“Schiefe Brücke bei Trachau” they called it. Today we stand before what remains of Dresden’s first railway bridge, the Eisenbahn-Gitterbrücke. It’s a testament to a bygone era. A time of rapid industrial expansion.
The Eisenbahn-Gitterbrücke once carried the first German long-distance railway line. This line connected the vibrant cities of Leipzig and Dresden. The bridge’s story is one of innovation. It was built in 1837. It was built in an incredibly short time of just seven weeks.
Imagine the scene on November 9, 1837. The foundation stone was laid. Locals watched. Amazement filled their eyes as the Eisenbahn-Gitterbrücke took shape.
Just over a month later, on December 20, 1837, the Eisenbahn-Gitterbrücke was complete. It was the first railway bridge in the Dresden area. A marvel of engineering for its time.
The Eisenbahn-Gitterbrücke crossed the “Neue Meißner Post- und Landstraße”. This is now known as Leipziger Straße. The angle was unusual. The road and railway intersected at a 60-degree angle. This gave rise to the nickname “Schiefe Brücke bei Trachau” or “crooked bridge near Trachau”.
On July 19, 1838, a festival train inaugurated the Dresden-Radebeul section. It was a momentous occasion. The Eisenbahn-Gitterbrücke bore its first passengers. Roughly 3,200 people were aboard that train. Afterward, about ten trains crossed the bridge each day. Each train carried around 150 passengers.
Another significant event occurred on December 8, 1838. Johann Andreas Schubert tested his “Saxonia” locomotive. The Eisenbahn-Gitterbrücke witnessed this historic trial run. The “Saxonia” traveled from Dresden-Neustadt to Weinböhla.
The official opening of the Leipzig-Dresden line was celebrated on April 7, 1839. Three special trains marked the occasion. The Eisenbahn-Gitterbrücke played a vital role in this 114.9-kilometer route.
For sixty years, the Eisenbahn-Gitterbrücke served its purpose. It accommodated the growing railway traffic. Its clearance height was 5.10 meters. However, times change.
In 1898 and 1899, Dresden’s railway network underwent significant renovations. The original Eisenbahn-Gitterbrücke was replaced. A four-track steel bridge took its place. The new bridge had a wider span of 15 meters. Its clearance height was a slightly lower 4.56 meters.
The steel bridge stood until 2011. It spanned the Leipziger Straße. Like its predecessor, it was at the same location as the original 1837 bridge. Eventually, progress demanded another change. A modern four-track concrete bridge replaced the steel structure.
Today, only two sandstone blocks remain. They stand as technical testaments. They are 60 centimeters high. They bear the year “1837” and the city crests of Leipzig and Dresden. They remind us of the Eisenbahn-Gitterbrücke. It was a vital part of Dresden’s railway history. A symbol of innovation.