I found this bit of map on Amtrak's track a train link. I was shocked when I saw it. I didn't think they could make turns that sharp, then again I'm not really sure what the scale is. I did a search, the minimum radius for freight trains is 175 m. Freights run on this same track. Correct me if I'm wrong that would make the hairpin turn diameter 350 m, less than a quarter mile. So I guess that map is really not weird, and obviously they've been doing it for a long time I would love to see drone video of a train negotiating that pass.
I was sitting on the right side, which faced the valley generally but not always, but coming out of one tunnel I looked down and I saw a creek way down yonder below us exiting down the hill. We had to have been on a bridge and we went into another tunnel very shortly. The tunnels were all short.
I just found that little hairpin at the end of the name Oakridge, on Google maps, it's 495 meters diameter for the half circle.
