Karnin Lift Bridge, Technical railway monument in Usedom and Bugewitz, Germany
The Karnin Lift Bridge is the surviving lifting section of a 360-metre railway bridge over the Peenestrom, completed in 1933. Its two riveted lattice towers, joined by a top frame, rise 35 metres and carry a suspended lifting span with a 47-metre span and 28-metre lift. The approach bridges were destroyed in 1945, leaving the rust-brown steel structure standing on a low concrete base at the water's edge.
The structure was completed in 1933 to replace an older swing bridge and carried railway traffic between the island and the mainland. During the final war days of 1945 the side approaches were destroyed, leaving only the central lifting section standing.
The structure takes its name from the nearby village and reminds locals and visitors of a time when trains still crossed here. Today the preserved central section stands free over the water as part of the region's protected heritage.
The central section is visible from Karnin village and can also be viewed from the water during trips on the Peenestrom. Travelers on foot or by bicycle will find several spots along the shore offering a good view of the structure.
The cables for the lift were pre-stressed at the Niederfinow Boat Lift construction site and brought to Karnin by special railway wagons. The lift section survives largely unpainted because a rust-resistant steel was used, which corrodes very little.
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