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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.

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Spiral (railway) Brusio Spiral Viaduct in Switzerland Amusing Planet

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.

Spiral (railway) Old Time Trains

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; otherwise, it forms the much more common horseshoe curve or bend.

Spiral (railway) Raurimu spiral from the air King Country places Te Ara

A spiral loop is not the same as the transition spiral or spiral easement used to provide a transition from a tangent into a horizontal circular curve. Spiral easement is used to avoid abrupt changes in the sideward acceleration experienced by a railway vehicle and the passengers in the vehicle approaching the horizontal circular curve and to prevent abrupt forces and discomfort.

Spiral (railway) Parks Canada Yoho National Park Spiral Tunnels

Argentina

  • 2 spirals south of Diego de Almagro station at 24°26′12″S 65°50′29″W and 24°23′18″S 65°51′05″W on the heritage Tren a las Nubes line.

    • Australia

  • Spiral on the uphill track at Bethrunga 34°45′17″S 147°52′13″E on the Main Southern railway line, New South Wales. The downhill track remains on the original steep plain 1 in 40 gradient.
  • Spiral on the single track at Cougal 28°21′16″S 152°57′51″E on the North Coast railway line, New South Wales.

    • Bulgaria

  • Four Spirals on the Rhodope Mountain Line between Septemvri to Dobrinishte railway 760 mm (2 ft 5 15⁄16 in) gauge between Velingrad and Cherna Mesta at 42°02′36″N 23°51′12″E, 42°02′27″N 23°50′30″E, 42°02′14″N 23°44′48″E and 42°02′53″N 23°44′10″E.
  • Spiral just outside Klisura at 42°42′02″N 24°27′35″E on the Sofia to Tulovo railway.
  • Spiral just outside Radevtsi at 42°47′46″N 25°32′38″E on the Ruse to Dimitrovgrad railway.
  • Double spiral just outside Raduntsi at 42°40′37″N 25°35′41″E on the Ruse to Dimitrovgrad railway.

    • Canada

  • Double spiral at Big Hill at 51°25′28″N 116°25′17″W on the approach to Kicking Horse Pass on the Canadian Pacific Railway route.
  • There used to be a spiral at Trinity, Newfoundland on the former Newfoundland Railway.
  • There used to be a spiral at Rogers Pass at 51°18′05″N 117°47′29″W that was superseded when the Connaught Tunnel (British Columbia) was built.

    • People's Republic of China

  • Spiral South of Baoji at 34°16′39″N 106°58′09″E on the Baocheng line.
  • Spiral South of Baishiyan at 28°46′05″N 102°34′25″E on the Chengkun line.
  • Spiral at Lewu at 28°17′52″N 102°37′21″E on the Chengkun line.
  • Spiral at Wazu at 28°11′54″N 102°33′58″E on the Chengkun line.
  • Spiral at Tiekou at 28°13′49″N 102°31′54″E on the Chengkun line.
  • 2 spirals near Heijing at 25°26′15″N 101°44′52″E on the Chengkun line.
  • Spiral at Shangshali at 48°47′36″N 121°43′39″E on the Binzhou line.
  • There used to be a series of spirals on the Nanjiang line between Turpan and Korla. This line was rebuilt on a shorter route in 2014.

    • China

  • Chengdu–Kunming Railway: Naituo Spiral, Fala Spiral
  • Baoji–Chengdu Railway: Guanyinshan Spiral, Majiaoba Spiral
  • Southern Xinjiang Railway
  • Beijing–Baotou Railway
  • Qinghai–Tibet Railway
  • Jining–Tongliao Railway

    • Croatia

  • Spiral between Rijeka-Brajdica and Sušak-Pećine at 45°19′23″N 14°26′57″E on the Rijeka–Karlovac railway, part of International corridor V. The spiral is mainly in a 1838m long tunnel.

    • France

  • Three spirals on the Ventimiglia to Cuneo railway as it passes through France, a further spiral on this line is in Italy.
  • Just North of Fontan at 44°00′58″N 7°33′58″E.
  • Saint Dalmas-de-Tende at 44°03′28″N 7°35′38″E.
  • Tende at 44°05′55″N 7°35′44″E.
  • Spiral at Moûtiers at 45.485628°N 6.540444°E / 45.485628; 6.540444 between Albertville and Bourg-Saint-Maurice used by TGV.
  • There was a spiral railway in Sayerce tunnel between Pau and Zaragoza (Spain) in the Pyrenees. This spiral is now a footpath.
  • The proposed four-turn spiral of Gravenne de Montpezat (44.695047°N 4.21797°E / 44.695047; 4.21797) on the partly completed Ligne Transcévenole between Saint-Cirgues and Aubenas (Ardèche) in the Cévennes was never constructed.

    • Germany

  • Spiral on the northern approach to the Rendsburg High Bridge in Rendsburg, Schleswig-Holstein at 54°17′58″N 9°40′37″E has a single spiral loop onto the transporter bridge crossing the Kiel Canal.
  • Spiral on the Wutach Valley Railway at 47°47′30″N 8°30′07″E. 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.

    • India

  • There are three spirals on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway:
  • Chunbati Loop at 26°50′30″N 88°20′28″E.
  • Agony Point at 26°51′28″N 88°19′40″E.
  • Batasia Loop at 27°01′00″N 88°14′50″E.

    • 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.

  • Spiral at Dhulghat at 21°16′56″N 76°44′38″E between Khandwa and Hingoli on the 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge railway.

    • Iran

  • 2 spirals, one each side of Dowgal station at 35°52′34″N 52°57′20″E on the Trans-Iranian Railway.

    • Ireland

  • The St. James's Gate Brewery, Dublin, Ireland formerly had an internal 1 ft 10 in (559 mm) gauge railway with a loop in a tunnel to gain height between buildings

    • Italy

  • Spiral at Bortigiadas 40°53′31″N 9°03′23″E on the Sassari-Palau railway part of the Ferrovie della Sardegna.
  • Spiral near Lanusei 39°52′21″N 9°32′27″E on the Mandas–Gairo–Arbatax railway part of the Ferrovie della Sardegna.
  • Varzo spiral near Iselle di Trasquera 46°12′45″N 8°13′37″E on the Swiss Federal Railways just South of the Southern Portal of the Simplon Tunnel.
  • Spiral near Vernante 44°14′12″N 7°32′25″E on the Ventimiglia to Cuneo railway on the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane. There are a further three spirals on this line in French territory.
  • Spiral close to Savona at 44°19′45″N 8°26′51″E on the Savona–Altare line on the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane.
  • Spiral just North of Salerno at 40°41′45″N 14°45′59″E on the Salerno–Mercato San Severino railway on the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane.
  • Spiral at Ragusa at 36°55′11″N 14°44′12″E on the approach to Ragusa from Modica on the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane.
  • Spiral at Casole Bruzio 39°16′42″N 16°20′22″E on the Cosenza to San Giovanni in Fiore line (line is not in regular service).
  • There were three spirals on the former Spoleto–Norcia line at Caprareccia and San Martino.

    • Japan

  • Spiral South of Echigo-Nakazato at 36°53′49″N 138°50′08″E on the Tokyo bound Jōetsu Line.
  • Spiral at Yubiso at 36°48′21″N 138°59′33″E on the Tokyo-bound Jōetsu Line.
  • Spiral South of Tsuruga Station at 35°36′43″N 136°04′15″E on the Hokuriku Main Line to Shin-Hikida Station, track for Maibara Station only.
  • Spiral at Okoba Station at 32°09′57″N 130°46′52″E on the Hisatsu Line. Okoba Station is situated on a zig zag part way around the loop.
  • Spiral on the Nakamura Line just after its junction with the Yodo Line at 33°09′35″N 133°05′27″E.
  • Spiral on the western approach to the Rainbow Bridge at 35°38′15″N 139°45′15″E on New Transit Yurikamome automated transit service in Tokyo.

    • Kenya

  • Three spirals on the Kenya to Uganda Railway Line, a fourth spiral on this line is in Uganda.
  • Spiral South of Mazeras at 3°59′44″S 39°32′39″E nea r Mombasa.
  • Spiral near Makutano station at : 0°02′36″S 35°38′29″E.
  • Spiral near Equator, Kenya station at 0°00′26″S 35°33′04″E.

    • South Korea

  • Spiral at Geumdae 2nd Tunnel at 37°16′31″N 128°00′48″E between Geumgyo station and Chiak station on Jungang Line;– one loop, single track. New double track tunnel is under construction to replace loop tunnel.
  • Spiral at Daegang Tunnel at 36°55′28″N 128°20′39″E between Danseong station and Jungnyeong station on the Jungang Line;– one loop, single track.
  • Spiral at Hambaek 1st Tunnel at 37°09′26″N 128°56′27″E between Hambaek station and Jodong station on the Hambaek Line;– one loop, single track.
  • Spiral at Solan Tunnel at 37°09′23″N 128°56′30″E between East Baeksan station and Dogye station on the Yeongdong Line;– one loop, single track but double track is installed on the middle of the tunnel; for both trains crossing each other.

    • Madagascar

  • Spiral at Anjiro at 18°51′57″S 47°58′00″E on the main line from Antananarivo to Toamasina.

    • Myanmar

  • Two spirals on the Burmah Mines Railway
  • One spiral close to Schwenyaung at 20°44′06″N 96°51′48″E on the Thazi-Schwenyuang line.

    • New Zealand

  • Raurimu Spiral at 39°07′13″S 175°24′04″E on the North Island Main Trunk. The line is single track and involves two short tunnels around a suitable hill.
  • Spiral on the Driving Creek Railway at 36°44′07″S 175°30′20″E. This railway also has several reverses or zig-zags.
  • There was formerly a spiral on the Ellis & Burnand Ongarue tramway which closed in 1958 and is now a cycle trail.

    • Russia

  • Spiral at Indyuk at 44°14′48″N 39°14′32″E on the North Caucasus Railway.

    • Serbia

  • Spiral at Jatare at 43°48′03″N 19°31′11″E on the Šargan Eight Heritage Railway in Western Serbia between from Mokra Gora and Šargan Vitasi.

    • Slovakia

  • Spiral at Telgártska slučka at 48°51′18″N 20°11′28″E on the Brezno to Gelnica Line. The spiral is constructed of two viaducts and a 1,200m tunnel.

    • South Africa

  • Spiral near Komga at 32°32′04″S 27°59′32″E on the branch line to Mthatha as it descends to the Great Kei River.
  • Spiral at Van Reenen's Pass at 28°22′15″S 29°23′17″E on the line from Harrismith to Ladysmith.

    • Spain

  • Spiral near Toses at 42°19′31″N 2°01′51″E on the Ripoll to Latour-de-Carol, France line.
  • Spiral at La Granja de San Vicente at 42°36′18″N 6°17′18″W on the Palencia to A Coruña line.

    • Sri Lanka

  • Spiral at Demodara railway station at 6°54′10″N 81°03′47″E on the line from Bandarawela to Badulla. Demodara railway station is located above the spiral tunnel.

    • 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 46°43′19″N 8°36′34″E, this loop is followed by two horseshoe bends around Wassen.
  • Piottino spirals on the Southern approach at 46°29′41″N 8°44′13″E and at 46°29′11″N 8°46′08″E.
  • Double spiral at Anzonico at 46°29′11″N 8°46′08″E.
  • RhB Albulabahn has four spirals, mainly in tunnels, on its metre gauge single track. The spirals are at:
  • Filisur at 46°40′31″N 9°41′07″E.
  • South of Bergün at 46°36′11″N 9°43′03″E.
  • Double spiral North of Preda at 46°35′47″N 9°44′33″E.
  • It could also be argued that the horseshoe curves immediately South of Bergün at 46°37′17″N 9°45′09″E also form a spiral as it appears that one curve overlaps the other.
  • Spiral at Brusio at 46°15′05″N 10°07′15″E 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.
  • Spiral South of Gletsch at 46°33′28″N 8°21′18″E on the former Furka–Oberalp-Bahn, now Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstrecke Heritage Railway. This is a single track, metre gauge rack railway with the catenary equipment removed.
  • Spiral East of Grengiols at 46°22′41″N 8°05′42″E on the former Furka–Oberalp-Bahn, now Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, between Grengiols and Lax.

    • Taiwan

  • Triple spiral at Dulishan at 23°32′11″N 120°36′07″E on the Alishan Forest Railway.

    • Uganda

  • Spiral at Circle Hill 0°11′25″N 30°21′30″E on the Kenya to Uganda Railway Line in Kamwenge District, Western Uganda. There are three spirals on this railway in Kenya.

    • United Kingdom

  • Spiral around Dduallt railway station at 52°57′37″N 3°58′07″W on the 1 ft 11½ in (597 mm) gauge Ffestiniog Railway in Wales.
  • The line at 50°26′43″N 4°28′37″W 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.

    • United States

  • Tehachapi Loop, at Tehachapi, California at 35°12′03″N 118°32′13″W on the former Southern Pacific Railroad, now part of Union Pacific Railroad.
  • Williams Loop, east of East Quincy, California at 39°54′36″N 120°48′29″W on the former Western Pacific Railroad now part of Union Pacific Railroad.
  • Hiwassee Loop, 2 miles NNE of Farner, Tennessee at 35°10′53″N 84°17′59″W on the former Atlanta, Knoxville and Northern Railway now operated as a heritage site by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
  • Georgetown Loop, at Georgetown, Colorado at 39°42′02″N 105°42′32″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.
  • Riflesight Notch Loop (track dismantled) at Rollinsville, Colorado on the former Denver and Salt Lake Railway. The spiral was bypassed by the Moffat Tunnel, built in 1928. The spiral was abandoned and the track were dismantled in 1935.
  • Double Circle, a.k.a. Double Loop, or The Golden Circle, east of Eureka, Utah on the former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. It was bypassed in 1940 and subsequently dismantled.
  • There used to be spiral on the Roaring Camp Railroad at 37°02′33″N 122°03′54″W. The spiral was completed in 1963. The spiral was bypassed by two switchbacks after a trestle fire in 1976.

    • References

    Spiral (railway) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA