Spiral (railway)
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A spiral is a technique employed by railways to ascend steep hills.
Spiral viaduct of the Bernina Express near Brusio, Switzerland.
Guanjiao Spiral on Qinghai–Tibet Railway at night. The route containing the spiral was replaced by a 32-km long tunnel (at the time of completion the longest in China) in 2014.
Loop (Agony Point) on the DHR, India
Okoba spiral and zig zag in Hisatsu Line, Japan
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
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The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, also known as the DHR or the Toy Train, is a 610 mm gauge railway that runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in the Indian state of West Bengal. Built between 1879 and 1881, it is about 88 km (55 mi) long. It climbs from about 100 m (330 ft) above sea level at New Jalpaiguri to about 2,200 m (7,200 ft) at Darjeeling, using six zig zags and three loops to gain altitude. Ghum station is situated at an altitude of 2,258 metres (7,407 ft). Six diesel locomotives handle most of the scheduled service, with daily tourist trains from Darjeeling to Ghum – India's highest railway station – and the steam-hauled Red Panda service from Darjeeling to Kurseong. Steam-enthusiast specials are hauled by vintage British-built B-Class steam locomotives. The railway's headquarters are at Kurseong.
Passing a fruit shop in Darjeeling
1880 line through the Terai
The railway in 1895
The Choonbatty loop in 1895