Schildescher Viadukt, Railway viaduct in Schildesche district, Bielefeld, Germany
The Schildescher Viadukt is a railway bridge spanning 360 meters across the Johannisbach Valley with stone arches and concrete supports. The structure carries four tracks and connects Bielefeld to the wider rail network beyond the city.
The original structure was built during the 1840s and shaped the region's industrial growth until wartime destruction in 1945. Rebuilding in the 1960s reflected postwar efforts to restore essential rail connections to the area.
The name "Gummibahn" (rubber railway) comes from the 3.5 km curved, steep two-track bypass built from 1 December 1944 east of the viaduct to keep trains running if the bridge was hit. It opened fully at the end of February 1945 and carried passenger traffic until the new prestressed concrete bridge opened in summer 1964, after which it was dismantled.
The viaduct is accessible from several paths that cross the valley and offer good views from different angles. The terrain below is easy to walk through and good for photography and casual exploration.
The "Gummibahn" was not made of rubber: it was a 3.5 km curved, steep two-track diversion line opened on the eastern side on 1 December 1944 and fully operating by late February 1945. Passenger trains used it until the new prestressed concrete bridge opened in summer 1964, after which it was dismantled.
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