The Forth Rail Bridge is an instantly recognisable landmark the world over. It is the longest cantilever bridge in the world spanning the River Forth at a lenght of 1 and 1/5th miles.
Originally the rail bridge over the Forth was to be one of suspension type designed by Sir Thomas Bouch. It got so far as having the first foundation stone laid before it was stopped due to another of Bouch's designs, the Tay Rail Bridge collapsing in 1879 whilst a train was crossing during a severe storm taking 75 lives with it..
It turned out that Bouch's design was inherently flawed, he had constructed the Tay Bridge from cast iron which weakened the entire structure.
A new cantilever design by Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker was commisioned and the bridge was built from steel by Sir William Arrol & Co between 1893 and 1890.
Going up?
Under the track level there is a maze of walkways and a few portacabins for the workers.
I always thought the bridge was a true marvel of engineering but seeing it up close you realise just how amazing it is.
Track level:
The railing along the trackside is the original wood, which seems to be holding up pretty well.
The Forth Road Bridge:
There is hundreds of these spotlights for illuminating the bridge at night:
Up to the top:
This little lighthouse which sits on a pier under the bridge is the only part of Bouch's original design incorporated into the final design. Plus there was a windsurfer type thing that had capsized =>>
Some incredible views from up top:
Inchgarvie island:
The original pier at North Queensferry where the ferry sailed from Fife to Lothian before the road bridge was built:
Originally the rail bridge over the Forth was to be one of suspension type designed by Sir Thomas Bouch. It got so far as having the first foundation stone laid before it was stopped due to another of Bouch's designs, the Tay Rail Bridge collapsing in 1879 whilst a train was crossing during a severe storm taking 75 lives with it..
It turned out that Bouch's design was inherently flawed, he had constructed the Tay Bridge from cast iron which weakened the entire structure.
A new cantilever design by Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker was commisioned and the bridge was built from steel by Sir William Arrol & Co between 1893 and 1890.
Going up?
Under the track level there is a maze of walkways and a few portacabins for the workers.
I always thought the bridge was a true marvel of engineering but seeing it up close you realise just how amazing it is.
Track level:
The railing along the trackside is the original wood, which seems to be holding up pretty well.
The Forth Road Bridge:
There is hundreds of these spotlights for illuminating the bridge at night:
Up to the top:
This little lighthouse which sits on a pier under the bridge is the only part of Bouch's original design incorporated into the final design. Plus there was a windsurfer type thing that had capsized =>>
Some incredible views from up top:
Inchgarvie island:
The original pier at North Queensferry where the ferry sailed from Fife to Lothian before the road bridge was built:
