Under the category of there is a prototype for anything. I found this on Google Earth. This is a real track.
Any one want to guess what and were or why?
BTW: It’s 150ft radius. Standard gage, in the U.S.
Part of the test track in pueblo Co?
That’s my next pizza, scale 1:1 
“Skid pad” to see how many G’s they can pull in the turns. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Beach Boys: I get a round
Or
Better than putting runaways on the ground?
My vote is for a Runaway track, but who know where it might be. Looks dry, out west? Bet that one switch has sprung points too. Wonder what gauge wire they use to spring it? (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
Only problem with the runaway would be train length…
It was built to confuse the spies in the Soviet satilite department…works good for those google earth fans too!
10 foot diameter in 1:29? Is my math correct?
It’s a Hogger trap, y’know they never look back! (That’s what that nick name means). Can’t look back, can’t back up to get out!
John
Ah, a 1:1 member of the I.A.R.R.R.
With a turn that tight, it would limit what could run there.
Very interesting. With the dirt road circling the track as well, is this some sort of test track for railroad equipment???
Doc Tom
With a bit more thought, it makes perfect sense. It’s for circling the “wagon train.” (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)
I first thought a runaway track for test engines Then maybe some sort of staging track where they didn’t have enough room to run a straight track… as cars are loaded they are backed onto the circle.
Then I realised if you pull out on that photo what we are seeing is a backward “g” and this is the secret prooving grounds for their experiments?
Care to share the coordinates?
I found it. It is in the Transportation and Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado used for various testing. link
Look at about the six o clock area of the map an zoom into see the loop.
Hope the link worked.
Steve
Steve M. beat me to the posting. But Al P nailed it on the first post. I’m still wondering the Why?. How fast could a AC44 hit that loop and stay upright. I’ll guess that there is a sign posted saying… NO BIG BOYS ALLOWED. Can you guess what a 90+ Ft car hauler looks like going around that.
To follow train tracks easier. In Google earth, Open the side menu, under [ LAYERS], Open [PRIMARY DATABASE], Open [ MORE], Open [TRANSPORTATION], Click/Check [RAIL].
This will turn on the rail lines and show a BLACK line on all the rail roads everywhere. This will also cost you many hours of time running down your favorite rails, and even more time exploring those " WOW I didn’t know there was a line there" and the all powerful " I wonder were that line goes."
Wow, that’s funky!
If you zoom out to see the rest of their tracks, it looks like somebody’s convoluted, ride-on layout.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to take anything away from Al. I just wanted to find the crazy thing. I tracked it down from an article on GE Reports about testing their GE Tier 4 locomotives. Link
http://www.gereports.com/post/116306478625/ge-is-talkin-loco-testing-a-new-engine-in-the
Steve