Alfredo Cottrau

Alfredo Cottrau (born Alfredo Enrico-Ernesto Cottrau, Naples , 3 October 1839, died Naples, 23 May 1898 was an Italian engineer , entrepreneur and politician . He was one of the major designers of iron structures for stations and lattice railway bridges.

Portable Bridges: Description and drawings: 'At the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1878, Mr. Alfred Cottrau, of Naples, the well-known Italian bridge constructor, exhibited models of a system of portable bridges, which attracted considerable attention, and for which a silver medal was awarded. Since that time Mr. Cottrau has introduced many modifications and improvements in his system, and in its latest development, it forms an important collection at the present Turin Exhibition, under the general title of Politetragonal bridges, and made by the Ironwork Construction Company, at their works in Castellamar (Stabia). ... The combination and erection of these bridges, even by unskilled labour, or by ordinary troops, is easy and rapid, but with properly trained men, a span of 65 ft. can be completed within an hour.'

1884 Brief description and engraving of a portable bridge erected on the River Sarno at Castellamare. The span was 22.5 metres (73 ft. 9 in.) and was crossed by two girders containing eleven frames each. Above these there was a light roadway with a railing at each side.

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