六郷川橋梁, Railway bridge in Ota, Japan
The Rokugogawa Bridge is a railway viaduct spanning 519 meters (1,703 feet) across the Tama River. It carries trains on the Tokaido Main Line, linking Ota district in Tokyo with Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture.
The original bridge was built in 1871 as Japan's first railway bridge, with British engineering guidance shaping its design. The current steel structure replaced earlier versions through reconstructions completed in 1971.
The bridge reflects Japan's commitment to rail transport as a backbone for connecting distant cities and regions. Walking along the tracks nearby shows how trains became central to how people move between Tokyo and Kanagawa in daily life.
The bridge is part of active train operations and can be viewed from ground level along nearby paths and riverbanks. Best viewing spots are from nearby riverside walks or adjacent footbridges that provide clear angles of the structure.
Parts of the second bridge iteration were recycled and rebuilt into the Sakawagawa Bridge on the Gotemba Line. This demonstrates how early Japanese engineers practiced material conservation by repurposing older structures for new rail routes.
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