Forth Bridge
Location type
BridgeName and dates
Forth Bridge (1890-)Opened on the Forth Bridge Railway.
Description
This double track bridge consists of three double cantilevers approached by viaducts at either end. Overall it is 1.5 miles long. The bridge crosses the Firth of Forth between Dalmeny and North Queensferry. The bridge is known for its red colour, originally from the red oxide paint used.
The cantilevers were engineered by Benjamin Baker and John Fowler. The approach viaducts were engineered by James Carsewell. The contractor was William Arrol. Construction began in 1882 and the bridge opened in 1890, with the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII) driving the last ceremonial rivet.
Tags
Bridge CantileverExternal links
Canmore site recordNLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
| Nearby stations New Halls South Queensferry Halt South Queensferry [1st] Dalmeny North Queensferry [1st] North Queensferry Port Edgar Dalmeny [1st] Inverkeithing [1st] Rosyth Dockyard Inverkeithing Kirkliston Dalgety Bay Donibristle Platform Rosyth | Battery Quarry Port Edgar Harbour Rosshill Shale Mine North British Creosote Works St Margaret^s Tunnel Dalmeny Junction North Queensferry Tunnel Castlandhill Siding Tourist/other Hawes Pier Forth Bridge North Signal Box Port Edgar East Naval Pier Port Edgar Pier Carlingnose Submarine Mining Pier Port Edgar West Naval Pier Port Laing Submarine Mines Depot |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
Forth Bridge in figures
RivetsA considerable number of rivets were used in the building of the Forth Bridge. Estimates vary between 6.5 and 8 million. The last rivet was driven by the Prince of Wales on the opening day, 4 March 1890. |
Chronology Dates
| / /1879 | Forth Bridge Railway Sir Thomas Bouch loses the contract to build the Forth Bridge after collapse of his Tay Bridge [1st]. |
| / /1890 | William Arrol & Co Complete the Forth Bridge. |
| / /1898 | Cowdenbeath North Junction to Lumphinnans Central Junction (North British Railway) Line authorised, in connection with the Forth Bridge. |
| / /2000 | Forth Bridge Railway Painting of the Forth Bridge's northern approach spans begins. |
| 06/11/2001 | Virgin Trains Press trip around Fife by new Virgin Voyagers. (Voyagers first crossed the Forth Bridge on the 30th of October.) |
| /03/2004 | Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Proposed scheme would have a station under Edinburgh Airport served by a link off the Forth Bridge Connecting Lines (North British Railway) and the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway and the Forth Bridge lines. The layout would be southern approaches (both approached from the east) from South Gyle and Gogar combining and passing under Edinburgh Airport before dividing with a western link to Humbie Signal Box and northern link to Dalmeny South Junction. This layout would allow trains from Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street High Level to serve the station and the line to the north from Edinburgh to Fife, Aberdeen and Inverness over the Forth Bridge. The estimated cost was £500M. |
| 12/01/2005 | Forth Bridge Railway All First ScotRail services over the Forth Bridge are cancelled during a severe storm. |
| 19/05/2008 | Stirling and Dunfermline Railway Kincardine Branch (North British Railway) The railway between Stirling and Alloa re-opens to passengers. The line between Stirling and Longannet Power Station via Alloa re-opens to freight providing an alternative route to the Forth Bridge. |
| 09/12/2011 | Forth Bridge Railway Painting of the Forth Bridge completed. Network Rail suggests no further painting to be required until 2031-36. A glass flake epoxy paint used by Balfour Beatty. |
| /02/2019 | Forth Bridge Railway A gantry is installed below the Forth Bridge for repairs to stress defects. |
