15 Most Amazing Railway Tracks In The World

Also known as a ‘permanent way’, train tracks provide a dependable surface for trains to roll along. They are a cornerstone of public transport, but did you know that they can be significantly more interesting than you might realize? Not all railway tracks are a bog-standard straight line- zipping from A to B. Some are almost labyrinth-like in their layout and complexity. These are the most amazing railway tracks in the world!

[fluffnose]

I’m sure that photoshop thumbnail was hard to make 😂. Bruh the train is literally floating in part of that picture good job

[giancarloterrassan]

The Shonan Monorail may be the first monorail build in Japan, but the world oldest is the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn, build between 1897 and 1903. The first March 1901, Wuppertaler Schwebebahn opened the service of its very first section between Kluse to Zoo/Stadion.

[robfriedrich]

6:15 This kind of Monorail exists in Wuppertal/ Germany since 1901, 69 years before the Japanese one.

[bradwhitfield]

I grew up and live in Altoona, Pennsylvania so I'm no stranger to trains and scenic routes even Horseshoe Curve is a few miles from me and is an engineering feat in and of itself, however these were absolutely beautiful, especially the first two in Switzerland. Each has their own beauty!

[FastMTA]

15 Most Amazing Railway Tracks In The World
00:35 #15: The Brusio Spiral Viaduct
02:14 #14: Glacier Express - Switzerland
03:23 #13: Gisborne Airport, New Zealand
04:40 #12: Japan's Monorail Track Switching
05:52 #11: The Shonan Monorail
07:07 #10: Rameshwaram Train Bridge
08:18 #9: Devil's Nose Railway
09:34 #8: The Death Railway
10:56 #7: White Pass and Yukon Railroad
12:04 #6: Pilatus Railway Switzerland
13:37 #5: Maeklong Railway Market
14:22 #4: The NS&W Railroad
15:41 #3: South Devon Railway
17:00 #2: Love Railway in Ukraine
18:02 #1: Kuranda Scenic Railway

[quuxjn]

the problem with steepnes isn't that the engines are too less powerful but mostly that steel on steel dosn't offer a very good grip so if trains would go up steeper tracks they would just simply slip back down because the wheels can't get enough friction to not slip so the trains can go upwards. Here in Switzerland we also have a trains that use a tooth gear system which prevents them from slipping so they can go up way steeper hills and the engines used there aren't more powerful. (yes to less powerful engines is also a problem but only on really long and heavy freight trains but not on the normal passenger trains)

[iandennis]

I used to take the South Devon line quite frequently. It’s equally picturesque in the Summer when the waves are more gentle and you can see whole families swimming and playing on the sand. Plus, the sandstone tunnels are fun.

[seanthiar]

No. 11 was not invented by Mitsubishi - they just copied the idea from the local railway in Wuppertal. Since 1.march 1901 exist the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn in germany. The construction of the track is older but it is still in use. In December 2018 along with remembering the first test run of the railway 120 years ago, Wuppertal was celebrating the sister alliance with the Shonan Monorail. The Shonan Monorail and the WSW founded the Association of “Sister Suspended Monorails”. In Kamakura, the monorail stations and monorails were festively decorated. Additionally special tickets were produced. The sky-blue wagon number 01 sported a custom Kawaii design while floating through Wuppertal.
The Wuppertaler Schwebebahn is famous for transporting an young elephant in it in 1950. The elephant got frightened and jumped in the Wupper river and got barely a scratch.

[louissikkema]

Just a tip for people wanting to use the glacier express in switzerland:
don't take the special glacier express train, just travel the route on normal trains. You will need to change trains about three times and it won't be panoramic trains, but the normal trains go every 30 minutes so you can easily get out on a station you like and eat something, then continue your journey and it is way cheaper than the glacierexpress.

[SYCHRN]

06:40 A hanging monorail has been built in Wuppertal, Germany around 1898, so this might have been the first in Japan, but they were not the inventor.

[mr.andmrs.dailylives]

So many amazing railway tracks here! Love to see them all

[aoilpe]

0:52 This is the Alp Grüm Station on the right...
1:02 What is this Fantasy Picture ?
1:40 Alp Grüm inverted...! You forgot to mention that it is a meter gauge railway!

2:20 Glacier Express is the Train, not the Railroad.A joint venture of RhB and MGB.
2:25 The line was built to connect several TOURISTIC HUB’s and operated during summer only until 1982.
2:55 I stoped watching ! Not enough research done ! To lazy to find footage?

[FluidGuy]

There are several railroad loops that were created here in Colorado. One, that I know of, is still in use as a tourist attraction. The loop is part of a railroad completed in 1884.

[axel_stowasser]

The Wuppertaler Schwebebahn (Wuppertal Suspension Railway) is a suspension railway in Wuppertal, Germany.
Its original name is Einschienige Hängebahn System Eugen Langen (Eugen Langen Monorail Overhead Conveyor System). It is the oldest electric elevated railway with hanging cars in the world and is a unique system in Germany.
Designed by Eugen Langen and offered first to the cities of Berlin, Munich and Breslau who all turned it down, [2] the installation with elevated stations was built in Barmen, Elberfeld and Vohwinkel between 1897 and 1903; the first track opened in 1901. The railway line is credited with growth of the original cities and their eventual merger into Wuppertal.[2] The Schwebebahn is still in use as a normal means of local public transport, moving 25 million passengers annually, per the 2008 annual report.[3] New rail cars were ordered in 2015, called Generation 15, and the first new car went into service in December 2016.

[wahidtousif]

10:17
"In total as many as of 25 thousand labourers were used.... and 100 thousand of them died"
Pretty much sums up the validity

[DwayneKlassenTheCoachForMen]

I travelled the Karanda rail tour in 2008. It was impressive. One rail line of note not on here is The Rocky Mountaineer. From Vancouver to Calgary. Now that's an epic journey!

[robertbruce]

Thank you so much for this video of spectacular rail journeys with breathtaking & unique scenery. Would really love to travel them all? Hope they run forever!

[wacholder]

Hi ! You should have included the Wuppertal Suspension Railroad ("Schwebebahn") in Germany. It is over 100 years old and is a vital transportation route throughout the narrow Wupper river valley. By far more impressive than this japanese copy from the 1970s ... ;-)

[AnthonyFrancisJones]

I enjoyed watching a train go over the top of itself at spiral tunnels in Banff, Canada. A most unusual sight and counting the number of coaches as well - so much longer than anything we have in the UK!

[lbcspotter]

The "Wuppertaler Schwebebahn" is a Suspended Monorail in Germany running since 1901.