Dear Mr. Meyer-Usteri:
A friend has shared his photo tour of Switzerland with us for posting on www.vermontbridges.com Because he and his wife took many of their photos of the covered bridges through the window of a railroad coach, the identity of [some of] those bridges is in doubt. We would be grateful to you if you would view the article "Touring Switzerland with the Keatings," and name the bridges for us.
              Yours in bridging, Joe Nelson

Dieboldswibrücke S-06-17. Photo by Konrad Meyer-Usteri

Horbenbrücke S-06-16. Photo by Konrad Meyer-Usteri

Schüpbachbrücke S-06-09. Photo by Konrad Meyer-Usteri

Brunnmattbrücke [no number]. Photo by Konrad Meyer-Usteri

Dear Joe: I worked through the Keating's report about their "Touring in Switzerland". It is amazing what they all have visited in only two weeks. Especially I am surprised about the hike deep in the Emmental, where they have also seen many milk-cows for the Emmental cheese and of course could "touch" excellent examples of Swiss covered bridges.

Out from the train in the Simmental some CB's are mixed up and it is not easy to put the photo and the right name together. I hope . . . you can open and make use of [my attachment] with some of my photos.

On the way up to Zermatt Mrs. Keating got a rare glimpse of the Hohsteg-Bridge, not in the World Guide, through an avalanch-gallery 2 miles north of Zermatt in the direction of Täsch-Visp. In 1985 this C.B. was rebuilt for pedestrians (Wanderweg) with two glued-laminated girders.
       On the way back to Interlaken the 1st photo shows S- 06-27, the Rüdlebrügg the 2nd photo S-06-28 the humpback called Schützenbrücke, both in the community/ location of Reichenbach on the river Kander.

Two very nice photos show in Eggiwil the Dörflibrücke across the Roethenbach, with nr. S-06-62 built in 1985 in completely new technique instead of the old bridge of 1885. S-06-17, Eggiwil, Emme, Dieboldswilbrücke, built in 1887, reinforced by two arches in 1979.

S-06-14 Signau/Schüpbach, Emme, Bubeneibrücke, 165' long, built in 1988 our 2nd and last example of new wooden bridge in new technique but in the historic form with roof; it did cost us just 55% more than the same bridge in concrete. The next, new wooden bridges have new forms.

S-06-16 Eggiwil Emme Horbenbrücke posted for 32t = 70,000lbs, 147' 1834, but reinforced 1990, the inside shows the skillful timberwork.

The Keatings missed two well preserved bridges, of which I give pictures below, the last one is in very bad shape, and a new wooden bridge will be built, as soon the court "puts the lights on green".

S-06-09 Signau Emme Schüpbachbrücke, posted 28t= 62,000lb, 175' built 1839 and several times reinforced, it will keep the full load of today for many years (old nr.10). Photo Below

Not yet in the World Guide: We moved the old Bubeneibrücke built in 1838 2 miles down the Emme and rebuilt it in 1991. It has 1 span, long 132'; still used for pedestrians and bikes. It is called now Brunnmattbrücke on the Emme in the communities Signau and Lauperswil.

Yours in bridging, Konrad