Horseshoe curve (transportation)

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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".

[edit] 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.
• 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 Rikuchū Ōhashi Station ("down" on the elevation and registration of direction of the line).

[edit] See also

• Hairpin turn

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