just passed which is below, before continuing towards Wellington. 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 and travelled from Raurimu– the straight-line distance is . 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 so that no viaducts are needed, and only two short tunnels. Legend has it that a locomotive engineer once put on the emergency brakes of his train in the night upon mistaking the light of his Guard's Van on a nearby part of the spiral as the rear of a different train directly ahead of him. See also North Island Main Trunk Raurimu railway station Spiral (railway) Spiral tunnels and tunnels on a curved alignment Tehachapi Loop References Citations Bibliography By Design: A brief history of the Public Works Department Ministry of Works 1870–1970 by Rosslyn J. Noonan (1975, Crown Copyright) Appendix XIV, The Raurimu Spiral by J. H. Christie (pages 312–315). External links 1906 photo of cutting being excavated at what was then known as Pukerimu NZ Engineering Heritage North Island Main Trunk line page Raurimu Spiral (NZR Publicity pamphlet) The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 6 (1 September 1936) digitised at NZETC Buildings and structures in Manawatū-Whanganui Heritage New Zealand Category 1 historic places in Manawatū-Whanganui Rail transport in Manawatū-Whanganui Ruapehu District Railway attractions in New Zealand Rail infrastructure in New Zealand