Zig Zag (railway)
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 a short distance (corresponding to the middle leg of the letter "Z"), the direction of travel is reversed, before the original direction is resumed.
A location on railways constructed e.g. to ascend very steep gradients by using a zig-zag alignment at which trains have to reverse direction in order to continue is a reversing station.
Read more about Zig Zag (railway): Advantages, Disadvantages, Location of Zig Zags
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