ABSTRACT
The great railway bridges built in the 19th century are magnificent examples of the rise of civil engineering, and especially of the development of iron structures. Over time, however, the increase in railway rolling stock complexity and weight made some structures obsolete, and their replacement became indispensable during the 20th century. Such is the case of some bridges built in a section of the Spanish Ciudad Real-Badajoz railway line inaugurated in 1865, which crossed watercourses as important as the Guadiana River, the Aljucén River or the Gévora River. At two different times, during the 1920s and 1950s, the original iron lattice girder bridges were replaced by new concrete structures built in the same places. This study analyzes those structures, both old and new, and especially how the replacement construction was carried out without interrupting rail services. The original construction projects and the new bridges, some historic photographs of the replacement work, which include piers, formwork, arches and decks and dismantling of obsolete iron girders, are thus studied. The study provides evidence of their importance not only as territorial landmarks or major structures but also as elements with a construction history remarkable and extremely interesting in itself. Lastly, the destiny of the obsolete iron structures, sale for scrap, contributes to the discussion of the future of outdated bridges of our time.
