Horseshoe curve (transportation)

Horseshoe curve (transportation)

As far as possible, a railway or road 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. [http://maps.yahoo.com/beta/index.php#maxp=search&mvt=m&trf=0&lon=-122.285879&lat=41.261146&mag=3 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, Norway, has a double horseshoe with one bridge and two tunnels at Verma downhill from Dombås.
* Flåmsbana, Norway, has a double horseshoe, one inside a tunnel, one in the open, few kilometers below top station.
* The Raurimu Spiral in New Zealand has a horseshoe curve as the first part of the climb.
* Kamaishi Line of East Japan Railway Company in Japan, has a horseshoe curve from Kamiarisu Station down to Rikuch hashi Station ("down" on the elevation and registration of direction of the line).

See also

* Hairpin turn


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