by Gordon Hoey

Created on: March 02, 2009   Last Updated: December 23, 2009

The iconic Forth Rail Bridge in Scotland is one of the bridge building world's seven wonders.

Even today, well over a hundred years since completion, the color and style of the rail bridge stand out. Driving towards and over the other Forth bridge, on one of the many misty days that haunt the area, the sight of the bridge, looming out the mist is reminiscent of some pre historic monster. It is awe inspiring and will raise goose bumps on your body.

The.expansion of the railway lines in the UK, the pressing need to improve the movement of people over the River Forth and to help facilitate the ever increasing amount of trade, spurred the decision making process. The ferry crossing was cumbersome and there were still incidents with pirates during the latter part of the 19th century.

The initial design of the bridge by Thomas Bouch was discarded after his other famous bridge, spanning the River Tay ,also in Scotland, collapsed during a violent storm. The revised design proposal by Benjamin Baker and Sir John Fowler, uses a cantilever design and is an excellent example of the period and highlights that the UK was in the forefront in building such massive structures.

The construction of the bridge, which took 8 years, took advantage of the many existing natural features, such as the island of Inchgarvie and the natural high promontories which were to be found on either side of the river mouth. The bridge stands proud, in all its imposing glory, at over 150 feet above the river and over 300 feet to the top of the towers.

Finished and opened in 1890, the bridge is an engineering masterpiece, quite stunning to the eye and still in daily use as a rail bridge.

During the construction phase, over 4000 people were employed with up to 90 people killed during the build. Some 55 thousand tonnes of steel, over 8 million (!) rivets and enormous amount of granite were used. Interestingly, the steel used is still in very good shape, this is due in no small way to the continuous painting of the bridge. Imagine that kind of job, painting this monster from end to end and then starting all over again, then imagine it again with the weather systems found in the area and you realize what a debt of gratitude we owe the gallant painters!
The final rivet, gold plated of course was hammered home by the then Prince of Wales who went on to become Edward the 7th. A royal occasion no doubt.

The bridge was targeted by the German Luftwaffe during WW2, thankfully their aim was not too good and the bridge remained unscathed. The bridge has appeared in many films and television features, one of the most famous was in Alfred Hitchcock's version of the John Buchan classic, The thirty nine steps'. Who can forget the character of Richard Hannay hanging out the train with the bridge as a backdrop.

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