The old Indebrücke (old railway bridge) of the Weisweiler briquette factory is closed today and tells a long story about industrial culture.
In 1908 the Future Union was founded to build a briquette factory in Weisweiler. The aim was to process the lignite extracted in the future mine.
For the transport of the briquettes and building materials, the Future Union applied for the establishment of a siding across the Inde to Weisweiler station in 1909. Maschinenbau AG Union Essen was commissioned to manufacture the iron truss bridge for the Indequerung.
The mill ditch lying parallel was spanned with a trough bridge of 5 m clear width with iron long girders.
On August 6, 1910, the bridge was removed as a railway connection. Then in 1916/17 the Weisweiler electrical works were built, mainly because of the good rail connection over the Indebrücke. During the 2nd World War the Allies blew up the bridge. Until the repair, all material had to be transported north of the Inde by truck.
Briquettes were produced until the briquette factory was finally closed in April 1973. In the same year, the bridge also became the property of the electrical works. The bridge was closed in 1998 and closed to pedestrian traffic from 2007.
The bridge ruins can be admired on both banks, but with great caution. Near the left bank, a wader path leads under an old bridge that also belonged to the railway line.