Ostbahnbrücke
Encyclopedia
The Ostbahnbrücke is a railway bridge over the Donaukanal
in Vienna
. It unites the districts of Simmering
and Leopoldstadt
.
The Ostbahnbrücke is located near the power station in Simmering and the Gasometer
.
bridge supporting two sets of rails.
In 1939, the Ostbahnbrücke was strengthened by the Nazi
s, in order to withhold the increased strain being placed on the bridge by heavier freight transports. The imminent war was probably also a motivation for this work, as it would require greater levels of freight transport. The bridge was blown up during the April 1945 Vienna Offensive
.
The Ostbahnbrücke was rebuilt in 1946. It is not known whether the narrow footpath beside the bridge existed before this time. In its publication “Querungen – Brücken-Stadt-Wien” (Crossings – Bridges – City – Vienna), the City of Vienna’s department with responsibility for the city’s bridges (Magistratsabteilung 29) lists the footpath as a separate structure (Object number 0207 0).
Donaukanal
The Donaukanal is a former arm of the river Danube, now regulated as a water channel , within the city of Vienna, Austria...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. It unites the districts of Simmering
Simmering
Simmering is a food preparation technique in which foods are cooked in hot liquids kept at or just below the boiling point of water , but higher than poaching temperature...
and Leopoldstadt
Leopoldstadt
Leopoldstadt is the 2nd municipal District of Vienna . There are inhabitants over . It is situated in the heart of the city and, together with Brigittenau , forms a large island surrounded by the Danube Canal and, to the north, the Danube. It is named after Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor...
.
The Ostbahnbrücke is located near the power station in Simmering and the Gasometer
Gasometer, Vienna
The Gasometers in Vienna are four former gas tanks, each of 90,000 m³ storage capacity, built as part of the Vienna municipal gas works Gaswerk Simmering in 1896–1899. They are located in the 11th district, Simmering. They were used from 1899 to 1984 as gas storage tanks...
.
History
The Ostbahnbrücke was designed by Anton Battig and August Friedrich Nathanael Köstlin. It was constructed in 1870 by the German company C. Harkort and is a trussTruss
In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in...
bridge supporting two sets of rails.
In 1939, the Ostbahnbrücke was strengthened by the Nazi
Austria at the Time of National Socialism
Austria at the time of National Socialism describes in particular the period of Austrian history from March 12, 1938 when the German annexation of Austria made Austria part of the German Third Reich until the end of World War II in spring 1945....
s, in order to withhold the increased strain being placed on the bridge by heavier freight transports. The imminent war was probably also a motivation for this work, as it would require greater levels of freight transport. The bridge was blown up during the April 1945 Vienna Offensive
Vienna Offensive
The Vienna Offensive was launched by the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front in order to capture Vienna, Austria. The offensive lasted from 2–13 April 1945...
.
The Ostbahnbrücke was rebuilt in 1946. It is not known whether the narrow footpath beside the bridge existed before this time. In its publication “Querungen – Brücken-Stadt-Wien” (Crossings – Bridges – City – Vienna), the City of Vienna’s department with responsibility for the city’s bridges (Magistratsabteilung 29) lists the footpath as a separate structure (Object number 0207 0).