M A Andrew Black and White Photography Blog

Things like this continue to fascinate me. Imagining the amount of people that would have worked on a project of this size, the architect’s vision and the cruel conditions of the Victorian era make the Forth Rail Bridge a magnificent testament to man’s achievements. The forth rail bridge was designed by Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker. It took 7 years to build and claimed the lives of 98 workers. It was finished in 1890.

Forth Rail Bridge

Forth Rail Bridge, Scotland

The Forth Rail Bridge looks impressive because it is impressive. Completed in 1890, the cantilever bridge spans the Firth of Forth about 9 miles outside Edinburgh, Scotland. I arrived there on a glorious sunny day and crossed over the Firth by the adjacent road bridge. From any angle, the structure is just immense. The sheer size and scale of the bridge really take your breath away.  It is said that 57 men died in the 7 years it took to complete. I crossed to a little village at the foot of the North side of the bridge and spent an hour or two looking for the ideal perspective.

This black and white print captures the enormity of the engineering marvel well, I think. There are few man made structures in the world that leave you in genuine awe, but this was really of them.