Railroad Trivia question? What is the longest railroad simple curve and compound curve in the world? Not including the US. I believe already know the two longest in the US. Ponchartrain for the compound and UP's, Alexandria Sub in Louisiana
Excuse my ignorance, but Ive been told that there is no stupid question on these forums
and there might be some newbies here with the same question.
What is a simple curve and what is a compound curve?
I'll take a dangerous and semi-educated stab. First, unless I am mistaken, all curves on N. American railroads are compound in that they are eased, thus meaning they have infinitely variable raidii at any one point on the curve proper, or track that is not designated as tangent. IOW, they are not simple curves with a fixed radius that do not reverse themselves as one would see in a snake.
Simple curves might be found on traction lines in urban settings where clearances are tight, but I don't know that for certain. Who knows where the longest of that type is?
The longest compound curve in the world is likely to be the longest cross-over spiral on a grade, such as the tunnel on the CPR line in the Rockies. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to find a curve that runs for many miles with a radius in the tens of miles that would be remarked in a document easily tracked down. Technically, we could be talking about a compound curve that runs in sinuous form for many miles, or a curve that does not reverse itself...that is, is one continuous arc, but with the eased ends and different radii, but running for dozens of miles.
Maybe I am confusing terms, but our original poster should help us to get back on track.