Rendsburg Schleswig-Holstein Germany 28th May 2017

A DB electric loco pulls 5 double-deck Regional coaches southwards across the famous Rendsburg High railway bridge & viaduct high over the Kiel Canal. It is known more descriptively as the Nord-Ostsee-Kanal in German & was opened in 1913.

In order to allow the railway line to pass above the canal, the bridge has a clearance of 42 metres over the canal's mean water level. The required maximum incline of 1:150 (one metre gain in altitude per 150 metres distance) made it necessary to build elevated embankments and access bridges of about 5.5 km at each side. To serve Rendsburg station, situated at ground level only a couple of hundred metres from the main bridge, the railway line is routed through a large 360-degree loop on the north bank of the canal

My father crossed over this bridge and loop in 1945 while returning on RAF leave from Copenhagen by train and it made a very big impression on him. On me too when he told me about it hence my detour to grab a few shots. What he didn't tell me and I have since discovered was that it is also a transporter bridge so I missed the chance to cross over on it....... Next time!

Even the locals stopped to watch the train!