Altenbeken Viaduct
Encyclopedia
The Altenbeken Viaduct is a 482 metres (1,581.4 ft) long and up to 35 metres (114.8 ft) high double track limestone
railway
viaduct
. It spans the Beke valley, west of the town of Altenbeken
, in the Land
of North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
.
The viaduct is Europe's longest limestone bridge, and its construction was one of the earliest significant events in the history of rail transport in Germany
. As part of the Hamm–Warburg railway between Paderborn
and Altenbeken, it is still in use today. It is also the emblem of Altenbeken, and is depicted, in stylized form, on the coat of arms
of the municipality.
, and was inaugurated on 21 July 1853 by King Frederick William IV of Prussia
. He was the one who coined the phrase "I had thought I would find a golden bridge, because so many terrible dollars have been spent".
The construction and opening of the viaduct and nearby station, rail yard
and tunnel
under the Rehberg
caused the village of Altenbeken to develop into a railway town
, which owes its present size almost exclusively to the railway.
During World War II
, the viaduct was a prime target of Allied bomb attacks, in which several column
s were destroyed. According to the Americans, the Altenbeken Viaduct, together with the Schildesche Viaduct at Bielefeld
, was one of the two most important German railway bridges. The Western Allies were hoping that their destruction would have a decisive effect on the war; they wanted to stop the vital coal supply lines and break the backbone of the German war economy. The stakes were correspondingly high: even the first Allied bombing raid of 26 November 1944 resulted in the greatest air battle of World War II.
As early as September 1943, the second battery of Flakabteilung 943 zur Reichsverteidigung was posted at the viaduct until January 1944. The first air attack on 26 November 1944 by US bombers cut the important railway link. From then onwards, passengers had to climb about 35 m (114.8 ft) down ladders and then climb up the other side to continue in another train. Goods traffic was diverted to the Detmold-Herford-Bielefeld/Ost route.
Following temporary repairs, the viaduct was again destroyed in February 1945.
By May 1946, the viaduct could once again be traversed, over makeshift trackwork, at 20 km/h (12.4 mph). Only on 2 October 1950 - almost six years after the first destructive attack - could the viaduct be put back into operation in its old form. The reconstruction of the viaduct took into account the historical shape of the bridge, such that since 1950 it has resembled its old form once again. However, the keystones of the viaduct could not be reinstated. In July 2009, after being displayed for many years as a monument
in Adenauerstraße, Altenbeken, they were integrated into the viaduct's newly constructed viewing platform.
The Viaduktfest also includes a viaduct walk through the town and a plastic duck race on the Beke river. Celebrities such as Urban Priol
, Hennes Bender, Götz Alsmann
, Ingo Oschmann
or Guildo Horn
have complemented the Viaduktfeste with cultural events. The festival always takes place in early July of odd numbered years.
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
. It spans the Beke valley, west of the town of Altenbeken
Altenbeken
Altenbeken is a municipality in the district of Paderborn, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Altenbeken is situated in the Eggegebirge, approx. 15 km northeast of Paderborn...
, in the Land
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
of North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The viaduct is Europe's longest limestone bridge, and its construction was one of the earliest significant events in the history of rail transport in Germany
History of rail transport in Germany
German Railway history began with the opening of the steam-hauled Bavarian Ludwig Railway between Nuremberg and Fürth on 7 December 1835. This had been preceded by the opening of the horse-hauled Prince William Railway on 20 September 1831...
. As part of the Hamm–Warburg railway between Paderborn
Paderborn
Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader, which originates in more than 200 springs near Paderborn Cathedral, where St. Liborius is buried.-History:...
and Altenbeken, it is still in use today. It is also the emblem of Altenbeken, and is depicted, in stylized form, on the coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the municipality.
History
The viaduct was built by the Royal Westphalian Railway CompanyRoyal Westphalian Railway Company
The Royal Westphalian Railway , was a German rail company established in 1848 with funding from the Prussian government, which later became part of the Prussian State Railways...
, and was inaugurated on 21 July 1853 by King Frederick William IV of Prussia
Frederick William IV of Prussia
|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
. He was the one who coined the phrase "I had thought I would find a golden bridge, because so many terrible dollars have been spent".
The construction and opening of the viaduct and nearby station, rail yard
Rail yard
A rail yard, or railroad yard, is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading/unloading, railroad cars and/or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic....
and tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
under the Rehberg
Eggegebirge
The Eggegebirge is a range of low, forested mountains in the very east of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.-Geography:The Eggegebirge extends from the southern tip of the Teutoburger Wald range near Horn-Bad Meinberg southwards to the northern parts of the Sauerland near Marsberg...
caused the village of Altenbeken to develop into a railway town
Railway town
A railway town is a settlement that originated or was greatly developed because of a railway station or junction at its site.In Victorian Britain, the spread of railways greatly affected the fate of many small towns...
, which owes its present size almost exclusively to the railway.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the viaduct was a prime target of Allied bomb attacks, in which several column
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
s were destroyed. According to the Americans, the Altenbeken Viaduct, together with the Schildesche Viaduct at Bielefeld
Bielefeld
Bielefeld is an independent city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 323,000, it is also the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold...
, was one of the two most important German railway bridges. The Western Allies were hoping that their destruction would have a decisive effect on the war; they wanted to stop the vital coal supply lines and break the backbone of the German war economy. The stakes were correspondingly high: even the first Allied bombing raid of 26 November 1944 resulted in the greatest air battle of World War II.
As early as September 1943, the second battery of Flakabteilung 943 zur Reichsverteidigung was posted at the viaduct until January 1944. The first air attack on 26 November 1944 by US bombers cut the important railway link. From then onwards, passengers had to climb about 35 m (114.8 ft) down ladders and then climb up the other side to continue in another train. Goods traffic was diverted to the Detmold-Herford-Bielefeld/Ost route.
Following temporary repairs, the viaduct was again destroyed in February 1945.
By May 1946, the viaduct could once again be traversed, over makeshift trackwork, at 20 km/h (12.4 mph). Only on 2 October 1950 - almost six years after the first destructive attack - could the viaduct be put back into operation in its old form. The reconstruction of the viaduct took into account the historical shape of the bridge, such that since 1950 it has resembled its old form once again. However, the keystones of the viaduct could not be reinstated. In July 2009, after being displayed for many years as a monument
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
in Adenauerstraße, Altenbeken, they were integrated into the viaduct's newly constructed viewing platform.
Viaduktfest
Between 11 and 21 July 2003, under the name "Vivat Viaduct", Altenbeken celebrated the 150th anniversary of the viaduct. About 40,000 visitors came to Altenbeken. As the festival was so successful, it was decided to organise it again every two years as a "town and station festival". Thus, in 2005, 2007 and 2009, many people came to the event.The Viaduktfest also includes a viaduct walk through the town and a plastic duck race on the Beke river. Celebrities such as Urban Priol
Urban Priol
Urban Priol is an award-winning German cabaret artist and comedian. He is currently the host of the ZDF show Neues aus der Anstalt.-External links:* - Portrait of Priol in Der Tagesspiegel...
, Hennes Bender, Götz Alsmann
Götz Alsmann
Götz Alsmann is a German television presenter, musician and singer.- Life :Alsmann studied from 1977 to 1985 in Münster German studies, music and communication studies at University of Münster. From 1980 to 1988 he played in band Sentimental Pounders. Since 1988 he plays in band Götz Alsmann Band...
, Ingo Oschmann
Ingo Oschmann
Ingo Oschmann is a German comedian, entertainer and stage magician who also works as a television presenter and actor...
or Guildo Horn
Guildo Horn
Guildo Horn He is mainly famous for his eccentric stage persona, which includes outrageous clothes and very extroverted antics.At the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, he came in 7th with the title "Guildo hat euch lieb!" ....
have complemented the Viaduktfeste with cultural events. The festival always takes place in early July of odd numbered years.
External links
- Viaduct page - on the website of the Altenbekener Eisenbahnfreunde (Altenbeken Railfans)
- Vivat Viadukt - official website of the Viaduktfest