Forth Bridges
Spanning the Forth Estuary a few miles North of Edinburgh are the Forth road and rail Bridges. Surely one of the most distinctive bridges in the world, the Forth rail bridge remains a masterpiece of engineering, what it lacks in subtlety it makes up for in primeval impact. The slender, graceful lines of the more modern road bridge are perhaps not as unique a design (although record breaking in its day), but they certainly provide an interesting counterpoint to the brutal outline of the rail bridge.
There had been a ferry crossing since the 11th century and by the 18th it was the busiest crossing in Scotland. Although there had been plans for a bridge or tunnel for generations it was the advent of the railway which really got things moving, the bridge was begun in 1883. This was only four years after the collapse of the Tay Bridge and a period when people had little faith in the security of railway bridges, this was to have a major influence on the design - it was deliberately chosen to look rock solid - and still does.
The bridge took 7 years to complete, used 10 times the steel that went into the Eiffel Tower (55,000 tons), is held together by 6.5 million rivets and cost just under 3.5 million pounds. It also cost the lives of 57 men.
The road bridge is much more modern and was officially opened by the Queen in 1964. At the time it was the largest suspension bridge in Europe at over 1.5 miles long and cost just under 20 million. It now carries over 20 million vehicles a year compared to less than 5 million in 1965.
Both bridges are still in constant use and are now listed buildings, which will protect them for generations to come.
Whilst at the Forth Bridges:
Hear the History & Legends
- Stop for a photograph
Tours that cross the Forth Road Bridge include:
If you like the Forth Bridges then you may like:
- Glenfinnan viaduct
- Ferries
