zigzag railway

English

Noun

zigzag railway (plural zigzag railways)

1. A formerly common type of railway with multiple switchbacks to allow ascent and descent on steep slopes.
   • 1969, Allen V. Ross, Vice in Bombay, London: Tallis Press, page 148:

     The temple, halfway up the Matheran hills, was approached by a 'puffing billy' train on a zigzag railway from Neral, two miles from Bombay.