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| [[Jungfraubahn]] || [[Jungfraujoch railway station|Jungfraujoch]] || {{convert|3454|m|ft|abbr=on|0}}<ref name=JungfrauSkiRegion>{{cite web| url=http://www.jungfrau.ch/en/tourism/places-to-visit/| title=Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe| work=Jungfrau Ski Region| author=Jungfraubahnen| accessdate=December 6, 2012| }}</ref> || {{flag|Switzerland}} || 1912 || highest railway in [[Europe]], underground above 2,350 m.<ref name=JungfrauSkiRegion /><ref name=MySwitzerland>{{cite web| url=http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/highest-altitude-railway-station-in-europe.html| title=Highest railway in Europe| work=My Switzerland| author=Switzerland Tourism| accessdate=December 6, 2012 | }}</ref>
| [[Jungfraubahn]] || [[Jungfraujoch railway station|Jungfraujoch]] || {{convert|3454|m|ft|abbr=on|0}}<ref name=JungfrauSkiRegion>{{cite web| url=http://www.jungfrau.ch/en/tourism/places-to-visit/| title=Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe| work=Jungfrau Ski Region| author=Jungfraubahnen| accessdate=December 6, 2012| }}</ref> || {{flag|Switzerland}} || 1912 || highest railway in [[Europe]], underground above 2,350 m.<ref name=JungfrauSkiRegion /><ref name=MySwitzerland>{{cite web| url=http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/highest-altitude-railway-station-in-europe.html| title=Highest railway in Europe| work=My Switzerland| author=Switzerland Tourism| accessdate=December 6, 2012 | }}</ref>
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| [[Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railroad]] || [[Leadville|Leadville]] || {{convert|3414|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} || {{flag|USA}} || ||
| [[Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railroad]] || [[Leadville|Leadville]] || {{convert|3414|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} || {{flag|USA}} || || Highest [[Adhesion railway]] in [[North America]]
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| [[Gornergratbahn]] || [[Gornergrat railway station|Gornergrat]] || {{convert|3090|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} || {{flag|Switzerland}} || 1898 || highest open-air railway in [[Europe]]
| [[Gornergratbahn]] || [[Gornergrat railway station|Gornergrat]] || {{convert|3090|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} || {{flag|Switzerland}} || 1898 || highest open-air railway in [[Europe]]

Revision as of 21:18, 8 June 2016

A train pulled by an NJ2 locomotive travels on the Qinghai–Tibet Railway.

This article lists the highest railways in the world.[1] Before the opening of the Qinghai–Tibet Railway in 2006, a line passing through Tanggula Mountains and Tanggula Pass, the highest railways were located in the Andean countries of Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. The list only includes non-cable railways whose culminating point is over 2,000 metres above sea level.

For a list by country, see List of highest railways by country.

List

Completed

Railway line Highest point Highest elevation Country Opened Notes
Xining-Golmud-Lhasa Tanggula 5,068 m (16,627 ft)[2][3]  China 2006
Lima-Huancayo Ticlio 4,829 m (15,843 ft)[4][5]  Peru 1893 Highest railway in America
Rio Mulatos-Potosí Cóndor 4,786 m (15,702 ft)  Bolivia  
Cuzco-Lake Titicaca La Raya 4,313 m (14,150 ft)  Peru  
Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway Pikes Peak Summit 4,301 m (14,111 ft)[6]  USA 1891 highest railway in North America
Salta-Antofagasta La Polvorilla 4,220 m (13,845 ft)  Argentina
 Chile
1948 "Tren a las Nubes" tourist service between Salta and La Polvorilla
Jungfraubahn Jungfraujoch 3,454 m (11,332 ft)[7]   Switzerland 1912 highest railway in Europe, underground above 2,350 m.[7][8]
Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railroad Leadville 3,414 m (11,201 ft)  USA Highest Adhesion railway in North America
Gornergratbahn Gornergrat 3,090 m (10,138 ft)   Switzerland 1898 highest open-air railway in Europe
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Cumbres Pass 3,054 m (10,020 ft)  USA 1881 Highest narrow gauge railroad in North America
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Silverton 2,837 m (9,308 ft)  USA 1881
Union Pacific Railroad, Moffat Tunnel Subdivision Moffat Tunnel 2,816 m (9,239 ft)  USA 1928 Apex in tunnel; highest point in Amtrak network
Bavarian Zugspitze Railway Schneefernerhaus 2,650 m (8,694 ft)  Germany 1930 Underground above 1,640 m
Alishan Forest Railway Chushan 2,451 m (8,041 ft)  Taiwan 1986 highest railway in Taiwan
Tramway du Mont-Blanc[9] Nid d'aigle de Bionnassay 2,380 m (7,808 ft)  France 1909
BNSF Raton Pass Line Raton Pass 2,312 m (7,585 ft)  USA 1879 Highest point on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Ghum 2,257 m (7,405 ft)[10]  India 1891 highest railway in India[10]
Bernina Railway Ospizio Bernina 2,253 m (7,392 ft)   Switzerland 1909 Highest rail crossing in Europe[11]
Nilgiri Mountain Railway Ooty 2,210 m (7,251 ft)[12]  India 1908 highest railway in south India
Overland Route Donner Pass 2,151 m (7,057 ft)  USA 1869 Part of First Transcontinental Railroad
Kalka-Shimla Railway Shimla 2,086 m (6,844 ft)[13]  India 1898
Pilatus Railway Mount Pilatus 2,073 m (6,801 ft)   Switzerland 1889 Steepest non-cable railway in the world[14]
Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn Oberalp Pass 2,043 m (6,703 ft)   Switzerland 1926

Closed railways

Railway line Highest point Highest elevation Country Opened / closed Notes
Mendoza-Los Andes Los Caracoles 3,176 m (10,420 ft)  Argentina
 Chile
1910 / 1984
DRG&W Tennessee Pass Route Tennessee Pass 3,116 m (10,223 ft)  USA 1881 / 1997 Out of service. Can be reactivated if traffic permits.
Dumaresq-Glen Innes Ben Lomond 1,363 m (4,472 ft)  Australia August 19, 1884 /
December 10, 1985
formerly the highest station in Australia

See also

References

  1. ^ Infos at mikes.railhistory.railfan.net
  2. ^ China Railways. "Qinghai-Tibet Railway Scenery". China Tibet Train. Retrieved December 6, 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  3. ^ "World's highest railway station enters key construction period". Canada Tibet Committee. July 28, 2005. Retrieved December 6, 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  4. ^ Bennett, Suzy (October 2003). "A train journey through the Peruvian Andes". Wanderlust. Retrieved December 6, 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  5. ^ "Our Train - The Highest in the World". Incas del Peru. Retrieved December 6, 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  6. ^ Manitou & Pike's Peak Cog Railway. "Along The Route". Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Retrieved December 6, 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  7. ^ a b Jungfraubahnen. "Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe". Jungfrau Ski Region. Retrieved December 6, 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  8. ^ Switzerland Tourism. "Highest railway in Europe". My Switzerland. Retrieved December 6, 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  9. ^ http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/fr/presentation-des-sites/tramway-du-mont-blanc
  10. ^ a b "Toy train from NJP to Darjeeling". Go2India.in. Retrieved December 6, 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  11. ^ Nicola Williams, Damien Simonis, Kerry Walker. Switzerland (ebook Edition). Lonely Planet
  12. ^ "Ooty Railway Station". indiarailinfo.com. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  13. ^ "Shimla Railway Station". indiarailinfo.com. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  14. ^ Engineering Magazine, Volume 14, p. 81