Rostov railway drawbridge

The Rostov railway drawbridge is a 300-meter structure crossing the Don River with two railway tracks and a central lifting section for ships to pass through. It connects the Rostov Glavny and Zarechnaya stations and lifts up when larger vessels need to travel on the river below.

Engineers designed this double-track version in 1917 to replace an older single-track bridge that previously stood at this location. After damage during World War II, it was completely rebuilt between 1949 and 1952.

Locals in Rostov call this structure the 'American bridge' because its vertical-lift system resembles engineering methods used in North America in the early 1900s. The nickname shows how the community views this piece of infrastructure as a symbol of technological progress from that period.

The best light for photographs comes early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun hits the steel structure at a pleasing angle. You can view this structure from various points along the riverbank or watch it pass by from a moving train.

This structure underwent multiple reconstructions over its lifetime, not just the major rebuild after World War II. These ongoing improvements show how essential this crossing remained for the region through different periods.

Locatie: Rostov Oblast

Officiële opening: 1874

Lengte: 300 m

Breedte: 11 m

GPS-coördinaten: 47.20977,39.70198

Laatste update: 8 december 2025 om 21:01