Eisenbahnbrücke über die Weser, Railway bridge in Fürstenberg, Germany
The railway bridge over the Weser is a 250-meter-long steel structure with five masonry vaults built from Solling sandstone and a steel truss framework. The construction links both riverbanks and displays a mix of masonry and steel engineering from the late 19th century.
Construction took place between 1874 and 1876 by the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company and connected the Upper Ruhr Valley railway line with Holzminden. After severe bomb damage in 1944, the bridge was restored and served passenger traffic until 1984, when it was finally decommissioned in 1997.
The bridge carries the nickname Kennedy Bridge in honor of Captain James Latimer Kennedy, who oversaw its reconstruction after World War II until his death in 1946. The name reflects the important role of Allied forces in rebuilding the region after the war.
Access to the bridge is limited since it is no longer in operation, but you can view it from various points along the riverbank. The best vantage points are available from both sides of the river, and the Fürstenberg area offers several hiking trails to explore the structure from different angles.
Just four days after the bombing attack in 1944, German engineers managed to restore railway operations using temporary bridge structures. This rapid repair effort shows the technical ingenuity of the time and how critical the railway was to local infrastructure.
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