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Train Recognition Guide Super High Speed Main Manufacturers Pics of the Month 2010-12 Pics of the Month 2007-9 Unusual RR Pics Gallery RR Snow Fighting Gallery Themes > Railroad Structures Steam and Smoke Winter Visions by H.P. Winter Visions by S.V. European Countries Finnish Vintage Vr1 / L1 Russian RR Visions Sweden Swedish Malmbana Swiss TRAXX Operations North American Visions North America North America by G.P.	Welcome to RR Structures Visions Page! To choose the subject please click first the tile below. You can return to this menu any time by clicking the "Top of the page" -link.			Created for 4rail.net by John McKey. Pictures by Ilkka Siissalo, Focalplane, Nick Slocombe, Stanislav Voronin, Gerard J. Putz and John McKey.
	Viaduct of the Garabit in the middle France by Gustave Eiffel is one of the most astonishing railroad structures.	NS heavy freight crossing a trestle in a scenic place of Potomac River, W.V.	Another beautiful view mixing work of nature and humans. On the bridge the Amtrak Empire Builder.
	Snow sheds on the mountain sides were and still are used to keep the danger of avalanche away, or just to keep the steel wheels rolling throughout the year.	Tunneling through the ice at Jungfraubahn, when other methods don't work!	A BNSF bridge over dizzying heights of the Crooked river canyon...
		Island hopping on the Florida keys...	You can even find interesting trestles and other bridges even in Finland.




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Railroad structures

Viaduct de Carabit

Viaduct de Garabit, the huge Garabit railroad bridge in France by Gustave Eiffel, France

This breathtaking view of Gustave Eiffel's Viaduc de Carabit was taken by Focalplane. Situated in the mid France, the bridge is undoubtedly the tallest in it's time. Gustave Eiffel was ahead of his time making structural calculations and liked to experiment with light steel structures instead of the heavy stone building. Situated around the world he left over 30 landmarks bearing his name and still existing today, many of them in active use despite the more that 100 years lifespan. Even though the trains 110 years ago were much lighter than today, the huge bridge in Carabit still serves trains, although with speeds of just 5 km/h. This view can be seen from the nearby highway stop and by the viaduct of Carabit there is also a museum dedicated to Gustave Eiffel. Other famous Gustave Eiffel landmarks in France are for example the Eiffel tower, which has become the symbol of Paris.

Actually, the view of this bridge was the starting point of this Visions on Railroad Structures page, since only in this size the proportions and the finely calculated grid work of the structure can be viewed properly. We thank Focalplane for sending the picture to 4rail.net!

If you have pictures of interesting large railroad structures of any kind, and feel free to share these with the audience and contact us buy our form. Once we get your message, we will send you an email.

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NS Freight on Potomac River Bridge, West Virginia, U.S.A.

Norfolk Southern on bridge, Eastern U.S.A.

This scenic place has a story too, you can almost see the time spanning the two bridges. The masonry on the older bridge pillars is still in a good shape despite the elements during well over 100 years. The pillar on the right has yielded a little to the nature and is now listing to the camera and has some vegetation on it that will ultimately bite into mortar. This will finish the work of the nature.

This beautiful picture is from the NS bridge on the Potomac river on West Virginia. The Norfolk Southern EMD and two GE units are leading the southbound freight across the bridge. Ever wonder what it feels to run an extra heavy train over high bridges like this?

Picture by Gerry Putz.

North American RR Gallery with hundreds of pictures...

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Amtrak Empire Builder on Flat Head River, Montana, U.S.A.

Amtrak Empire builder on bridge at Flat head river, West Java, Montana, U.S.A.

When mountains and railroading mix, this often creates interesting scenic views. This beautiful place is located in West Java, Montana and the river running through the gorge is Flat head river. Crossing the high bridge is an Amtrak Empire Builder on its way from Chicago, Illinois to Seattle, Washington.

Look at the details in the picture: how much details can there be in this kind of combination in the natures and humans work!

Picture by Bruce Schwierske.

North American RR Gallery with hundreds of pictures...

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BNSF Freight on High Crooked River Trestle in Oregon, U.S.A.

BNSF bridge over Crooked river gorge, Oregon, U.S.A.

Look at the height of this open bridge! It must be dizzying to drive aheavy freight across, but also offers quite extraordinary vistas on both sides. This bridge can be found on BNSF line across the Crooked river canyon.

Picture by Bruce Schwierske.

North American RR Gallery with hundreds of pictures...

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Bridge over the Florida Keys

Florida Keys railroad bridge, Florida, U.S.A.

Florida Keys also has a large railroad bridge built for island hopping from one island to another. The bridge was originally used for steam trains. Some films also show old automobiles running on sleepers, more like bumping from sleeper to sleeper, talk about rough driving! The old reliable structure still remains except for one part taken away, while the new bridge on the right has taken its job to transport automobiles. Trains are now gone from keys as a preferred transportation mode.

Picture by Hannu Peltola.

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Railroad Bridges at Lappeenranta on the Saimaa Channel (in new bridges series) and in Imatra, Finland

Saimaa Channel bridge in Lappeenranta, Finland

Saimaa Channel connects the inland waterways of Finland through Russian lake Laatokka and St Petersburg to Finnish Gulf on the sea. This man made trench was dug in two phases and has seen numerous changes with its over 100 years lifespan, including the Soviet Union conquering about half of its length to Russian territory in the WW2. Here a couple of VR-Yhtymä trains pass the Channel on the 50 meters high bridge built on the Finnish side several decades go. Above the Intercity 9, which has just left Lappeenranta and is creeping over the bridge offering passengers a breathtaking view. Soon it will run fast to be on schedule in Imatra. Below the VR-Yhtyma Cargo section paper cars rolling over the bridge minutes before led by a Wolf number 3074 below.

Below a still used old combi bridge for local automobiles (including buses!) and on the top trains in Imatra Finland to cross river Kymi with heavy currents. Here the IC2 train approaches Imatra station and is rolling slowly past the bridge. Picture by Stanislav Voronin 2010.

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Snow sheds in the Sweden's North

Sorry to spoil the illusion, this in actually NOT a snow shed of heavy timbers, although the color would suggest that. It is a modern heavy concrete and steel structure with wood only in the station platform in the front. The heavy iron ore loaded trains use this man made tunnel on their way from Kiruna area mines to Narvik in Norway. There are also a number of passenger as well as intermodal freight trains rolling through it every day and night. This shed is located at Riksgränsen, right at the borders line which can be seen in the distance where the curve is. Pictures by John McKey.

Looking west, the snow shed opens on the other side to create a station on the mountains.

Some Heavy Railroading on Malmbana Theme Pages...

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Tunneling Through the Ice

Jungfrabahn vehicle in ice tunnel, Switzerland

Sometimes no other alternatives exist for quarrying through ice. Here a Jungfraubahn service vehicle is bringing fresh water to the top through an ice tunnel!

Picture by Peider SwissTrip.

Swiss RR Gallery with hundreds of pictures...

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