Wikipedia:
horseshoe curve(railway) |
As far as possible, a railway trying to climb a steep gradient tries to follow the contours so that cuttings and embankments are kept to a minimum, while also minimizing the total length of the line.
Sometimes a valley at right angles to the general direction of travel can be used to create a contour hugging "horseshoe curve".
Examples of horseshoe curves
- Horseshoe Curve (Pennsylvania), at Kittanning Gap
- Dunsmuir, California has a pair of horseshoe curves nearby. Map
- Cascade Tunnel has a gully on the western approaches that is an unnamed horseshoe curve.
- Dovrebanen, the main line of the Norwegian railway network, has a horseshoe from Dombås and up to the Dovre platau.
- Raumabanen, has a double horseshoe with a tunnel at Verma downhill from Dombås.
See also
| Railway track layouts | |
|---|---|
| Running lines | Single track • Passing loop • Double track |
| Rail sidings | Balloon loop • Headshunt • Rail yard • Classification yard |
| Junctions | Flying junction • Level junction • Double junction • Facing and trailing • Grand union • Wye • Railroad switch |
| Stations | Side platform • Island platform • Bay platform • Terminal station • Balloon loop • Spanish solution • Cross-platform interchange |
| Hillclimbing | Horseshoe curve • Zig Zag / Switchback • Spiral |
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