The Forth Rail Bridge

One of Scotland's Finest Victorian Engineering Masterpieces

The Forth Rail Bridge spanning across the Firth of Forth from South Queensferry to North Queensferry is as impressive to look at as the famous Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco. Many bridges were built after it but you still go "Wow!" when you look at the world's very first rail bridge of this kind.

Statement of Victorian engineering genius, the Forth railway bridge was completed in 1890 and 54,000 tons of steel and 6.5 million rivets were used in the process. Now that is very impressive for those days. It's the first bridge of its kind and still holds world wide fame. Four thousand people were employed and although safety measures were taken, 57 of them lost their lives. The bridge was built to carry two tracks of the North British Rail over the Firth of Forth at 46m (150ft) above the tide and is today an important link between Fife and Lothian.

Another Bridge Over the Firth of Forth - The Forth Road Bridge

The Forth Road Bridge was built much later than the railway bridge, in the 1960s. Both of them are now known as the Forth Bridges They can be seen from Edinburgh and from the top of the Pentland Hills quite easily. They're an incredible sight from the plane, as you're coming over Edinburgh.

Take Pictures and Enjoy the Views over the Firth of Forth

However, there is no comparison to seeing them up close. South Queensferry and North Queensferry are both excellent places to enjoy the views.

For photography, the sunrise and sunset gives you some stunning shots. If you have a tripod and a digital camera you can also take pictures at night as the Forth railway bridge is floodlit.

Why the Forth Railway Bridge is So Significant to British Engineering

" It's good luck to throw a penny out the window while on the railway bridge "

The Forth Rail Bridge had to be solid and reliable especially after the Tay Bridge disaster when its central navigation spans collapsed in the Firth of Tay taking 6 train carriages and 75 lives down with them. The bridge could not withstand powerful gales as the design left no allowance for wind loading. The design of the Tay Bridge was work of Thomas Bouch, who was at the time also involved in the design of the Forth Bridge. After the disaster, the design of the Forth Bridge was quickly transferred to Benjamin Baker and Sir John Fowler.

The result as we see it today is an enormous and reliable structure that showed no sign of weakness in over 100 years.

Forth Railway Bridge at dusk Forth Road Bridge at sunset View over the Firth of Forth Inchgarvie Island beneath the railway bridge

The Forth Bridge Today - An Masterpiece That Incurs Growing Costs

In the summer of 2003 the Forth Rail Bridge suffered some major maintenance work having been closed in the weekends of July. The biggest problem with maintenance work is preventing corrosion to the steel. In the first 100 years, it had constantly been painted purely because by the time they reached the last pillar, work had to done again to the first. Over years, maintenance costs have risen dramatically and now they stand at £280 million over the next 10 to 14 years. Unfortunately, this has prompted the suggestion to take the bridge down. That would not only be tragic but very sad as this Victorian landmark is also one of Scotland's symbols.

Tourist Information - Tolls, Transport, Hotel Near the Bridge

A closer shot of the Forth Road Bridge South Queensferry from the Queensferry Lodge Hotel

There are tolls to obtain clearance to cross the bridge when going to North Queensferry (but not coming from the opposite direction) but they are more of a symbolic nature than real tolls. They range from 72p for regular cars to £1.40 for buses. By no means a fortune.

The Forth Bridge is very close to Edinburgh and can be reached by train or car very easily. Both North Queensferry and South Queensferry are nice places to spend the afternoon in and enjoy the views, although personally, I've only explored North Queensferry so far.

On the Fife side of the Firth of Forth there's the North Queensferry Lodge Hotel The views from the hotel are amazing as it's so close to the bridges. I've attended a wedding there in September and the views throughout the afternoon, at dusk and at night when the bridge is floodlit where amazing.

The Forth Bridge Visitor Centre and Tourist Information are also located in the North Queensferry Lodge Hotel. When you come off the Forth Road Bridge in Fife take an immediate turn to left and follow the road and signs until you get to the hotel (you'll be able to see the hotel even before you take a left).

Inchcolm Island in the Firth of Forth - Near the Bridges

For the more adventurous there's also boat trip cruises to Inchcolm Island. The Iona of the East" to explore the Abbey and also the wildlife (puffins and seals) Inchcolm Island is one of the several Islands in the Firth of Forth alongside Inchkeith, the Bass Rock and Isle of May at the mouth of the Firth. Inchcolm has been used in World War Two as a battle post to protect the bridge of potential German bombing but, fortunately, that never happened.

Related Information

• The Tay bridge disaster
• Overview of Forth Bridge

Flavour of Scotland is a source of Scotland travel information and pictures - This page offers information on Forth Bridge, Scotland.