Landwasser Viaduct
Encyclopedia
The Landwasser Viaduct is a single track six-arched curved limestone
railway
viaduct
. It spans the Landwasser River
between Schmitten
and Filisur
, in the Canton
of Graubünden
, Switzerland
.
Designed by Alexander Acatos, it was built between 1901 and 1902 by Müller & Zeerleder for the Rhaetian Railway, which still owns and uses it today. A signature structure of the World Heritage-listed Albula Railway
, it is 65 metres (213.3 ft) high, 136 metres (446.2 ft) long, and one of its ramps exits straight into the Landwasser Tunnel.
The southeastern abutment of the viaduct is located on a high cliff, and at that point, the tracks lead directly into the 216 metres (708.7 ft) long Landwasser Tunnel.
The viaduct's masonry is approximately 9200 cubic metres (324,894.9 cu ft) in volume and is jointed with limestone dolomite.
and Filisur
, and is at the 63.07 kilometres (39.2 mi) mark from Thusis
.
To passengers on trains approaching the viaduct from Tiefencastel and Alvaneu
on the Albula Railway, the viaduct becomes visible from quite some distance away. The first major feature to be reached on that approach is the Schmittentobel Viaduct
, which itself is of considerable size. Then, while crossing the curved Landwasser Viaduct, passengers can observe the front of the train heading into the Landwasser Tunnel.
On the other side of the tunnel, the separate line from Davos Platz
forms a junction with the Albula Railway just as both lines arrive in Filisur. Shortly before reaching that junction point, passengers on the Davos–Filisur line can experience a view of the viaduct from the northeast.
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
. It spans the Landwasser River
Landwasser River
The Landwasser is a river in Switzerland. Its origin was Lake Davos before this was turned into a reservoir for a power station. Nowadays it is fed entirely by Flüelabach and changes its name near Davos. Davos is the largest town and except for the last bit the only municipitality on the river...
between Schmitten
Schmitten, Graubünden
Schmitten is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-Geography:Schmitten has an area, , of . Of this area, 25.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 57.1% is forested...
and Filisur
Filisur
Filisur is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:Filisur is first mentioned in 1262 as villa Fallisour.-Geography:...
, in the Canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Designed by Alexander Acatos, it was built between 1901 and 1902 by Müller & Zeerleder for the Rhaetian Railway, which still owns and uses it today. A signature structure of the World Heritage-listed Albula Railway
Albula Railway
In 1890, the Davos hotelier Willem-Jan Holsboer proposed the construction of a rail link from Chur via Davos, and through a tunnel under the Scaletta Pass, to St Moritz, and then onwards via the Maloja Pass, to Chiavenna in Italy. Holsboer later had to abandon this planned Scalettabahn, in favour...
, it is 65 metres (213.3 ft) high, 136 metres (446.2 ft) long, and one of its ramps exits straight into the Landwasser Tunnel.
Description
The Landwasser Viaduct has six arch spans 20 metres (65.6 ft) in width, resting on five high pillars. The railway line near the viaduct has a slope of 2 percent, and in plan a circular arc with a radius of 100 metres (328.1 ft).The southeastern abutment of the viaduct is located on a high cliff, and at that point, the tracks lead directly into the 216 metres (708.7 ft) long Landwasser Tunnel.
The viaduct's masonry is approximately 9200 cubic metres (324,894.9 cu ft) in volume and is jointed with limestone dolomite.
Location
The dark limestone-built viaduct forms part of the Albula Railway section between TiefencastelTiefencastel (Rhaetian Railway station)
Tiefencastel is a railway station in Tiefencastel, Switzerland. It is located on the Albula Railway line from Chur to St. Moritz. Hourly services operate on this section of the line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*RE1/R11 - 1tph...
and Filisur
Filisur (Rhaetian Railway station)
Filisur is a railway station in Filisur, Switzerland. It is located on the Albula Railway line from Chur to St. Moritz. Hourly services operate on this section of the line...
, and is at the 63.07 kilometres (39.2 mi) mark from Thusis
Thusis (Rhaetian Railway station)
Thusis is a railway station in Thusis, Switzerland. It is the terminus of the Landquart-Thusis railway line. Hourly services originating from Chur on that line also continue along the Albula Railway line to St. Moritz.-Rhaetian Railway services:...
.
To passengers on trains approaching the viaduct from Tiefencastel and Alvaneu
Alvaneu
Alvaneu is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.On 20 March 2007 Peter Martin Wettler, a media expert and resident of Zurich was appointed Prince of Belfort by the village's authorities....
on the Albula Railway, the viaduct becomes visible from quite some distance away. The first major feature to be reached on that approach is the Schmittentobel Viaduct
Schmittentobel Viaduct
The Schmittentobel Viaduct is a single track limestone railway viaduct. It is situated near Schmitten, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland.The viaduct was opened in 1903 by the Rhaetian Railway, which still owns and uses it today....
, which itself is of considerable size. Then, while crossing the curved Landwasser Viaduct, passengers can observe the front of the train heading into the Landwasser Tunnel.
On the other side of the tunnel, the separate line from Davos Platz
Davos Platz (Rhaetian Railway station)
Davos Platz station is located in the municipality of Davos in the district of Prattigau/Davos in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.It is the terminus of the Landquart-Davos railway line. Northbound, there is an hourly service towards Landquart. Southbound, there is an hourly service to Filisur. The...
forms a junction with the Albula Railway just as both lines arrive in Filisur. Shortly before reaching that junction point, passengers on the Davos–Filisur line can experience a view of the viaduct from the northeast.
See also
- Glacier ExpressGlacier ExpressThe Glacier Express is an express train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. The train is operated jointly by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn and Rhaetian Railway...
- Bernina ExpressBernina ExpressThe Bernina Express is an express train connecting Chur in Switzerland with Poschiavo and Tirano in Italy, by crossing the Swiss Alps from north to south. For most of its journey, the train also passes along and through the World Heritage Site known as the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina...
- Arch bridgeArch bridgeAn arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
- ViaductViaductA viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
- Schmitten, GraubündenSchmitten, GraubündenSchmitten is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-Geography:Schmitten has an area, , of . Of this area, 25.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 57.1% is forested...
- Schmittentobel ViaductSchmittentobel ViaductThe Schmittentobel Viaduct is a single track limestone railway viaduct. It is situated near Schmitten, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland.The viaduct was opened in 1903 by the Rhaetian Railway, which still owns and uses it today....
- Filisur (Rhaetian Railway station)Filisur (Rhaetian Railway station)Filisur is a railway station in Filisur, Switzerland. It is located on the Albula Railway line from Chur to St. Moritz. Hourly services operate on this section of the line...
- Albula RailwayAlbula RailwayIn 1890, the Davos hotelier Willem-Jan Holsboer proposed the construction of a rail link from Chur via Davos, and through a tunnel under the Scaletta Pass, to St Moritz, and then onwards via the Maloja Pass, to Chiavenna in Italy. Holsboer later had to abandon this planned Scalettabahn, in favour...
- Rhaetian Railway