| 词条 | Raurimu Spiral |
| 释义 |
|New Zealand |label=Raurimu Spiral |lat_dir=S | lat_deg=39 | lat_min=7.4 |lon_dir=E | lon_deg=175 | lon_min=23.8 |position=left |float=right |caption=Location of the Raurimu Spiral in the central North Island of New Zealand. }}{{Raurimu Spiral}} The Raurimu Spiral is a single-track railway spiral, starting with a horseshoe curve, overcoming a {{convert|139|m|adj=on}} height difference, in the central North Island of New Zealand, on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. It is a notable feat of civil engineering, having been called an "engineering masterpiece."[1] The Institute of Professional Engineers (NZ) has designated the spiral as a significant Engineering heritage site.[2] BackgroundDuring the construction of the central section of the North Island Main Trunk railway between Wellington and Auckland, a major obstacle arose: how to cross the steep slopes between the North Island Volcanic Plateau to the east and the valleys and gorges of the Whanganui River to the west? South of Taumarunui, the terrain is steep but not unmanageable, with the exception of the stretch between Raurimu and National Park, where the land rises too steeply for a direct rail route. A direct line between these two points would rise {{convert|200|m}} in a distance of some {{convert|5|km}}, a gradient of 1 in 24. The area was thoroughly surveyed during the 1880s in an attempt to find a route with a lesser grade, but the only viable possibility seemed to require a {{convert|20|km|adj=on}} detour and nine massive viaducts. Even then, the gradient would have been over 1 in 50. ConstructionThe problem was solved in 1898 by a since forgotten PWD surveyor in the employ of R. W. Holmes, Public Works Department engineer. He proposed a line that looped back upon itself and then spiralled around with the aid of tunnels and bridges, rising at a gradient of 1 in 52. Though costly and labour-intensive, the scheme was still cheaper than the previous plan by Browne and Turner which required 9 viaducts down the Piopiotea. Probably the most remarkable feature is that, even today, there is no place to view the complete line. By all accounts, Holmes visualised the layout in his imagination. The railway forms an ascending spiral southwards, with two relatively short tunnels, a circle and three hairpin bends. From the north, trains pass Raurimu before going round a 200° bend to the left in a horseshoe curve, climbing above the track on which they have just travelled. Two sharp bends to the right follow, after which the line passes through two short tunnels, the Lower Spiral Tunnel (384 m) and the Upper Spiral Tunnel (96 m). Trains then complete a full circle, crossing over the Lower Spiral Tunnel through which they have just passed which is {{convert|23|m|adj=on}} below, before continuing towards Wellington. {{convert|2|km|spell=In}} further on the line has two further sharp bends, to the right and then to the left. After the second of these bends a train has risen {{convert|132|m}} and travelled {{convert|6.8|km}} from Raurimu - the straight-line distance is {{convert|2|km}}. Some of the sharp curves are only 7½ chains (150 m) radius. Although spirals are relatively common in the Alps, particularly in Switzerland, they generally involve extensive tunnelling inside mountainsides. A masterly feature of Holmes' layout is the way in which it uses natural land contours to almost eliminate tunnels and viaducts. Legend has it that a train driver once emergency-braked his train in the night upon mistaking the light of his last wagon on a nearby part of the spiral as the rear of a different train directly ahead of him.[3] See also
References1. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/transport/news/article.cfm?c_id=97&objectid=10526022 |title=Steel backbone an economic lifeline |author=Dearnaley, Mathew |date=9 August 2008 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=4 November 2011}} 2. ^IPENZ 3. ^{{cite news|title=Auckland to Wellington: It's the journey that counts|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-region/news/article.cfm?l_id=117&objectid=10734806|accessdate=28 June 2011|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=28 June 2011|first=Danielle|last=Wright}}
External links{{commons category}}
4 : Buildings and structures in Manawatu-Wanganui|NZHPT Category I listings in Manawatu-Wanganui|Rail transport in Manawatu-Wanganui|Ruapehu District |
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