RCAHMS logo
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland - recording and promoting Scotland's built heritage
 

How to use our resources, publications and prices
What services we can give you
Frequently asked questions
Fill out our simple enquiry form
Find out how you can order images and information
Prices for all the services we provide
A list of our publications
Click here to send us an email

Go back to the homepage

Site location map

Exploring Your Heritage  
  Defence - click for further informationHousing - click for further informationScottish Industry: Textiles - click for further informationReligious Worship in Scotland: The Nineteenth Century - click for further informationReligious Worship in Scotland: Middle Ages - click for further informationI am researching my family history. Can you help me? - click for further informationWhat information do you have on Taymouth Castle, Perth and Kinross? - click for further informationScottish Industry - click for further informationTransport - click for further informationHousing: Tenements and Tower Blocks - click for further informationTwentieth Century Housing - click for further informationScottish Industry: Food and Drink - click for further informationTwentieth Century Military - click for further informationHenges - click for further informationRomans in Scotland - click for further information I am interested in the archaeology on the Isle of Eigg. What information do you have? - click for further informationPictish Stones - click for further informationReligious Worship in Scotland: Early Christian Era - click for further informationHelensburgh - Click for further informationBrechin and its surrounding area - Click for further informationArran - Click for further informationWestern Isles - Click for further informationDingwall and Ross & Cromarty - Click for further informationGrantown on Spey and Badenoch & Strathspey - Click for further information  
 

Transport

View of one section of the bridge under construction - click for a larger image
Enlarge this image SC881822

Forth Rail Bridge
The Forth Bridge was built between 1883 and 1890 to designs by engineers Sir John Fowler (1817-98) and Sir Benjamin Baker (1840-1907) with Sir William Arrol (1839-1913) and Joseph Phillips as contractors. This massive steel railway viaduct features three double cantilevers connected by girders with a total span of 2.5 km.

The engineer Thomas Bouch lost the contract for the Forth Bridge after his Tay Bridge collapsed with great loss of life in 1879. Early passengers were so nervous about the safety of rail travel over water that they would throw coins from carriages into the water as offerings to ensure a safe passage.

On 4th March 1890, The Prince of Wales officially opened the bridge by driving in the last rivet, specially gilded and inscribed for the occasion, using an ornamental key. Rumours of a single, 'solid gold' rivet somewhere on the bridge amongst the 6.5 million others, led to the removal of the original to deter treasure hunters. This photograph shows the bridge under construction in c. 1888.

 
       
    Other sites of interest  
       
 
Enlarge this image Drawing of section and plans - click for a larger image
SC881832

Skerryvore Lighthouse, Reef Rock, Tiree, Argyll and Bute, designed by Alan Stevenson, engineer to the Northern Lighthouse Board and built 1838-44.

 
     
 
Enlarge this image Vertiginous view of men spinning cables - click for a larger image
SC881869

This photograph, taken in 1961, shows the construction of the Forth Road Bridge with the Forth Rail Bridge in the background.

 
     
 
Enlarge this image View of viaduct curving into distance - click for a larger image
SC655697

Glenfinnan Viaduct, Highland, photographed in 1999. One of the most impressive and pioneering concrete viaducts on the Mallaig Railway (1897-1901), designed by W S Wilson and built by Robert McAlpine.

 
     
 
Enlarge this image Aerial view - click for a larger image
SC695564

The Falkirk Wheel, Falkirk, opened in 2002. The world's only rotating boatlift, it connects the Forth & Clyde and Union canals.

 
       
  Go back to the top of this page    
  Updated 5 Sep 2005
  Privacy StatementCrown Copyright : RCAHMS 2004Freedom of Information Publication Scheme