“Philadelphia,” a name echoing from across the Atlantic. Did you know it graces this Viennese bridge? This is the Philadelphiabrücke. It is more than just a crossing. It is a landmark steeped in history.
The Philadelphiabrücke carries the bustling traffic of Vienna’s 12th district. It extends Meidlinger Hauptstraße. The bridge stretches over the railway lines of the Südbahn. It leads to the beginning of Breitenfurter Straße at Schedifkaplatz.
But why Philadelphia? The story begins with a locomotive. In 1838, the Wien-Gloggnitzer Eisenbahn company ordered a steam engine from Philadelphia. All locomotives had names back then. This one was christened “Philadelphia”. It was delivered to Meidling. Meidling was then a Viennese suburb.
A replica of the Philadelphia locomotive stands in the Technical Museum. It is a reminder of the city’s early connection to rail transport.
The first bridge here was built in 1841. It had no official name. However, a local gasthaus adopted the locomotive’s name. The “Gasthof zur Stadt Philadelphia” became popular. Soon, people began calling the bridge Philadelphiabrücke unofficially.
The name stuck. When the suburbs were incorporated into Vienna between 1890 and 1892, the city officially recognized the name Philadelphiabrücke. This recognition occurred when the second bridge was already in operation. Today’s bridge is actually the fourth at this location.
The Philadelphiabrücke has evolved over time. The first bridge was a stone structure with four arches. It crossed the railway at an angle. As Vienna grew, a new bridge became necessary in 1861. This one was an iron construction. It stood at a right angle to the tracks.
By 1910, a third bridge was opened. It accommodated streetcar tracks. This allowed Line 62 to cross here. Previously, it had to use the bridge of the Badner Bahn.
World War II caused heavy damage to the bridge. It was repaired. But by 1975, it was deemed unsafe. Vehicle traffic was banned. Even pedestrians could only walk in the middle.
A new bridge was built in 1978. This is the Philadelphiabrücke you see today. The Straßenbahnlinie 62 and the Badner Bahn use this Philadelphiabrücke since then.
In 1989, the U6 subway line was extended to Philadelphiabrücke. It connects to the Wien Meidling train station. This enhanced the area. The Philadelphiabrücke became a key public transport hub.
Interestingly, the U-Bahn station was renamed “Bahnhof Meidling” in 2013.
The Philadelphiabrücke stands as a testament to Vienna’s history. It is a blend of transportation and culture. Next time you cross it, remember the story of the Philadelphia locomotive. Remember the gasthaus. Remember the evolution of this vital link in Vienna. It’s a bridge with a story that spans continents and centuries.