Ruhrbrücke Steele, Railway and truss bridge in Steele district, Essen, Germany
Ruhrbrücke Steele is a railway bridge with steel truss construction that crosses the Ruhr River between the districts of Steele and Überruhr. The structure combines a steel truss section for train traffic with a sandstone arch section that serves as flood protection.
The bridge was built in 1863 and replaced a ferry connection that previously linked the two banks. It was created as part of the Prince Wilhelm Railway expansion to support raw material transport and the region's growing industrial development.
The bridge connects two river neighborhoods and remains a recognizable landmark in the Steele district today. It links communities and enables daily interactions between residents on both sides of the water.
The bridge is used today by S9 commuter trains and the RE 49 regional express that regularly connect Essen with surrounding municipalities. Pedestrians and cyclists can see the structure from the side but must use other routes to cross the river.
The structure still displays the rivets that hold the steel parts together, a construction technique from the industrial age foundations. This craft-based joining method was the standard for steel structures for many years before welding replaced it.
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