Spiral (railway)

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File:RhB ABe 4-4 III Kreisviadukt Brusio.jpg
Spiral viaduct of the Bernina Express near Brusio, Switzerland.

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

Australia

Bulgaria

Canada

China

File:巡道工出品 photo by Xundaogong——关角B门 - panoramio.jpg
Guanjiao Spiral on Qinghai–Tibet Railway at night. The route containing the spiral was replaced by a 32-km long tunnel (at the time of completion the longest in China) in 2014.

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>Template:Cite web</ref>

Croatia

Eritrea

France

Germany

India

File:Agony point 1921.jpg
Loop (Agony Point) on the DHR, 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Iran

Ireland

Italy

Japan

File:Okoba spiral and zig zag aerial photography 1976-001.jpg
Okoba spiral and zig zag in Hisatsu Line, Japan
File:3 Chome Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tōkyō-to 105-0022, Japan - panoramio (3).jpg
Spiral loop, west of Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo, Japan.

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 This railway has been superseded by the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, which has removed the need for spirals by constructing tunnels and bridges.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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Madagascar

Mexico

Myanmar

File:Taunggyi line, Myanmar (Burma).jpg
Spiral in Thazi – Taunggyi line, Myanmar

New Zealand

Norway

Peru

Russia

Serbia

Slovakia

South Africa

South Korea

File:Jungang Line - Geumdae 2nd Tunnel 060606.JPG
Geumdae 2nd Tunnel in Jungang Line, 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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite 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>Template:Cite web</ref>

Spain

Sri Lanka

Switzerland

File:Albulabahn01.jpg
Toua spiral tunnel on the RhB Albulabahn

Taiwan

File:Tunnel114.jpg
Triple spiral loop on the Alishan Forest Railway

Uganda

United Kingdom

File:Dduallt spiral simkins.jpg
The bridge on the spiral loop at Dduallt on the Ffestiniog Railway, Wales.

United States

File:Tehachapi Loop USGS closeup.jpg
Tehachapi Loop, on the Union Pacific Railroad, California, United States, viewed from the air.
File:Riflesight Notch 1903.PNG
1903 view of Riflesight Notch loop, near Rollins Pass in Colorado

See also

References

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