Horseshoe Curve

Horseshoe Curve is a United States add-on route developed and maintained by Skyhook Games, for their Console and PC platforms and was released on April 12, 2022 for the Train Sim World 2 video game. The Horseshoe Curve is a railroad curve in Pennsylvania named for its horseshoe shape:

How to see it – You can view the Horseshoe Curve on a train via Amtrak, or visit the park that developed nearby and take the inclined plane to a track-level viewing area

What it is – A 2,375-foot-long, 1,300-foot-diameter curve on the Norfolk Southern Railway’s Pittsburgh Line in Blair County, Pennsylvania

What it does – A climbing curve that reverses direction twice on either side of a tight curve, reducing the grade to the summit of the Allegheny Mountains

Why it was built – To avoid building a tunnel through the mountains, reduce the degree of inclination, and save time and money

When it was built – Completed in 1854 by the Pennsylvania Railroad

How it was built – Constructed entirely by hand using picks and shovels, powder, and mules

What it means – A symbol of the imagination, perseverance, and vision of its builders and engineers

What it’s known for – One of the earliest and most impressive railroad engineering feats in America

What it’s become – A popular historic landmark that’s a major economic gateway for commerce and a top train-watching spot