref name="Nock1978" /><ref name="Swiss2016" />Template:Rp<ref name="Westwood2009"/>
- Brusio spiral viaduct at Template:Coord on RhB Berninabahn. This is a fine example of an open spiral mainly on the Brusio spiral viaduct on a metre gauge single track railway.<ref name="Swiss2016" />Template:Rp
- Spiral South of Gletsch at Template:Coord on the former Furka Oberalp Bahn, now Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstrecke Heritage Railway. This is a single track partial rack railway with the catenary equipment removed.<ref name="Lambert2005">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Spiral East of Grengiols at Template:Coord on the former Furka Oberalp Bahn, now Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, between Grengiols and Lax.<ref name="Swiss2016" />Template:Rp
Taiwan
- Triple spiral (with long sections in tunnels) at Dulishan at Template:Coord on the Alishan Forest Railway.<ref name="Company1993">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Track length is 5 kilometers, while the endpoints of the spiral are only 570 meters apart horizontally and 233 meters vertically.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Uganda
- There used to be a spiral at Circle Hill Template:Coord on the Western Uganda Extension of the Kenya to Uganda Railway Line to Kasese.<ref name="AminMatheson1986">Template:Cite book</ref>
United Kingdom
- Spiral around Dduallt railway station at Template:Coord on the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales.<ref name="Heavyside1980">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Westwood2009" /><ref name="Baker2010">Template:Cite book</ref>
- The line at Template:Coord from Moorswater cement terminal, through Coombe Junction and Liskeard on the Looe Valley Line and on over Moorswater Viaduct forms a complete spiral, climbing up to join the main line at Liskeard. Not all parts are used by passenger trains.<ref name="Publishing1982">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Baker2010"/>
United States
- Tehachapi Loop, at Tehachapi, California at Template:Coord on the former Southern Pacific Railroad, now part of Union Pacific Railroad.<ref name="Griswold1992">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Ingles2001">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Williams Loop, east of East Quincy, California at Template:Coord on the former Western Pacific Railroad now part of Union Pacific Railroad.<ref name="Solomon">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Hiwassee Loop, also known as the Hook and Eye; 2 miles NNE of Farner, Tennessee at Template:Coord 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.<ref name="Klein1972">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Georgetown Loop, at Georgetown, Colorado at Template:Coord 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.<ref name="GriswoldGriswold1988">Template:Cite book</ref>
- The MAX Red Line, a light rail line in Portland, Oregon, loops over itself at Template:Coord in the vicinity of the Gateway Transit Center.<ref name="MAX">Template:Cite news</ref>
- In the Loop District of the Alaska Railroad at Template:Coord 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. <ref>Prince, B.D.The Alaska Railroad in Pictures 1914-1964; Ken Wray's Print Shop, Anchorage, 1964</ref>
- Abandoned spiral at Riflesight Notch Loop at Rollinsville, Colorado at Template:Coord 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.<ref name="LeMassena1984">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Abandoned spiral called Double Circle, or Double Loop, or The Golden Circle, at Template:Coord 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.<ref name="drgnet">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="utrails1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="utrails2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Abandoned spiral on the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad at Template:Coord. The spiral was completed in 1963. The spiral was bypassed by two switchbacks after a trestle fire in 1976.<ref name="KifleGoodman2013">Template:Cite book</ref>
See also
- Spiral bridge - road equivalent
- Hairpin turn
- List of steepest gradients on adhesion railways
- Zig Zag Railways