The Forth Bridge

Category

Library Item

Item no

24563

Title

The Forth Bridge

Description

A view of the unrealised design for the Forth Rail Bridge crossing at Queensferry by engineer Sir Thomas Bouch. The illustration shows two main spans with four tall iron columns bridging the Forth estuary. A ship sails beneath the bridge and the coastline is depicted on either side of the river. At the water's edge in the foreground a large rowing boat is being pushed out to sea by its crew.

Artist / maker

Bouch, Thomas

Date

1877

Size

58.5 x 77.5 cm

Type

Reproduction

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The text at the bottom of the image reads: Total length of Bridge 1 1/2 miles. Length of the two Great Spans 1600 feet each or about 1/3 of a mile. Height of Bridge above High Water 150 feet. Height of the Towers above High Water 600 feet. Total weight of Chains 6000 tons.
in 1879, the year after the Tay Rail Bridge opened, Queen Victoria travelled across it and knighted its engineer, Thomas Bouch. However, later that same year disaster struck the bridge. On 28th December 1879, a violent storm caused the navigation spans of the Tay Bridge to collapse whilst a train was attempting to cross. 75 people lost their lives in the tragedy. Although the subsequent inquiry did not blame the engineer for the accident, Bouch's reputation suffered. Construction work halted on Bouch's design for the Forth crossing and he was removed from his position as engineer.

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Related subjects

Landscape > Land > Coastlines

Landscape > Land > Rocks

Landscape > Water > Rivers and streams

Places > Edinburgh areas > South Queensferry

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Railway

Transport > Infrastructure > Railway bridges

Transport > Water > Boats

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