The Forth Bridge
May 2015
The Forth Bridge was the most prominent steel structure when it became operational in 1890. The cantilever railway bridge was built across the Firth of Forth at Queensferry, 8 miles west of Edinburgh. It still continues to remain a significant and admirable engineering structure of the Victorian era.
The 8,296ft long railway bridge acts as a significant thoroughfare connecting the north-east and south-east of Scotland. The bridge primarily connects the cities of Edinburgh and Fife and further leads to Dundee and Aberdeen. It is located adjacent to the newly constructed Forth Road Bridge.
The bridge was designed by Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker and built by Sir William Arrol & Co, a Glasgow-based company. Much credit, however, has been given to Sir Benjamin Baker and his co-worker Allan Stewart for designing and supervising the construction work.
Forth Bridge is 8,296ft long, with trains passing through the double track at a height of 158ft and the towers, which reach a height of 361ft. The two main spans of the bridge are 1,710ft, the two side spans are 680ft and the 15 approach spans are 168ft. The bridge consists of three separate four-tower high, double-cantilevers which are joined by 350ft long girders and connected to the main structure of the bridge by huge rivets. The cantilevers are supported by granite piers. The river bed at the south cantilever, which is 91ft below the high-water level, made use of compressed air to stop water pouring into the working chamber at the base, while the other cantilevers were constructed using caissons measuring 70ft in diameter.
The bridge is owned by Network Rail and is used by ScotRail and other intercity services. It was refurbished and repainted in 2011, by Balfour Beatty.
The Forth Bridge was the most prominent steel structure when it became operational in 1890. The cantilever railway bridge was built across the Firth of Forth at Queensferry, 8 miles west of Edinburgh. It still continues to remain a significant and admirable engineering structure of the Victorian era.
The 8,296ft long railway bridge acts as a significant thoroughfare connecting the north-east and south-east of Scotland. The bridge primarily connects the cities of Edinburgh and Fife and further leads to Dundee and Aberdeen. It is located adjacent to the newly constructed Forth Road Bridge.
The bridge was designed by Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker and built by Sir William Arrol & Co, a Glasgow-based company. Much credit, however, has been given to Sir Benjamin Baker and his co-worker Allan Stewart for designing and supervising the construction work.
Forth Bridge is 8,296ft long, with trains passing through the double track at a height of 158ft and the towers, which reach a height of 361ft. The two main spans of the bridge are 1,710ft, the two side spans are 680ft and the 15 approach spans are 168ft. The bridge consists of three separate four-tower high, double-cantilevers which are joined by 350ft long girders and connected to the main structure of the bridge by huge rivets. The cantilevers are supported by granite piers. The river bed at the south cantilever, which is 91ft below the high-water level, made use of compressed air to stop water pouring into the working chamber at the base, while the other cantilevers were constructed using caissons measuring 70ft in diameter.
The bridge is owned by Network Rail and is used by ScotRail and other intercity services. It was refurbished and repainted in 2011, by Balfour Beatty.