| Name | Garabit Viaduct |
|---|---|
| Who | |
| Owner | Réseau Ferré de France - RFF |
| Design | G Eiffel, M Koechlin, L Boyer |
| Contractor | G Eiffel |
| Where | South of France |
| Latitude | N 44 58' 25" |
| Longitude | E 03 10' 25" |
| When | 1885 |
| Why | Crosses River Truyere linking railway between Clemont-Ferand and Beziers |
| What | |
| Overall type | Arch Truss with 2 hinges |
| Width | |
| Length | 564.3 m. |
| Main span | 165 m. |
| Rise of arch | 52 m. |
| Height of rail track above river level | 122 m. | Materials | Wrought iron |
| Erection | The arch was built out from both sides using a 'semi-arch' method. Cranes, at the end of each growing section of arch, worked on extending the arch piece by piece. The ends were held in place by back stays to the towers. In turn the towers were also held by back stays to the rest of the bridge and the ground. Eventually the two halves of the arch were joined and the stays removed. The deck girders were launched out onto the arch from both ends. |
| How to read a bridge | Read more about trusses..... Read more about modern arches..... Read more about the book metaphor..... |
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