The most comprehensive book to date on Swiss master of civil engineering, Richard Coray.

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 also involved in the construction of the Baghdad railway in Turkey.

Richard Coray (1869–1946), Life and Work traces Coray’s life and career, 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 color images, featuring meticulously detailed models, rounds out this fascinating book.