Ever wondered how coal from the Ruhr area made its way to the Bergisches Land? The Ruhrbrücke Steele stands before us. It is a testament to Essen’s industrial past. This railway bridge connects Steele and Überruhr. It extends the former Prinz-Wilhelm-Eisenbahn line, established in 1863.
In the 19th century, the Ruhr region boomed. The Bergisches Land needed coal. A reliable transport method was essential. The Prinz-Wilhelm-Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft expanded its horse-drawn railway. Construction began in 1844 to connect Steele to Elberfeld. It primarily transported goods but also carried passengers. Before the Ruhrbrücke Steele existed, a ferry transported people. It went from the Steele terminus to the Ruhr’s north bank.
The Prinz-Wilhelm-Eisenbahn faced financial troubles. In 1854, the state took it over. The Ruhrbrücke Steele opened on June 1, 1863. On August 23, the Bergisch-Märkische Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft took over the line. This company had operated it since 1854.
The Ruhrbrücke Steele facilitated a vital connection. It linked to the Dortmund-Duisburg line at Königssteele station. This station is now Essen-Steele Ost. From there, a route to Bochum-Dahlhausen connected to the Ruhr’s mining operations.
A connecting curve to Essen-Steele West station opened in 1978. This shortened the route from Wuppertal to Essen. Trains previously had to reverse at Steele Ost station. The S9 S-Bahn line and RE 49 Regional-Express line now use the Ruhrbrücke Steele. The old track to Steele Ost station is now abandoned.
The railway crosses the Ruhr valley on two bridges. A 270-meter dam connects them. The Strombrücke spans the Ruhr. It features a riveted steel truss design. Four sections, each 27.3 meters wide, rest on stone pillars. The Cologne Machine Construction AG played a key role in its construction. The pillars were completed in November 1862. The superstructures were installed by mid-January 1863.
The Flutbrücke connects to Überruhr-Hinsel. This vault bridge is clad in Ruhr sandstone. It originally had eight arches. It crossed a floodplain often flooded. This area now provides drinking water. Dam construction began in August 1861. This section was completed by October 1862.
Tracks were laid in April 1863. In May, two heavy locomotives tested the bridge’s capacity. Scheduled train services began on June 1, 1863.
In 1890, a floating crane damaged the Flutbrücke during a flood. Steel superstructures replaced the damaged arches. Since then, the Flutbrücke has had six stone arches.
The Wehrmacht destroyed the original two-track Strombrücke on April 8, 1945. US Army units entered Steele the next day. A single-track steel truss bridge replaced the destroyed bridge. It rests on the eastern side of the old pillars. A two-track expansion has not occurred.
The Ruhrbrücke Steele stands as a symbol. It represents resilience and Essen’s industrial heritage. It connects not only places but also eras. It reminds us of the region’s transformation. It is a vital piece of Essen’s story.