- For theoretical Gravity railroads of the future, see Gravity train
A Gravity railroad (US) or Gravity railway (UK) is a railroad on a slope that allow cars carrying minerals or passengers to coast down the slope by the force of gravity alone. A gravity train is a theoretical means of Transportation intended to go between two points on the surface of a Sphere, following a straight Tunnel that The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Slope is used to describe the steepness incline gradient or grade of a straight line. Gravitation is a natural Phenomenon by which objects with Mass attract one another The cars are then hauled back up the slope using animal power or a stationary engine and a cable, chain or one or more wide, flat iron bands. The speed of the cars is controlled by braking mechanism on one or more cars on the train. The typical amusement park roller coaster is designed from gravity railroad technology. Theme park is the generic term for a collection of rides and other Entertainment attractions assembled for the purpose of entertaining a large group The roller coaster is a popular Amusement ride developed for Amusement parks and modern Theme parks LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first
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Types of gravity railroad
Some gravity railroads were designed to allow the weight of the descending loaded cars to lift the empty cars back up to the top, using a cable looped around a pulley at the top for a portion of the line. A later revision designed by John B. Jervis, used two separate tracks known as the loaded or heavy track going down hill, and the light track, used to haul the empty cars back to the top. John Bloomfield Jervis (1795 &ndash 1885 was an American Civil engineer. This method allowed cars to travel in one direction without the need for passing sidings. A stationary steam engine and a looping cable, chain or iron bands were used to raise the empty cars up the lift planes. The cars then coasted down a slight grade to the next lift plane. When cars reversed direction at the ends of the line on a switch or turnout, the railroad was known as a switchback gravity railroad.
Switchback gravity railroad
The term "switchback gravity railroad" was also sometimes applied to gravity railroads that used special self-acting (momentum-driven) Y-shaped switches known as switchbacks to automatically reverse a car's direction at certain points during normal travel along the line, rather than at the line's end. In Classical mechanics, momentum ( pl momenta SI unit kg · m/s, or equivalently N · s) is the product A Railway zig zag, also called a switchback, is a way of climbing hills in difficult country with a minimal need for Tunnels and heavy earthworks For example, if two such switches were used, an overhead view of that section of the line could resemble the letter Z. Several implementations of this system existed at various times on the Mauch Chunk Switchback Gravity Railroad, and were very popular with the passengers. Jim Thorpe is a Borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 4804 at the 2000 census. This railroad hauled coal and passengers from 1827 until 1933, and might possibly be restored.
Self-acting incline
In the UK, a self-acting incline is one in which the loaded wagons going down pull, via a cable and drum, the empty wagons going up. There might be two separate tracks, or a single track with a passing loop. This system was widely used on slate railways in Wales.
A variation on this system is the cliff railway for passengers. Both passenger cars are equipped with water tanks and, at the start, both tanks are full. Water is then let out of the tank on the lower car until the difference in weight between the two cars causes them to move.
Examples
United Kingdom
The Ffestiniog Railway in Gwynedd, northwest Wales, was built in 1832 to carry slate from quarries high in the hills to the sea at Porthmadog. The Ffestiniog Railway (Rheilffordd Ffestiniog is a narrow gauge Heritage railway, located in North West Wales. History Gwynedd was an independent kingdom from the end of the Roman period until the 13th Century when it was conquered and subjugated by England Year 1832 ( MDCCCXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Slate is a fine-grained foliated homogeneous, Metamorphic rock derived from an original Shale -type Sedimentary rock composed of Clay Porthmadog, ˌpɒrθˈmædɒg and known locally as Port, is a small Coastal Town in the Dwyfor locality within Gwynedd in North The line was laid out for the wagons to descend by gravity, while horses were originally used to haul the empty wagons up the hill. On the downward journey the horses travelled in a Dandy waggon at the rear of the train. The dandy waggon is a type of Railroad car used to carry horses on gravity trains. Later on, steam haulage was adopted. This narrow gauge railway is still operational but all trains are now locomotive-hauled. A narrow gauge railway (or narrow gauge railroad) is a Railway that has a Track gauge narrower than the of Standard gauge railways
United States
In the United States, The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company operated extensive gravity railroad system from 1828 until 1898. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Delaware and Hudson Canal was the first venture of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company which later developed the Delaware and Hudson Railway. With 22 separate lift planes, the 55-mile (88 km) Pennsylvania Coal Company Gravity Railroad, was the longest and operated until 1885. A portion of the railroad was purchased in 1886 by the recently constructed, 1882, Shohola Glen Summer Resort and used until 1907.
Other inclined railroads
A funicular is not a true gravity railroad, as cars never coast freely and are always connected to a cable. A funicular, also known as a funicular railway, incline, inclined railway, inclined plane, or cliff railway, is a type of self-contained A rack-and-pinion railway or rack railway is also not a true gravity railroad for similar reasons. A cog railway, rack-and-pinion railway or rack railway is a Railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails.
See also
External links
A cable railway (also known as an Incline or Inclined plane) is a steeply graded Railway that uses a cable or The Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway is a water-powered Funicular railway joining the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth on the rugged coast of NorthDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic