Altenbeken Viaduct
Altenbeken Viaduct Altenbekener Viadukt | |
|---|---|
Altenbeken Viaduct | |
| Coordinates | 51°45′48″N 08°55′36″E / 51.76333°N 8.92667°E |
| Carries | Hamm–Warburg railway |
| Crosses | Beketal |
| Locale | Altenbeken, Germany |
| Official name | Altenbekener Viadukt |
| Owner | Deutsche Bahn |
| Maintained by | Deutsche Bahn |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge, Viaduct |
| Material | Limestone |
| Total length | 482 m (1,581 ft) |
| Height | up to 35 m (115 ft) |
| Longest span | 15.69 m (51.5 ft) |
| No. of spans | 24 |
| History | |
| Construction start | 1851 |
| Construction end | 1853 |
| Inaugurated | 22 July 1853 |
| Location | |
The Altenbeken Viaduct (German: Altenbekener Viadukt, also known as Bekeviadukt or Großer Viadukt Altenbeken) is a double track limestone railway viaduct which spans the Beke valley, west of the town of Altenbeken, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The bridge is 482 m (1,581 ft) long, with 24 arches each of 15 m (49 ft) span, and up to 35 m (115 ft) high.
The viaduct is Europe's longest limestone bridge, and its construction was one of the earliest significant events in the history of rail transport in Germany. As part of the Hamm–Warburg railway between Paderborn and Altenbeken, it is still in use today. It is also the emblem of Altenbeken, and is depicted, in stylized form, on the coat of arms of the municipality.