The railway made it possible to provide massive inexpensive transportation over long distances. But “where it works” sometimes led to extreme decisions.
Dizzy bridges were built across bottomless abysses. Stacked spirals and serpentines were cut down. In some places there was no other solution than to let the train literally over the crests of the waves.
Traveling along such routes gives passengers a truly unforgettable experience. Let's see which of them can be called the "top ten most terrible roads."
10. Minamiaso – Takamori (Japan)
The Japanese have always been famous for desperation. Traveling in the mountains by narrow bridges of dizzy heights in itself can make an unforgettable impression. But the highlight of the road is that it is laid along one of the calderas of an active volcano!
Aso volcano is still active and kills the lives of careless residents. This did not prevent the construction of several towns and villages with a total population of about 50 thousand at the site of one of the former vents.
Along the way, tourists can admire the views of burnt trees and frozen lava flows - and, sometimes, a real eruption.
9. Train to the clouds (Argentina)
29 bridges, 21 tunnels, 13 viaducts, 2 spirals and 2 zigzags - a complete set of experiences for a railway lover!
Paving the track at an altitude of 4 kilometers above sea level, the builders decided not to use a gear drive (usually used on steep slopes), but confine themselves to standard trains.
Of course, tourists admire the magnificent mountain views. In some places you can feel like a passenger of an airplane - the clouds outside the window are significantly lower than the route.
The sensation is added by the fact that sometimes trains get stuck, and passengers have to be evacuated by helicopters.
8. Chennai - Rameswaram (India)
Hindus, on the contrary, are ready to please tourists with the lowest bridge in the world. Two kilometers of the route connecting the mainland with the island of Rameswaram are literally a couple of meters above the water.
In calm weather, this allows you to admire the amazing seascape. But imagine what the weather is like!
In these places, a real storm happens almost every day. In 1964, a cyclone literally blew a train into the ocean, killing 150 people.
7. Argo Gerde (Indonesia)
In neighboring Indonesia, tourists are invariably attracted by the most beautiful views of the lush subtropical jungle and the vivid unusual lifestyle of the locals.
Numerous stops in numerous villages allow you to get acquainted with local attractions and purchase fun souvenirs.
But when the train suddenly soars above the jungle to a height of more than sixty meters, it invariably causes the passengers to have a friendly “ah!” Especially those who know how many accidents there were on this railway - including on the bridge.
6. Kuranda Scenic (Australia)
Fast forward to the southern neighbors of Indonesia - to sunny Australia. Here, through the Barron Gorge National Park, one of the most beautiful railways in the world is laid. Tourists are offered to admire the beauties of the original tropical forests of Australia.
The route runs in hilly terrain along a slope and through several viaducts. One of the many viewing platforms offers magnificent views of the famous Barron Falls.
And in one place the train passes literally “through the waterfall”, and tourists are surrounded by water dust from the titanic masses of water, rushing a few meters from the windows.
5. The Devil's Nose (Ecuador)
The Andes are not the best place to lay roads, especially the railways. When at the end of the 19th century, builders began to lay a route between Riobamba and Alausi, after much research, it was necessary to design a very winding highway.
Passing at an altitude of 3 kilometers, the road allows you to admire the beautiful mountain landscapes of the valley "Avenue of Volcanoes".
The highest part of the path runs along the mountain "Devil's Nose" - it is also the longest, because it consists entirely of serpentines.
4. Georgetown Loop (USA)
The Rockies are one of the most beautiful places in North America. American prospectors often paved narrow-gauge roads with the most unusual routes, and the Georgetown-Silver Plum (Colorado) route is no exception.
Silver miners laid it for exclusively utilitarian purposes, but today it is one of the famous tourist routes.
One of the worst places on this road is the bridge called the Devil's Gate. Despite the awesome name and dubious appearance, the wooden bridge of dizzying heights is strong and stable, so a short (only 5 km) track annually attracts thousands of tourists.
3. Death Road (Thailand)
Imperial Japan built a railway between Bangkok (Thailand) and Rangoon (Burma) during World War II. It was built by the hands of British and American prisoners of war and is notorious as the "Road of Death."
Nevertheless, it is one of the most popular tourist routes. The route passes through very picturesque places - subtropical jungle, steep cliffs and lake shores.
Thrill-seekers should love the plots that run along the fragile-looking wooden bridges through the numerous ducts and gorges.
2. White Pass and Yukon (Alaska)
The end of the 19th century in US history is known, among other things, for the Gold Rush. In July 1900, a narrow-gauge railway with a length of 177 km was opened between the port of Skagway in Alaska and the Canadian city of Whitehorse.
Today it is a popular tourist route that attracts tourists with terrifying-looking sites along the steep slopes of cliffs, high wooden bridges, long tunnels, steep climbs and descents.
Lovers of romance are especially delighted by the fact that historic cars are driven by real trains.
1. Darjeeling Railway (India)
During the time of British India, the colonialists were actively involved in the development of the road network. Almost 80 kilometers of railways, which are the real wonders of engineering, were built to serve the highlands.
The Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway, the Kalka-Shimla Railway and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway run through scenic spots.
The movement on them is very slow, but this only allows tourists to enjoy the contrast more when climbing from the coastal station to the mountains to a height of more than 2 kilometers.
Trains are not too comfortable, but it only adds color to the ride. Especially because, like in Alaska, open wagons pull small steam locomotives.