Facts and figures
Vital statistics for a marvel of Victorian engineering.
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The Forth Bridge first opened in 1890
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The overall length of the Forth Bridge is 2,467 metres
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The main structure (portal to portal) measures 1,630 metres
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The highest point of the Forth Bridge stands 110 metres above high water and 137 metres above its foundations
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53,000 tonnes of steel and 6.5 million rivets were used to construct the Forth Bridge
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The Forth Bridge's piers are constructed from 120,000 cubic yards of concrete and masonry, faced with 2 ft thick granite
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200 trains use the bridge every day, carrying 3 million passengers each year
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The total painted area of the Forth Bridge is 230,000 sq metres, requiring 240,000 litres of paint
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There are 1,040 lights installed on the Forth Bridge, using approximately 35-40,000 metres of cable
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57 lives were lost during the construction of the Forth Bridge
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At the height of its construction, more than 4,000 men were employed
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The construction of the bridge resulted in an unbroken East Coast railway route from London to Aberdeen.
Key dates
1873 Thomas Bouch’s first design for a suspension bridge across the Forth presented
1879 Bouch’s design for the Forth Bridge abandoned following Tay Bridge disaster
1882 Design submitted by John Fowler and Benjamin Baker approved
1883 Construction of Fowler and Baker’s cantilever structure began
1885 Last caisson launched
1886 Pier foundations completed
1887 Three towers completed
1889 Cantilevers completed
1890 Bridge formally opened by Prince of Wales on 4 March 1890