Steffenbachbrücke, Steel railway bridge in Uri, Switzerland.
The Steffenbachbrücke is a steel structure 36 meters long that crosses the Steffenbach stream on the Furka Mountain Steam Railway. It rises about 18 meters above the valley floor and connects the stations of Realp and Tiefenbach on this alpine railway line.
The structure was built in 1926 by Theodor Bell & Cie to replace an earlier masonry version that suffered damage from avalanches. Its steel design was developed to better withstand the mountain's winter forces.
The bridge forms part of a mountain railway that still operates steam locomotives and preserves traditional train travel through the Alps. Visitors experience a living connection to how people once journeyed through these high valleys.
The railway operates only during warmer months, so the bridge is accessible by train seasonally. Plan your visit for summer if you want to experience the working steam train crossing this structure.
The bridge features three retractable steel sections that can be folded down in winter to shield the structure from avalanches. This sliding panel system remains an unusual engineering solution for managing mountain dangers.
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