The Bridge from Cernavoda
The Anghel Saligny Bridge (formerly King Carol I Bridge) is a railroad truss bridge in Romania, across the Danube River, connecting the cities of Cernavoda and Fetesti. The bridge was built between 1890 and 1895 over the Danube and Borcea branch of the Danube, and when it was completed it became the longest bridge in Europe and the third longest in the world. The two cities on the banks of the river which was built were Fetesti on the left side and Cernavoda on the right side.
The bridge has a length of 4,087.95 m of which 1,662 m over the Danube and 970 m over Borcea and was designed by Romanian engineer Anghel Saligny. It is 30 m above the water, allowing tall ships to pass under it.
The crossing of Danube at Cernavoda was provided through a bridge with a central opening of 190 m (the largest in Continental Europe) and other four openings of 140 m , beside to a viaduct with 15 openings of 60 m . Another bridge, with three openings of 140 m and 11 openings of 50 m , was designed and realized over Borcea branch. A viaduct with 34 openings of 42 m was built between the two branches of the stream, over a 14 km wide water.
The bridge was inaugurated on 26 September 1895 and as a test on the opening, a convoy of 15 whistling locomotives sped at 60 km/h, followed by a train reserved for ‘guests’, at 80 km/h. It was used for almost a century, until 1987, when the new Cernavoda Bridge, built next to it, was inaugurated.
Via: art-historia.blogspot.ro (1) and (2)
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