Full Scale Helix? Model?

The spiral tunnels in Canada:

Rusty

Williams Loop on Western Pacific, east of Keddie and Quincy. Grade is only 1%. Photos from internet.

http://www.carrtracks.com/Williams-Loop.htm

Williams Loop on Google Earth

I had the good fortune to have a train circle me while viewing the Spiral Loops - quite spectacular.

Ace, is the Williams Loop still active?

Paul

It is on the main old WP transcon, it would be had to skip.

I have seen what I think was both tracks occupied at Tehachapi but I couldn't tell you if it was the same train or not.  I was driving through the canyon at the time, hard to tell what is happening from below grade.

Some passes in the Swiss Republic in the Alps?

The Georgetown Loop tourist RR west of Denver has a complete over-under loop. Impressive!

Mike

On the Tehachapi loop long freights often crossed over themselves.

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Some passes in the Swiss Republic in the Alps?

Yep, the Brusio spiral of the bernina rwy and the Biaschinna -loops of the Gotthard Rwy.

I believe that there was a large loop in New Mexico that was the original route of the Sunset Limited, where the UP connected to the T & P, or close to it. The train didn't pass over itself, but used a large spiral to handle the elevation changes. Using Google satellite, you can still see the old route. It's been a few years since I researched it and can't find my files. perhaps approaching El Paso, near Deming or a little further west.

A negative demerit to me for forgetting about the Georgetown Loop!, having been under it several times (but not yet ridden it...they were running tourist trains over it...dunno about now).    I am pretty sure that in the magazines,  I have seen model layout photos of these loops and trains passing over themselves....but...what issue, when.....?  I also should have been more positive about Tehachapi, as that is well known and documented.  Thanks for posting the Williams Loop photos.  Is that west of the WP Museum and the Feather River Canyon, or east?

colorado hirailer posted:

A negative demerit to me for forgetting about the Georgetown Loop!, having been under it several times (but not yet ridden it...they were running tourist trains over it...dunno about now).    I am pretty sure that in the magazines,  I have seen model layout photos of these loops and trains passing over themselves....but...what issue, when.....?  I also should have been more positive about Tehachapi, as that is well known and documented.  Thanks for posting the Williams Loop photos.  Is that west of the WP Museum and the Feather River Canyon, or east?

Georgetown Loop is still running excursions - I rode it last Wednesday.  

Moonman posted:

I believe that there was a large loop in New Mexico that was the original route of the Sunset Limited, where the UP connected to the T & P, or close to it. The train didn't pass over itself, but used a large spiral to handle the elevation changes. Using Google satellite, you can still see the old route. It's been a few years since I researched it and can't find my files. perhaps approaching El Paso, near Deming or a little further west.

ER, at the time built, SP.  But it is all mute now, because it is all UP!

Brusio spiral viaduct on the metre-gauge Rhaetian Railway in Switzerland, with 7% grade worked by adhesion.

Brusio Viaduct on Google Earth   

(shows a temporary labyrinth inside the spiral, constructed for 100th anniversary celebration of railway)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brusio_spiral_viaduct

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhaetian_Railway

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Moonman posted:

I believe that there was a large loop in New Mexico that was the original route of the Sunset Limited, where the UP connected to the T & P, or close to it. The train didn't pass over itself, but used a large spiral to handle the elevation changes. Using Google satellite, you can still see the old route. It's been a few years since I researched it and can't find my files. perhaps approaching El Paso, near Deming or a little further west.

ER, at the time built, SP.  But it is all mute now, because it is all UP!

yes, you are correct. It was SP. Anyway, it was interesting. UP has a nice smooth run there now, but there's still the elevation changes. I do recall getting lost in T & P history. But as you say, it's all UP now, which is not a MOOT point.

totrainyard posted:

It is on the main old WP transcon, it would be had to skip.

Just to be pedantic, Williams Loop is on the transcon, but the Inside Gateway is not.  It was completed in the 1930s to connect to the Great Northern.

I was fortunate enough to ride a charter up the Gateway last year - nice views of the obsidian flows at Medicine Lake Volcano, among other things.

Professor Chaos posted:

totrainyard posted:

It is on the main old WP transcon, it would be had to skip.

Just to be pedantic, Williams Loop is on the transcon, but the Inside Gateway is not.  It was completed in the 1930s to connect to the Great Northern. 

I was fortunate enough to ride a charter up the Gateway last year - nice views of the obsidian flows at Medicine Lake Volcano, among other things.

You are correct, my mistake. I've seen Keddie Wye and the Feather River Canyon and the Inside Gateway in Oregon, but wasn't personally familiar with the location of Williams Loop.

The Roaring Camp and Big Trees [tourist] Railroad at Felton California used to have a spiral (1963-1976) but it was replaced with a steep switchback route after fire damage to a major trestle. 36" gauge with geared steam locomotives and dramatic grades.

Photos by Ace 1985.