railway bridge over the Iller river, Kempten, Germany, 19th century

Known as the König-Ludwig-Brücke and built over 1847-1851, this is 121.6 metres long and 30 metres high. With the steady increase in locomotive weight it was inadequate by the 1880s. It still exists but is only for decoration. It was used by pedestrians and cyclists until last December, but with the state of the bridge, even that was considered unsafe. Presumably it will be repaired as it is the only preserved example in Germany of the bridge construction method developed by American engineer William Howe with two parallel superstructures and the overhead roadway.