Wiesen Viaduct

Wiesen Viaduct
Wiesener Viadukt

Wiesen Viaduct.

A RhB Ge 4/4 II with a push–pull train crossing the viaduct
Coordinates 46°41′40″N 09°42′46″E / 46.69444°N 9.71278°E / 46.69444; 9.71278Coordinates: 46°41′40″N 09°42′46″E / 46.69444°N 9.71278°E / 46.69444; 9.71278
Carries Rhaetian Railway (RhB)
Crosses Landwasser
Locale Wiesen Switzerland
Official name Wiesener Viadukt
Owner Rhaetian Railway (RhB)
Maintained by Rhaetian Railway (RhB)
Characteristics
Design Arch bridge, Viaduct
Material Concrete blocks with dimension stone coverage
Total length 210 m (690 ft)
Width 3.7 m (12 ft)
Height 88.9 m (292 ft)
Longest span 55 m (180 ft)
Number of spans 7
Piers in water 0
History
Architect G. Marasi (Westermann & Cie, Zürich), P. Salaz and Heinz Studer (RhB)
Designer Friedrich Hennings
Constructed by Westermann & Cie, Zürich
Construction begin October 1906
Construction cost CHF 324,000 (1909)
Inaugurated 1 July 1909
Opened 1 July 1909
Statistics
Daily traffic 29 passenger trains

The Wiesen Viaduct (or Wiesener Viaduct; German: Wiesener Viadukt) is a single-track railway viaduct, made from concrete blocks with dimension stone coverage. It spans the Landwasser southwest of the hamlet of Wiesen, in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland.

Designed by the then chief engineer of the Rhaetian Railway, Henning Friedrich, it was built between 1906 and 1909 by the contractor G. Marasi (Westermann & Cie, Zürich) under the supervision of P. Salaz and Hans Studer (RhB). The Rhaetian Railway still owns and uses it today for regular service.

An important element of the Davos–Filisur railway, the viaduct is 88.9 metres (292 ft) high and 210 metres (690 ft) long, and has a main span of 55 metres (180 ft).

Location

The Wiesen Viaduct forms part of the Davos–Filisur railway section between Wiesen and Filisur. Just 300 metres (980 ft) southwest of Wiesen railway station, it has, on its south side, a separate pedestrian bridge giving hikers access to Filisur. At the western end of the viaduct is a non functioning Hippsche turning wheel.

History

The Wiesen Viaduct structure was designed by the then Chief Engineer of the Rhaetian Railway, Henning Friedrich. Construction began in October 1906, under the direction of another engineer, Hans Studer. With the launch of the Davos–Filisur railway in July 1909, the viaduct came into operation. It cost a total of 324,000 Swiss francs to build.

The falsework used for the building of the viaduct was designed by G. Marasi, swallowed up around 500 cubic metres (18,000 cu ft) of wood, and was constructed by the Graubünden carpenter Richard Coray.

In 1926, the viaduct was the inspiration for Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's painting Brücke bei Wiesen.

Technical data

The Wiesen Viaduct is 88.9 metres (292 ft) high and 210 metres (690 ft) long. Its main span is only 3.7 metres (12 ft) wide, but also 55 metres (180 ft) long, which makes it one of the longest main spans of any masonry bridge.

To the west of the main span are two arches, each 20 metres (66 ft) long. East of the main span are four more arches, each of them also 20 metres (66 ft) long.

These technical characteristics combine to make the Wiesen Viaduct the Rhaetian Railway's largest stone and second largest bridge.

See also

References

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