Richard Coray (1869–1946), Life and Work

The lines of the world-famous Rhaetian Railway along the valleys of the Swiss canton of Grisons cross countless rivers and streams. In some cases, this required daring structures—such as the viaducts of Langwies, Solis, and Wiesen—that have become icons of civil engineering and destinations for railway enthusiasts from all over the world. The falsework required for their construction was designed by Richard Coray (1869–1946). Born in the village of Trin, in the Grisons, he trained as a carpenter and later studied at Technikum Winterthur (today part of Zurich University of Applied Sciences), and has been a household name in engineering worldwide for more than a century. He was involved also in the construction of the Baghdad railway in Turkey.

Richard Coray (1869–1946), Life and Work is the most comprehensive book to date on this master of civil engineering, tracing his life and career and highlighting his lasting significance. Some 400 historic photographs, plans, and other documents illustrate the construction of Coray’s falseworks, the techniques he applied, and the often adventurous circumstances under which these spectacular—yet inevitably ephemeral—structures came into being. A gallery of colour images, featuring some of them as meticulously detailed models and bringing their enduring fascination to life, rounds out the book.