Syzran Bridge, Railway bridge in Oktyabrsk, Russia
The Syzran Bridge is a railway bridge crossing the Volga River in Oktyabrsk, spanning about 1400 meters with thirteen steel truss sections. These trusses rest on massive stone foundations made of limestone and granite that anchor the structure across the wide river.
The bridge opened in 1880 as the first railway crossing over the middle and lower Volga River. It connected central Russia with the Ural region and became a crucial link in expanding the railway network across this area.
Professor Nikolai Belelubsky from the Saint Petersburg Institute of Transport Engineers designed this engineering structure, incorporating Belgian steel and Finnish granite materials.
The bridge is part of a major railway line between Moscow, Syzran, and Samara and operates daily with trains carrying cargo and passengers. Visitors can view the structure from various riverside points, with the best views from nearby vantage spots along the Volga.
During World War II, the bridge continued operating despite repeated German bombing raids and remained one of the few Volga crossings to survive the war intact. The effective anti-aircraft defense system protected this strategically vital link throughout the conflict's most intense periods.
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