The Forth Bridges
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© Courtesy of Glasgow Archives and Special Collections | SC881869
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Comments (13)
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20th September, 9:04 am
Dougie, Fife
Quite simply it's something I never grow tired of seeing. It excites me as much today as it did the first time I saw it nearly 50 years ago.
19th September, 12:43 pm
Miles Oglethorpe, Edinburgh
The Forth Bridge is one of the most important engineering structures in the world, and symbolises Scotland's rise to industrial prominence in the late 19th century. In addition to applying the cantilever principle on a giant scale, it also was one of the first bridges to use mild steel, which had become more widely available in sufficient quality and quantity as a result of the development of the Siemens Martin process.
One of the beauties of the Forth Bridge is that it comprises so many extraordinary shapes, depending on the aspect from which it is viewed. Unlike the Quebec bridge, for example, its principal members are made up of beautiful tubular curves. Also, if you view it in section, it forms an 'A' shape, with the track resting on the centre of the 'A'. In addition, if you look carefully at its upper box girders, these become bigger (not smaller) as they reach the top of the cantilevers' towers.
Without doubt, this is one of Scotland's biggest and most amazing places.
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Details
Region: Fife
This photograph was taken by W Ralston Ltd in 1961
Sir William Arrol Collection
Votes: 295
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View more information from the RCAHMS database (CANMORE) on The Forth Rail Bridge | The Forth Road Bridge
Phillip Graham, RCAHMS staff
The Forth Bridge is one of the most iconic structures in Scotland. It never fails to impress, whether you're standing on the shores of the Firth of Forth, travelling through its cantilevered arms by train, driving in parallel over the Forth Road Bridge, or glimpsing it from the air. This image gives a dizzying view of the construction of the Forth Road Bridge, built between 1958-64. It's a great comparison of the two bridges, both landmark structures of their time. As assessments are being made of the ageing Forth Road Bridge and with the ongoing debate about requirements for an additional crossing over the Firth of Forth, it remains to be seen how any new structure will compare in terms of pioneering achievement.