Ziemestalbrücke, Railway bridge in Remptendorf, Germany
The Ziemestalbrücke is a 115-metre-long, 32-metre-high single-track steel viaduct on the former Triptis–Marxgrün line. It crosses the Ziemesgrund in a gentle arc on five lattice piers founded on concrete footings, with a narrow walkway beside the rust-brown rails. The deck runs in a curve of 193 m radius at a gradient of 20 per mille, and the inclined bridge head was built to allow higher speeds.
Construction of the Ziemestalbrücke began in autumn 1893 with the foundations and abutments; the viaduct itself was finished in 1894. In June 1895 three coupled locomotives crossed it as a load test before the bridge was opened. Steel was chosen because hauling stone into the Ziemes valley was too costly, and the line was later closed, after which the bridge was placed under monument protection.
The bridge takes its name from the valley it crosses, and it remains a defining feature of the local landscape today. Hikers and railway enthusiasts visit to experience the engineering achievement up close.
The viaduct is reachable via hiking trails that run through the forest or follow the old railway grounds. Several starting points for walks are available in the surrounding area from which you can visit the bridge.
The bridge curves at a radius of about 193 meters with a 2 percent gradient, which allowed trains to travel at higher speeds. This curved design was an innovative solution for navigating the hilly terrain.
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