Forth Wonder of the Modern World
![[image] certificate attesting to my ascent of the Forth Bridge](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/cert.jpg "Been there, done that, no T-shirt - but I do have a certificate!")
Part of
Joyce's World of Transport Eclectica
A few photographs of the Forth Bridge, some from the usual angles (North Queensferry actually), and some from a most privileged position - up top. There's nothing very sophisticated about this page, 'cos I've not got time. Mainly pictures - and some facts and figures at the bottom.
'Top of the World, Ma!' - the view from the top of the north tower of the Forth Bridge. The view from the ground, in North Queensferry, with a GNER High Speed Train heading south. Another view from North Queensferry. A view of the scaffolding at the top of the north tower, 300 feet above the water. Personal protective equipment for the Bridge consists of high visibility clothing, hard hat, safety boots, goggles - and latex gloves. The purpose of the gloves was never fully explained, but I think it had to do with keeping your grip on guard rails and the like. This was a gloriously sunny day, but it could have been bitterly cold. Looking down through the steelwork at the tracks and sea below. The purple shape is the roof of a Sprinter. Looking south across the Firth, towards South Queensferry. Looking down through scaffolding and steelwork at the running lines. Somewhere down there you can make out dry land and the contractors' yard. Shipping in the Firth, looking east, out to sea. Another downwards shot, looking down at a passing Sprinter (the vertical purple stripe). Looking north towards North Queensferry station. Note the slight distortion in the right hand steelwork. Probably got bashed by a lorry. :-) Looking east towards Edinburgh. Looking up at a northbound coal train on the Bridge in the evening, from the north bank. Looking across the small harbour at North Queensferry. A view from North Queensferry station. Facts and Figures:
These come from the offical fact sheet dished out by Network Rail.
The contractors, Palmers, have some more pictures on their own site, at a special Forth Bridge page.
For technical and historical information, have a look at the Forth Bridges site, which also covers the Forth Road Bridge of 1964, and their Facts and Figures page. Have a look too at the Forth Bridge Memorial site, commemorating the workers who died during construction.
My thanks to chums at Network Rail, Palmers (Contractors) and the Rail Freight Group for organising this fantastic trip, which took place during extensive renovation work on the bridge. We were able to climb it the easy way, via a motorised hoist attached to the side of the north tower.
This page was posted in May 2005. Comments on this site, or notice of any broken links, are always welcome: mail me.
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![[image] 'Top of the World, Ma!' - the view from the top of the north tower of the Forth Bridge](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/16.jpg "View from the top of the Forth Bridge")
![[image] the view from the ground, in North Queensferry](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/12.jpg "View from the ground, looking up at the Forth Bridge")
![[image] another view from North Queensferry](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/13.jpg "another view from North Queensferry")
![[image] view of the scaffolding at the top of the north tower, 300 feet up](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/14.jpg "scaffolding on the top of the north tower, 300 feet up")
![[image] looking down through the steelwork at the tracks and sea below](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/15.jpg "looking down through the steelwork at the tracks and sea below")
![[image] looking south across the Firth, towards South Queensferry](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/18.jpg "looking south across the Firth, towards South Queensferry")
![[image] looking down through scaffolding and steelwork at the running lines](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/20.jpg "looking sdown through scaffolding and steelwork at the running lines")
![[image] shipping in the Firth, looking east, out to sea](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/21.jpg "shipping in the Firth, looking east, out to sea")
That's an oil tanker (at Hound Point) loading degassed crude via an underground/underwater pipeline from an inland terminal
(thanks to Derek Freeman for the clarification).![[image] another downwards shot, looking down at a passing Sprinter](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/23.jpg "another downwards shot, looking down at a passing Sprinter")
![[image] looking north towards North Queensferry station](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/24.jpg "looking north towards North Queensferry station")
![[image] looking east towards Edinburgh](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/27.jpg "looking east towards Edinburgh")
![[image] looking up at the Bridge in the evening](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/30.jpg "looking up at the Bridge in the evening, from the north bank")
![[image] looking across the small harbour at North Queensferry](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/01.jpg "looking across the small harbour at North Queensferry")
![[image] a view from North Queensferry station](http://www.users.care4free.net/~joycewhitchurch/forth/03.jpg "a view from North Queensferry station")
Age of Bridge - 115 years old, and counting. Construction started in 1883, and it was opened on 4th March 1890 by the Prince of Wales
Financial Cost of Bridge - £3,500,000
Human Cost of Bridge - at least 57 dead (recent research reckons 63 or more) and 461 injured, out of a total workforce exceeding 4,000
Length of Bridge - 2,467 metres overall. Main structure (portal to portal) - 1,630 metres
Height of Bridge - high water to top - 110 metres. Foundation to top - 137 metres. Rail level from high water - 48 metres
Weight of Steel in Bridge - 53,000 tonnes
Number of Rivets in Bridge - 6.5 million
Volume of Concrete and Masonry in Piers - 20,000 cubic yards faced with 2 foot thick granite
Number of Trains per day - 150
Number of Passengers per year - 3 million
Tonnes of Freight per year - 8 million