Forth Rail Bridge 1883-1890
Sir John Fowler & Sir Benjamin Baker
The Forth Railway Bridge is a globally-important cantilever structure. The bridge traverses the Firth of Forth at a pinch point with islets, between South Queensferry and North Queensferry.
Forth Rail Bridge: image© adrian welch
The structure, is frequently illustrated in encyclopedias and architecture / engineering books with the famous contemporary photograph of its mock-up, with two top-hatted men holding up another, demonstrating the clever use of structure. The bridge uses huge tubular sections in criss-crossing grids and is very different from other rail bridges.
The Forth Rail Bridge was designed by Sir John Fowler (1817-98) and Sir Benjamin Baker (1840 - 1907) and constructed by Sir William Arrol.
Forth Rail Bridge: image© adrian welch
An earlier project for which a foundation stone had been laid in 1873 was to be designed by Sir Thomas Bouch (1822-90). This was cancelled following the collapse of his Tay Rail Bridge in 1879.
The new Forth Rail Bridge project began in 1883. Around fifty-seven people died in construction, but this figure is disputed. At the opening ceremony in 1890 the Prince of Wales drove home the last rivet, which was gold-plated and inscribed to record the event.
Forth Rail Bridge: image© adrian welch
The bridge was built to carry the two tracks of the North British Railway over the Firth of Forth between South Queensferry and North Queensferry. The bridge carries the main east coast rail line over to Fife and up to Aberdeen.
Forth Bridge house, North Queensferry by Icosis Architects
Scottish Architecture
Edinburgh Walking Tours
Edinburgh : back to index
The Forth Road Bridge
Canopy by Reiach and Hall Architects
for Forth Estuary Transport Authority + News of Proposed 3rd Crossing
Forth Rail Bridge: image© adrian welch
New Forth Bridge
The Forth Estuary Transport Authority presented the results of a feasibility study in Jun 2004 for a second Forth Road Bridge. The proposed structure would be 2.2km long with 185m high towers and support a central span of 1375m making it the world's sixth longest bridge span.