Bridges of Scotland. Bridges of Scotland A few facts about the construction of Fort Bridge
I discovered just such a bridge, which recently recently announced by UNESCO that it was adding 23 new cultural heritage sites to the list.
The Forth Bridge is a huge bridge spanning the River Forth from the small town of South Queensferry to the town of Inverkeithing. The impressive railway bridge, stretching for one and a half kilometers, is the first major steel bridge in the world. It was opened in 1890 and still remains one of the largest engineering structures of the late Victorian era. Its massive sections are secured with almost twenty million rivets. The area of its painted part is fifty-five hectares. There is a fairly common expression: "it's like painting a bridge over the Fort," which means an ongoing and constantly repetitive activity.
Let's take a closer look at it...
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Bridge over the Firth of Forth was built in 1890 in Scotland to connect Edinburgh with the north of Scotland. It received this name due to the fact that the North Sea Bay is formed by the mouth of the Forth River, which in Gaelic means “Black River”.
This railroad marvel of engineering was made possible by Benjamin Baker and John Fowler, who ended up building a bridge that carries about 200 trains every day.
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Proposals to somehow connect these lands have been coming since the beginning of the 19th century. In 1806, a tunnel was proposed near the Firth of Forth, and a bridge was proposed in 1818, but both projects were rejected. Almost half a century later, in 1865, an Act of Parliament approved the construction of a bridge in the narrow part of the bay, near the village of Queensferry. Eight years later, a consortium of 4 railway companies commissioned Thomas Bauch to design a railway bridge. In turn, Thomas Bauch proposed to build a suspension bridge with two spans 480 meters long each. Due to delays in funding, construction was delayed and by 1879 only one support had been installed.
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On December 28, 1879, there was a catastrophe on the bridge over the Firth of Tay, two years after it opened. As a result of an unusually powerful storm, the central span of the railway bridge collapsed along with the train passing over the bridge, killing 75 people. The commission found flaws in the project of the destroyed bridge and Bauch's project was rejected. Shortly after Thomas Bauch's death, fellow engineers John Fowler and Benjamin Baker proposed a bridge design based on a cantilevered structure. Already in 1881, the Parliament approved this project. Due to a serious incident on the bridge over the Tay, the requirements for the bridge over the Firth of Forth were very high - even with a passing train, there should not be any vibrations on the bridge.
The engineers abandoned cast iron and wrought iron and opted for steel. In 1865, the open hearth furnace was invented, and the quality of the steel improved so that it was suitable for the construction of this bridge. The British began building the bridge in December 1882, and by the end of 1885 they had completed the installation of the granite piers, eight of them standing in the water. The construction of the foundation was carried out with the help of caissons - huge metal cylinders that were immersed to a depth of 27 meters.
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Work on the construction of the piers began in 1886. Their construction took a huge amount of steel - 54,860 tons. Steel was produced at two steel mills in Scotland and one in Wales. Six and a half million rivets, weighing 4,267 tons, were made in Glasgow. The construction of the central span was completed by November 1889.
On March 4, 1890, the opening ceremony of the railway bridge across the Firth of Forth was held by the Prince of Wales. The ceremony was also attended by Benjamin Baker and Gustave Eiffel. The total cost of this project was £3.2 million. Also, during the construction of the bridge, 57 people died, eight more were rescued from the boats that were on duty under the bridge during the construction.
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The bridge rests on three supports 100.6 meters high each, the central of which is located near Inchgarvey Island, in the middle of a deep bay. The distance between the supports is 582.8 meters, and between the extreme bulls - 1630 meters. Consoles assembled from steel pipes with a diameter of 3.6 meters support sleeves 207.3 meters long each, connected by jumpers 106.7 meters long. The railway track is located at a height of 48.2 meters above the water level.
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The length of the bridge is 521.3 meters - with such an indicator, the bridge over the Firth of Forth was for some time the longest bridge in the world.
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In 1964, Queen Elizabeth II opened another bridge next to the Fort Bridge. It was the largest suspension bridge outside the United States. The two bridges create a striking contrast, clearly visible from the walkway in South Queensferry. This city was named after Queen Margaret, who came to power in the 11th century after her husband, King Malcolm III. While traveling between Edinburgh and the royal palace at Dunfermline, Margaret used a local ferry.
Not far from Queensferry is the small island of Incolm with a 12th-century abbey.
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The Forth Bridge railway bridge connects the coast of Edinburgh and Fiynfe and was one of the first cantilever bridges on a global scale. In addition, for several years he held the record for the length of the span.
The bridge was built from 1882 for eight years. The 19th century was rich in the construction of railway communications in the country. The wide bays of the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth (North Sea) prevented the laying of a railway between Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Many ways have been proposed to solve this problem, for example, to build a bridge or build a tunnel. Projects were rejected one by one.
The year 1865 was decisive, Parliament approved the construction of a bridge near the village of Queensferry. There's been a disaster caused by a storm in 1879, the construction of the bridge stopped two years after the start of construction. At that moment, the central section of the bridge collapsed along with the train following it. No less than 70 lives ceased to exist along with Fort Bridge. The investigation proved that the cause of the crash was a design error.
A few years later, engineers Benjamin Baker and John Fowler were new project created, which was based on the console structure. Parliament approved it in 1881. There were quite a few high requirements for the drafting of the project, for example, while the railway train was moving along it, there should not be any vibration, even the smallest one. The engineers chose steel as the main material. They acted, looking back at the experience of an engineer from the United States - James Eads.
In 1885, preparatory work was completed with the foundation for underwater supports. A year later, the supports were built, they took about 58,000 tons of steel. The opening of the bridge fell on March 4, 1890.
How is the bridge built? It made 3 main supports (height 100.6 meters). The consoles themselves were assembled from pipes with a diameter of 3.6 meters, which supported the sleeves (length 207.3 meters). The distance to the water is 48.2 meters. The length of the bridge is 2500 meters. The total span length is 521.3 meters.
Just imagine, the bridge was covered with paint for 120 years! When the workers reached the end of the structure, the beginning was already overcome by rust. We solved the problem in 2012 with the help of a new paint with a composition that allows you to finish the work once and for all.
Many directors have chosen the bridge as a filming location, to see the power, strength and beauty is available to everyone, just go to Scotland.
When visiting Edinburgh, every self-respecting tourist will certainly stop in the Old Town. It is here, on the right side of the city, that the ancient North Bridge is located.
The main function of the bridge is to connect the Old and New Towns, Princes Street and the Royal Mile. Below, under the bridge, Edinburgh's main railway station, Waverley, is surprisingly located.
For the first time, a bridge was built on this site back in 1763-1772, but after many years, in 1890, the bridge was destroyed. Four years later, the well-known construction company Sir William Arrol & Co set about building a new North Bridge.
The architecture of the bridge is very interesting. It consists of three arched spans. Each of them is about 50 meters long. The total length of the bridge reaches 525 meters. It is an indispensable connection node for vehicles.
Coordinates: 55.95210600,-3.18846900
Bridge "Arcs of the Clyde"
The Arcs of the Clyde is one of the most original sights in the Scottish city of Glasgow. This is a bridge across the River Clyde, not far from the Science Centre. Its official opening took place on September 18, 2006 with the participation of local authorities. A characteristic feature of the design is the curved design - the bridge crosses the river at an angle.
The bridge was designed by architects Edmund Nuttall and the concrete slabs were cast at a local factory. Construction on the structure began in 2003 and ran until 2006, with work estimated at around £20,000. According to forecasts of experts, the structure should stand for about 120 years.
The main span of the bridge is made of steel in the form of an arch, its length is 96 meters. The central spans are located at a distance of 36.5 meters from each other. The total length of the structure is 169 meters. The bridge has two footpaths, 11 meters wide, as well as a four-lane road.
Coordinates: 55.85726000,-4.28250700
Dean bridge
Dean Bridge is a four-arched bridge in Edinburgh that passes over the Water of Leith and rises 32 meters above it. Its carriageway is 136 meters long and 12 meters wide. This bridge was the last major work of the famous designer Thomas Telford, which was completed in 1831.
Before a bridge was built on this site, the inhabitants of this area forded the river. The proposal to build the bridge came from the Edinburgh lord and owner of the north bank of the river, John Learmont. Inspired by the successful example of the expansion of Newtown on the south bank, he also sets out to increase his own possessions, but for this he needed a bridge connecting both banks of the river.
The entrepreneur was ready to take all the construction costs on himself, but the board of road trustees offered financial assistance, but on the condition that the passage on the bridge would be free. Work began in 1829 and was completed three years later, but it was not opened until 1834. A fine was charged for those pedestrians who wanted to enjoy the view from this bridge.
In 1888 the bridge underwent some changes. The authorities approached the engineers, who were to take steps to prevent suicides occurring from this bridge. As a result, the height of the parapet was raised.
Coordinates: 55.95290000,-3.21420000
city union bridge
The City Union Bridge is one of the oldest bridges across the River Clyde. It was opened as a railway bridge in 1899. It carries an internal railway line connecting the two districts of Glasgow. The last extensive reconstruction of the bridge took place in 1995.
At present, it is a complex structure of steel and concrete, consisting of five spans, installed on powerful piers. Both ends of the bridge are crowned with small round towers. The bridge is 800 meters long and 12 meters wide. The distance between it and the river allows the unhindered passage of ships. The bridge consists of a two-lane railway track, its carrying capacity is 70 tons. The speed limit here is 24 kilometers per hour.
Coordinates: 55.85314400,-4.24935100
Forth Bridge
The Forth Bridge is a railway bridge located in eastern Scotland, west of the center of Edinburgh. With a length of about 2.5 kilometers, it is the main link between the northeast and southeast of the country.
The construction of the bridge began in 1883 and took 7 tragic years. The fact is that more than 60 people died during the construction of this bridge. About 3.5 million pounds of metal was spent on it, which is 10 times more than was used in the construction of the Eiffel Tower.
Until 1917, the Forth Bridge was the longest bridge in the world. It may sound paradoxical, but the influence of the visual strength and power of this bridge on the works of modern culture is undeniable. Many directors chose him as a film set. For example, Alfred Hitchcock in his film 39 Steps or in the documentary Jump Britain made for Chanel 4.
Also, references to it can be found in literature, for example, in Ian Banks' short story "The Bridge", or in the video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas".
Coordinates: 56.00042100,-3.38872600
north bridge
The North Bridge is a significant link in Edinburgh's infrastructure, linking High Street and Princes Street, as well as the Old and New Town areas. The modern bridge was built in 1897 on the site of the old one.
Despite more than a century of history, the bridge looks quite modern and authentic to the current look of Edinburgh. Three wide spans rise above the railway tracks and the station, so it seems that the bridge has no supports at all.
The North Bridge is 160 meters long and 22 meters wide. It was built by Sir William Arrol & Co., who also developed the Forth Bridge project.
The foundation stone was laid on May 25, 1896. At the southern end of the bridge, where the Royal Mile and the South Bridge meet, are a number of buildings, including the former headquarters of the Scotsman newspaper, as well as a block of commercial premises, apartments and department stores. At the northern end of the bridge is the Balmoral Hotel and Waverley Station.
Coordinates: 55.95222200,-3.18861100
George V Bridge
The George V Bridge, also sometimes referred to as the King George V Bridge, is a three-arch road bridge over the River Clyde in the heart of Glasgow. The bridge was designed by Thomas Somers. It is the last surviving old style bridge in the city spanning the Clyde. The architecture of the bridge was tied to the elegant lines of the nearby Jamaica Street Bridge, upstream. But, unlike the Jamaica Street Bridge, the arches of the George V Bridge are built not of granite, but of reinforced concrete box beams lined with gray Dalbeatti granite.
The plan for the King George V bridge was not immediately created and approved, since it was originally supposed to copy the style of the Glasgow bridge, but this was unacceptable at this point in the river. The River Clyde Navigation Trust vetoed the project because the designers did not take into account the need for adequate waterway traffic on the river, and the height and style of the bridge could be a major barrier.
The opening of the bridge was supposed to take place in 1914, but the First World War made its own adjustments, so the construction of the bridge was completed only in 1927. It links Tradeston on the south bank and Oswald Street in the city centre.
Coordinates: 55.85570000,-4.25980000
Sights of Scotland
Fort Bridge is a railway bridge of unique beauty that connects the shores of the Firth on the east coast of Scotland, one of which is the capital, the city of Edinburgh, and the other, the Fife region. This is one of the world's first cantilever bridges and at the time of completion in 1890, it had the longest span structures. Fort Bridge is also considered the world's first steel bridge of considerable size. The design has long been the standard by which cantilever beam bridges were studied and developed.
The elements of the bridge are made of metal pipes with a diameter of 3600 mm. There are three main pillars of the bridge, and they are located at a distance of 582.8 m from each other. The total length of the bridge, at the same time, is almost 2.3 km. The minimum height of the railway track above the water level at high tide is 48.2 m.
Fort Bridge - a unique beauty of the building
A few facts about the construction of Fort Bridge
The need to organize a reliable connection between the shores of the Firth of Forth, which cuts deep into the eastern coast of Scotland, arose as early as the beginning of the 19th century. In 1806, a tunnel project was developed, which was never implemented due to the complexity of the work. The bridge project, proposed in 1818, was also rejected because its cost was too high for the local budget.
In 1865, a customer was found who was ready to pay for the construction of the bridge - a newly created consortium, which included 4 railway companies. Thomas Bauch, a well-known engineer at the time, was appointed responsible for the development of the project, and his bridge had a suspension structure that was common at that time. Some financial issues did not allow to proceed with the implementation of the already finished project until 1879.
Also in 1879, a similar bridge across another bay, the Firth of Tay, collapsed, resulting in a railroad accident that killed 75 people. After this incident, the project of Thomas Bauch was subjected to a thorough examination, according to the conclusion of which the construction was stopped, and the project was recognized as not meeting safety requirements.
The developer of the new project was John Fowler in collaboration with Benjamin Baker. The Forth Bridge now had a cantilever structure, and steel was the main material.
Bridge stone pillars
The total weight of metal structures is almost 55,000 tons; factories in Scotland and Wales were involved in their production. Special rivets for joining steel elements were made in Glasgow. Their total number is more than 4.2 thousand tons (6.5 million pieces). The installation of supports in the bay was carried out using metal caissons lowered to the bottom, to a depth of about 27 m.
The height of the structures above the water level is 110 m, the height of the railway. canvases - 48 m
The cost of construction - more than 3 million pounds. The construction of the bridge cost the lives of almost 60 people. At the same time, during the installation work in the bay, rescue boats were constantly on duty to catch workers who had fallen off the bridge.
Supporting the bridge structures on the "bulls"
One interesting expression in the English language is associated with the operation of the bridge - "paint the Fort Bridge". The history of the expression is related to the fact that from the very moment of construction and for more than 120 years, the process of painting the bridge was permanent. The surface area of structures subject to anti-corrosion treatment is more than 55 hectares. In this regard, by the time the painting of one part of the bridge was completed, the structures on its other part were already beginning to rust.
Between consoles of the bridge there are inserts of 110 m
Since then, anti-corrosion coatings for metal have become much more effective and there is no need for a permanent painting process today. But the expression to paint Fort Bridge Scotland to this day is understood as a process that lasts forever.
