Langwieser Viaduct
Encyclopedia
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
.
Designed by Hermann Schürch, it was built between 1912 and 1914 by Eduard Züblin for the Chur–Arosa railway, and is now owned and used by the Rhaetian Railway.
It is also now listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance
as it is a pioneering reinforced concrete
structure.
is located on the Rhaetian Railway's metre gauge
line from Chur
to the holiday and recreation resort of Arosa
(the Chur–Arosa line). It carries the railway line over the Plessur River
valley, immediately up the line from Langwies
station.
Erected between 1912 and 1914, the Langwieser Viaduct was the world's first railway bridge to be constructed of reinforced concrete
, and at that time represented a significant breakthrough.
Simultaneously, a "little brother" of the Langwieser Viaduct, the 139 metres (456 ft) long Gründjitobel Viaduct
, was built about 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) downstream.
, with a rise of 42 metres (137.8 ft). The viaduct has a total of 13 openings. The rail carriers have a plate beam cross section rigidly connected with the carriers. The only divisions are between the main arch and the two foreshore areas. These separations are constructed as double piers.
At the time of its erection, the Langwieser Viaduct was the longest railway bridge in the world. A total of 800 cubic metres of wood was used for the falsework
, the construction of which was another impressive achievement of the carpenter
Richard Coray of Trin
. The plans for the viaduct were created by Hermann Schürch, the chief engineer was Züblin, and the building contractor was Eduard Züblin.
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
railway bridge spanning the Plessur River
Plessur (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...
and the Sapünerbach, near Langwies
Langwies
Langwies is a municipality in the district of Plessur in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-Geography:Langwies has an area, , of . Of this area, 48.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 22.6% is forested...
, in the Canton
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
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Designed by Hermann Schürch, it was built between 1912 and 1914 by Eduard Züblin for the Chur–Arosa railway, and is now owned and used by the Rhaetian Railway.
It is also now listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance
Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
as it is a pioneering reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
structure.
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). It carries the railway line over the Plessur River
Plessur (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, immediately up the line from 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...
station.
History
The line from Chur to Arosa was the last of the railway lines in the Rhaetian Railway's so-called core network to be built. The Arosa line also pioneered the use of new construction methods and techniques.Erected between 1912 and 1914, the Langwieser Viaduct was the world's first railway bridge to be constructed of reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
, and at that time represented a significant breakthrough.
Simultaneously, a "little brother" of the Langwieser Viaduct, the 139 metres (456 ft) long Gründjitobel Viaduct
Gründjitobel Viaduct
The Gründjitobel Viaduct is a single track reinforced concrete railway bridge, spanning the Gründjitobelbach near Langwies, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland....
, was built about 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) downstream.
Technical data
The Langwieser Viaduct is 284 metres (931.8 ft) long (though some sources state it as 287 metres (941.6 ft)). The main span consists of a 100 metres (328.1 ft) long archArch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
, with a rise of 42 metres (137.8 ft). The viaduct has a total of 13 openings. The rail carriers have a plate beam cross section rigidly connected with the carriers. The only divisions are between the main arch and the two foreshore areas. These separations are constructed as double piers.
At the time of its erection, the Langwieser Viaduct was the longest railway bridge in the world. A total of 800 cubic metres of wood was used for 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...
, the construction of which was another impressive achievement of the carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
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 plans for the viaduct were created by Hermann Schürch, the chief engineer was Züblin, and the building contractor was Eduard Züblin.
See also
- Reinforced concreteReinforced concreteReinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
- 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...
- ViaductViaductA 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...
- Langwies (Rhaetian Railway station)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...
- Gründjitobel ViaductGründjitobel ViaductThe Gründjitobel Viaduct is a single track reinforced concrete railway bridge, spanning the Gründjitobelbach near Langwies, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland....
- Chur–Arosa railway
- Rhaetian Railway