Gründjitobel Viaduct
Encyclopedia
The Gründjitobel Viaduct (or Gründjitobel Bridge; ) is a single track reinforced concrete railway bridge, spanning the Gründjitobelbach near Langwies, in the Canton
of Graubünden
, Switzerland.
Designed by Hermann Schürch, it was built between late June 1913 and early July 1914 by Müller, Zeerleder und Gobat, for the Chur–Arosa railway. It is now owned and used by the Rhaetian Railway.
is located on the Rhaetian Railway's metre gauge
line from Chur
to the holiday and recreation resort of Arosa
(the Chur-Arosa line), between Peist
and Langwies
, at a place known as Matten-Gründji. It leads the railway line over the Gründjitobel, a steeply eroded gravel moraine
gorge, with sandy formations known as "Steimannli".
valley. In places where the building conditions were especially unpromising, iron bridges were created.
A completely new building method came to be used near Gründji, due to the distance to be overcome by the Gründjitobel Viaduct, and also by the Langwieser Viaduct
, located only a short distance to the southeast. At each of these points, instead of a bridge with many multiple openings, a sensational reinforced concrete structure arose with a large single span. The risk that piers might be undermined by the course of the river could thus be met successfully; since the completion of the Chur-Arosa line, the Gründjitobel Viaduct has only rarely been harmed by erosion.
The whole build of the structure proceeded virtually trouble free, and could be completed in just one year. Together with the larger Langwieser Viaduct, which can be considered its prototype, the Gründjitobel Viaduct was, as at the date of its completion, one of the longest spanning railway bridges in the world.
The falsework
, which had already been used in the construction of the Halen Bridge in Kirchlindach
, Bern, originated, as with the Langwieser Viaduct, from Richard Coray of Trin
. The structure was built by the firm Müller, Zeerleder und Gobat.
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
, Switzerland.
Designed by Hermann Schürch, it was built between late June 1913 and early July 1914 by Müller, Zeerleder und Gobat, for the Chur–Arosa railway. It is now owned and used by the Rhaetian Railway.
Location
The viaductViaduct
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...
is located on the Rhaetian Railway's metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
line from Chur
Chur railway station
Chur railway station serves the city of Chur, capital of the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. Opened in 1858, it is the most important railway junction in Graubünden....
to the holiday and recreation resort of Arosa
Arosa (Rhaetian Railway station)
Arosa is a railway station on the Chur-Arosa line of the Rhaetian Railway . It is situated in the town and resort of Arosa, close by to the Obersee ....
(the Chur-Arosa line), between Peist
Peist (Rhaetian Railway station)
Peist is a railway station on the Chur-Arosa line of the Rhaetian Railway . It is situated very near to Peist.-Postauto connection:...
and Langwies
Langwies (Rhaetian Railway station)
Langwies is a railway station on the Chur-Arosa line of the Rhaetian Railway . It is situated in Langwies, lower down the hillside from the centre of the village. A minor level crossing straddles the tracks at the station.-Viaducts:Two notable railway viaducts carry the line over deep valleys...
, at a place known as Matten-Gründji. It leads the railway line over the Gründjitobel, a steeply eroded gravel moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
gorge, with sandy formations known as "Steimannli".
History
Due to the difficult geological conditions in Schanfigg, a total of 18 tunnels and 40 bridges needed to be created between 1912 and 1914 for the privately built Chur-Arosa line. Most of the bridges were constructed in the classical manner, in stone, which was often available in sufficient quantities in the nearby Plessur RiverPlessur (river)
The Plessur is a 33 km long right tributary of the Rhine River running through the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The river source is near the municipality of Arosa in the Plessur Range...
valley. In places where the building conditions were especially unpromising, iron bridges were created.
A completely new building method came to be used near Gründji, due to the distance to be overcome by the Gründjitobel Viaduct, and also by the Langwieser Viaduct
Langwieser Viaduct
The Langwieser Viaduct is a single track reinforced concrete railway bridge spanning the Plessur River and the Sapünerbach, near Langwies, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland....
, located only a short distance to the southeast. At each of these points, instead of a bridge with many multiple openings, a sensational reinforced concrete structure arose with a large single span. The risk that piers might be undermined by the course of the river could thus be met successfully; since the completion of the Chur-Arosa line, the Gründjitobel Viaduct has only rarely been harmed by erosion.
Technical data
The Gründjitobel Viaduct is 145 metres (475.7 ft) long. The main span consists of an arch with an 85 metres (278.9 ft) long span, and a rise of 45 metres (147.6 ft) above the valley floor.The whole build of the structure proceeded virtually trouble free, and could be completed in just one year. Together with the larger Langwieser Viaduct, which can be considered its prototype, the Gründjitobel Viaduct was, as at the date of its completion, one of the longest spanning railway bridges in the world.
The falsework
Falsework
Falsework consists of temporary structures used in construction to support spanning or arched structures in order to hold the component in place until its construction is sufficiently advanced to support itself...
, which had already been used in the construction of the Halen Bridge in Kirchlindach
Kirchlindach
Kirchlindach is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:The name Kirchlindach first appeared in writing on 2 October 1185, when Pope Lucius III affirmed legal possession of the area to Erlach in a papal bull...
, Bern, originated, as with the Langwieser Viaduct, from Richard Coray of Trin
Trin
Trin is a municipality in the district of Imboden in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Crestasee is located in Trin.-Geography:Trin is perched on the mountain-side above the Rhine valley on the road between Domat/Ems and Flims. The village of Mulin is at the foot of the slope on the edge of the...
. The structure was built by the firm Müller, Zeerleder und Gobat.
See also
- Reinforced concrete
- Arch bridgeArch bridgeAn arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
- Viaduct
- Langwies (Rhaetian Railway station)
- Peist (Rhaetian Railway station)
- Langwieser Viaduct
- Chur–Arosa railway
- Rhaetian Railway