The Göltzschtalbrücke in Germany is the world's largest brick viaduct. Built between 1846 and 1851, it required over 26 million bricks and stands 78 meters tall, 574 meters long, and 23 meters wide at its base. It has 29 spans and was the first bridge to be calculated based on static data rather than previous architectural designs. Though an unusual building material, brick was chosen because of abundant local clay sources. Over 1,700 workers helped construct the bridge, with 31 deaths occurring during construction. It became the highest railway bridge in the world upon completion and remains the largest brick bridge ever built.

1. The World's Largest Brick Viaduct
Geltsshtalbryuke (German Göltzschtalbrücke) - the world's largest brick viaduct. This railway bridge was
built between 1846 and 1851., During its construction has been used for more than 26 million bricks.

2. The bridge height of 78 meters, length - 574 meters wide at the base - 23 meters. Four-story bridge has 29
spans. The current bridge is part of a highway Dresden, Nuremberg. The bridge passes through the valley
of the river Gelch between the cities of Milan and Nechkau, 4 km west of the town of
ReichenbachimVogtland (Saxony), near the border between the federal states of Thuringia and Saxony in
the city Greiz.
Gelchtalbryukke was built in the years 1846-1851 for the construction of Saxony-Bavarian railway in the
city of Milan at the same time with the same architectural structure, a bridge between the cities of
ElstertalbryukkeYosnits and Yoketa.

3. With the construction of this highway that leads from Leipzig through Plauen and Hof in Nuremberg, it
was necessary to overcome one of the biggest obstacles - Valley Gelch. Since Saxony-Bavarian Railway
Company was not so much money, they tried to January 27, 1845 through a contest with a prize fund of
1,000 thaler declared in all German newspapers, find a favorable solution for the architectural
construction of the bridge. The contest received 81 proposal, but none of the candidates could not based
on static calculations show the ability to evaluate the burden of the planned rail link. So the money was
divided among the four best offers, none of which has not been implemented.

4. Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Johann Andreas Schubert on the basis of their own experience of
static calculations created a draft of possible solutions, using it separate offers of competitive projects.
Thus, this bridge was the first in the world calculated from static data bridge. The basic material of
construction architect was chosen brick, a very unusual material for those times. In this field there were
large areas of clay and so brick was cheap and convenient delivery. Only a few of the most doubtful
places, Schubert was planning to use granite.
The bridge was laid on May 31, 1846. After the start of construction of the project once again subjected
to changes due to technical difficulties. In addition, the soil at the construction site in the valley was not
as hard as expected, because of what was originally planned symmetrical arches were replaced in the
center by a much larger arch designed by Chief Engineer Robert Wilke. This further decorated bridge,
turning it into an impressive architectural structure.
Used in the construction of every 50,000 bricks of unusual size: 28h14h6, 5 cm, along the lines of the
construction work of about 20 brick plant. A total of 1,736 construction workers were employed, of
which 31 people died during the works. After construction is completed and the bridge opened July 15,
1851 Gelchtalbryukke became the highest railway bridge in the world and the largest brick bridge, it
remains to this day.

5. Gelchtalbryukke - is both the name of the head rail station in the valley Gelch, under the bridge. From
there, the train tracks diverge on ObererBahnhofReichenbach and Legenfeld (Vogtland).
The current bridge is part of the so-called Saxony-Franconian line, which in 1997-2000 was the
reconstruction and allows trains to overcome twisting plots at a rate of up to 160 km / chas.Vdol bridge
are scenic roads that offer an impressive panorama of the bridge, the achievements of engineering and
technical ideas. Near the bridge was tethered balloon from which could be seen at the bottom of the
valley extending from a height of 150 meters, as well as a nearby castle and fortress Nechkau Milan.
Unfortunately, since the middle of August 2007, this attraction is not working because of the high cost of
repairs.

6. The bridge is known and is surrounded by legends and also because in its 150-year history with him
repeatedly jumped and commit suicide. In August 2001, he immediately jumped three teenagers from the
nearby Reichenbach. Appeared in the 2002 documentary "The Devil's Game" describes the life of the
dead teen friends and their attempts to make sense of what happened. After 8 suicides within eight
months of 2002, the bridge heavily guarded by a detachment of the Federal Police.