Forth Bridge Railway

Introduction

The Forth Bridge is still in use by trains today. The bridge is owned by Network Rail. ScotRail and other Intercity services use the bridge. The Forth Bridge Railway was joint-owned by a number of railway companies and ran from Inverkeithing station to Dalmeny station. The bridge is also known as The Forth Rail Bridge by some to distinguish it from the 1960s Forth Road Bridge. A new Inverkeithing station was opened just to the north as the former Inverkeithing [1st] station was left on a branch, rather than the main line.



Dates

  /  /1873Forth Bridge Railway
Forth Bridge Railway authorised
  /  /1873Forth Bridge Railway
Authorised. (Not proceeded with.)
  /  /1876Forth Bridge Railway
Extension of time granted. (Not proceeded with.)
  /  /1879Forth Bridge Railway
Sir Thomas Bouch loses the contract to build the Forth Bridge after collapse of his Tay Bridge [1st].
  /  /1883Forth Bridge Railway
Construction of Bridge, designed by Henry Fowler and Benjamin Baker, begins. Contractor; William Arrol & Co.
  /  /1886Forth Bridge Railway
The three towers of the bridge start being erected.
  /  /1887Forth Bridge Railway
The towers are complete.
  /03/1890Forth Bridge Railway
Opened to goods.
04/03/1890Forth Bridge Railway
Bridge opened by HRH Prince of Wales driving the last rivet.
  /06/1890Forth Bridge Railway
Opened to passengers.
01/01/1948British Railways Forth Bridge Railway London, Midland and Scottish Railway London and North Eastern Railway Great Western Railway Southern Railway
Britains railways are nationalised.
  /  /2000Forth Bridge Railway
Painting of the Forth Bridge's northern approach spans begins.
  /  /2005Forth Bridge Railway
Jamestown Viaduct [Inverkeithing] strengthened.
12/01/2005Forth Bridge Railway
All First ScotRail services over the Forth Bridge are cancelled during a severe storm.
09/12/2011Forth Bridge Railway
Painting of the Forth Bridge completed. Network Rail suggests no further painting to be required until 2031-36. A glass flake epoxy paint used by Balfour Beatty.
  /02/2019Forth Bridge Railway
A gantry is installed below the Forth Bridge for repairs to stress defects.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

This junction is south of Dalmeny station. Lines from Edinburgh (Saughton Junction) and the west (Winchburgh Junction) meet before passing through Dalmeny station and crossing the Forth Bridge.
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See also
Forth Bridge Connecting Lines (North British Railway)
A First ScotRail 158 with a returning Fife Circle service on the downhill section half a mile south of the Forth Bridge in the summer of 2008. The ...
John Furnevel 16/06/2008
A northbound train approaching Dalmeny Junction passes below the A90 on 26 August 2008.The line to Winchburgh Junction can be seen curving away to the ...
John Furnevel 26/08/2008
The 1530 Edinburgh to Aberdeen service, powered by a 43127/43144 combo, heads north through Dalmeny Junction on 15 June 2023. The line trailing in ...
Malcolm Chattwood 15/06/2023
A northbound First ScotRail DMU passing below the A90 overbridge on the approach to Dalmeny Junction on 26 June 2008. The pathway running in parallel ...
John Furnevel 26/06/2008
4 of 32 images. more


This is a two platform station located just south of the Forth Bridge on its southern approach embankment. It was briefly known as Forth Bridge when first opened (signs read 'Forth Bridge for South Queensferry'). The station retains several of its original buildings. The main station building, of typical North British Railway design, is on the northbound platform. A sandstone former ...

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A Fife circle service rocks up to (where did that come from?) Dalmeny on 15 September 2021. ...
David Panton 15/09/2021
A returning Fife Circle service about to restart its journey south from Dalmeny on 8 September 2008. The train is formed by SPT liveried DMU 170473. ...
John Furnevel 08/09/2008
158740 passing Dalmeny as it heads towards the Forth Bridge on 18th August 2021. This station opened on the same day as the bridge, 4th March 1890 and ...
David Bosher 18/08/2021
An incoming Fife Circle comes off the bridge and into Dalmeny Station on 19th August 2020. ...
David Panton 19/08/2020
4 of 115 images. more


This double track bridge consists of three double cantilevers approached by viaducts at either end. Overall it is 1.5 miles long. The bridge crosses the Firth of Forth between Dalmeny and North Queensferry. The bridge is known for its red colour, originally from the red oxide paint used.
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Network Rail's £7.5m project to refurbish and repaint the North Queensferry approach span to the world famous Forth Bridge is now underway.
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Network Rail //
Transport Minister, Graeme Dey visited Network Rail’s £7.5m project to refurbish and repaint the North Queensferry approach span to the ...
Network Rail 21/06/2021
A very distinctive 'pub sign' outside the Railbridge Bistro at Queensferry. ...
John Yellowlees 27/03/2023
Looking east over the rooftops of South Queensferry on a sunny afternoon in March 2015. An up ScotRail DMU about to complete its crossing of the ...
John Furnevel 04/03/2015
4 of 115 images. more


This is a two platform station with a footbridge and original building on the southbound platform. The smaller building on the northbound platform has not survived. To the immediate south is the Forth Bridge and to the north the North Queensferry Tunnel.
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With a slight mist over the Forth, a Fife Circle service comes off the bridge and into North Queensferry station on 19 August 2020. ...
David Panton 19/08/2020
170395 is on the rear of a six-coach Fife Circle train, seen leaving North Queensferry and climbing up to join the bridge, on a damp and misty 31st ...
Mark Bartlett 31/07/2021
170411 enters North Queensferry with the 11.00 from Edinburgh to Dundee on 29 March 2023.
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Bill Roberton 29/03/2023
A single passenger boards a mid morning Cowdenbeath - Edinburgh train at North Queensferry in the summer of 2008. ...
John Furnevel 26/08/2008
4 of 93 images. more


Lost Railfreight 37070 drops down from North Queensferry (or Ferryhills) Tunnel in 1987, with a short train comprising two well wagons, two CPC ...
Bill Roberton //1987
The lighting, which would now be deemed inadequate, makes the interior of this Class 117 seem rather cosy, as does the enforced intimacy of table-less ...
David Panton 23/12/1994
107 729 coasts downhill from Ferryhills Tunnel (also known as North Queensferry Tunnel) with an Edinburgh - Fife local in April 1990. The hybrid ...
Bill Roberton /04/1990
To the north of North Queensferry station the railway passes through the North Queensferry Tunnel. This tunnel is, curiously, immediately below the ...
Ewan Crawford 11/12/2004
4 of 4 images.


This signal box was located on the west side of the line north of North Queensferry Tunnel.
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GBRf 66746 eases over Jamestown Viaduct with the Royal Scotsman from Edinburgh to Boat of Garten on 14 June 2023. The north pier of the Forth Road ...
Bill Roberton 14/06/2023
Lost Railfreight 20165 and friend cross Jamestown Viaduct on the approaches to the Forth Bridge with a Thornton - Mossend run in 1991. The ...
Bill Roberton //1991
Looking south west towards Jamestown Viaduct from the Inverkeithing direction on 19 June 2006, with a Waverley bound First ScotRail DMU heading ...
John Furnevel 19/06/2006
The first emission-free fully-electric train to cross the iconic Forth Bridge is seen, at the Jamestown Viaduct with the Forth Bridge beyond, in this ...
Network Rail 02/11/2021
4 of 41 images. more


Caledonian Sleeper 73971 passes the local allotments as it drops down towards Inverkeithing Tunnel, with an Edinburgh - Aberdeen Clayhills light ...
Bill Roberton 31/05/2021
44871 passes the allotments to the south of Inverkeithing tunnel with the 'Forth Bridge & Scottish Borders' SRPS excursion returning to Linlithgow on ...
Bill Roberton 18/08/2019
DRS 68007 coasts downhill towards Inverkeithing Tunnel with a Haymarket - Cowdenbeath shuttle service, tailed by 68006. ...
Bill Roberton 07/12/2015
66746 nears Inverkeithing Tunnel with the Royal Scotsman from Edinburgh, heading to Aviemore because of the Aberdeen - Dyce blockade. Those trees ...
Bill Roberton 14/05/2018
4 of 8 images. more


This junction is south of Inverkeithing station. Lines to the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Dockyard divide here. The signal box here closed in 1972, control being taken over by Inverkeithing Central Junction signal box.
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See also
Dunfermline and Queensferry Railway
D6851 'Flopsie' brings up the rear of 'The Statesman' at Inverkeithing South Junction, on its way from Stevenage to Inverness on 2 September 2023.
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Bill Roberton 02/09/2023
D1924 leads 'The Statesman' past Inverkeithing South Junction, on its way from Stevenage to Inverness on 2 September 2023.
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Bill Roberton 02/09/2023
158735 on the 15.18 from Edinburgh to Cowdenbeath passes Inverkeithing South Junction and the overgrown Rosyth Dockyard branch on 12 October 2023.
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Bill Roberton 12/10/2023
The afternoon workmen's service from Rosyth Dockyard to Kirkcaldy joins the main line at Inverkeithing South Junction in 1983. The former goods yard ...
Bill Roberton //1983
4 of 33 images. more