S Shape Bridge

[bill937ca]

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODaRdPyJpxQ&feature=related

[Bernard]

That's one scary narrow bridge.

[disturbman]

Beautifull, but I don't understand. Where is the famous S? I just see one curve. To be S shaped this bridge should have two opposite curves.

[Guest ___]

It's probably safe to assume that the length of the bridge and the topography did not allow for a better camera placement to record trains on the bridge.

[bikkuri bahn]

Here is a topographical map of the bridge (#6 Misakubo Bridge) and environs:

 

http://www.d4.dion.ne.jp/~m_mori/kyouryoumisakubo/misakubo3.html

 

Google maps (you can see the road bridge where most likely the video was taken):

 

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=35.137932,137.861788&spn=0.004282,0.013733&z=17

[Guest ___]

I still cant draw Japanese rail line maps.

[Mudkip Orange]

That's cool, you wonder if the residential area on the east bank of the river predated the railroad, thus a straight viaduct wouldn't work...

[bikkuri bahn]

It appears that originally there was a tunnel on the right bank of the river, but after the tunnel bore was completed, heavy rains and a typhoon undermined the surrounding soil and rock, forcing abandonment.  So it was decided to build a bridge instead.

 

Fuzzy picture shows original tunnel bore as well as the bridge under contruction:

 

http://www.d4.dion.ne.jp/~m_mori/kyouryoumisakubo/misakubo5.html

 

Landslide conditions around the tunnel:

 

http://www.d4.dion.ne.jp/~m_mori/kyouryoumisakubo/misakubo4.html

[Mudkip Orange]

Wow!

[Tenorikuma]

This line isn't too far from me (easy to reach for an afternoon trip) and I've made sketches trying to fit this bridge into a small layout. :)

[scott]

Which line is this? This could inspire some more layout design  :) --the setting more than the S-curve.

[Fenway Park]

Is this the Iida Line ? Looks like a 119 rural EMU

 

The Iida Line used to have old EMUs plus ED19s and ED18s replaced by ED62s on short freight trains.

[bikkuri bahn]

You're right Fenway.  The Iida Line used to be a particular fan favorite, with lots of hand-me-down EMUs and the freights you mentioned.  Nowadays there is much more standardisation (and no freight), but the scenic qualities remain, of course.

[scott]

Here's a nice out-the-front view from an Iida-line train going over this bridge, plus a bit  more. The HD version is great if you have a fast-enough connection to load it: