National Records of Scotland

Preserving the past, Recording the present, Informing the future

Railways

Railways

We hold the largest written and pictorial archive of Scottish railway history. The bulk of the collection is made up of the records formerly held by the British Transport Historical Records Department in Edinburgh. These include images of the construction of the forth rail bridge, a selection of which you can see below.

Photograph of a group of four riveters at work with a pneumatic riveting machine on the Forth Railway Bridge, 1887 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/2)

Group of four riveters at work with a pneumatic riveting machine on the Forth Railway Bridge, 1887 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/2)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA01291

Photograph showing a broadside view the Queensferry cantilever of the Forth Railway Bridge in an advanced stage of construction, May 1889 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/5)

Broadside view the Queensferry cantilever of the Forth Railway Bridge in an advanced stage of construction, May 1889 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/5)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA01294

Photograph showing a group of briggers on a temporary platform within the viaduct girders which has a railway line installed on it for the transport of construction materials, 17 September 1885 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/19)

Group of briggers on a temporary platform within the viaduct girders which has a railway line installed on it for the transport of construction materials, 17 September 1885 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/19)

Gallery Image Reference: AAA01299

Photograph of the Fife S Cantilever of the Forth Railway Bridge under construction reaching over the Forth to the north shore covered on steam cranes and hoists, 24 May 1889 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/49)

Fife S Cantilever of the Forth Railway Bridge under construction reaching over the Forth to the north shore covered on steam cranes and hoists, 24 May 1889 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/49)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA01315

Photograph of workmen on a riveting stage near the top of the south top member of the Queensberry cantilever of the Forth Railway Bridge during construction, 1889 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/51)

Workmen on a riveting stage near the top of the south top member of the Queensberry cantilever of the Forth Railway Bridge during construction, 1889 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/51)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA01316

Photograph of rivetters at work, watched by two workers balanced on a Jubilee crane behind, 18 June 1888 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland,BR/FOR/4/34/159)

Rivetters at work, watched by two workers balanced on a Jubilee crane behind, 18 June 1888 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/159)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA01405

Photograph of two men, who on the left and right of the photograph represent two piers, stick between them represents the central girder, and the young man sitting in the middle represents the load being placed on the central girder, 1887 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/161)

Two men, who on the left and right of the photograph represent two piers, stick between them represents the central girder, and the young man sitting in the middle represents the load being placed on the central girder, 1887 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/161)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA01407

Photograph of workmen rivetting the top member of the Queensferry cantilever, 5 June 1888 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/183)

Workmen rivetting the top member of the Queensferry cantilever, 5 June 1888 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/183)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA01421

Photograph of the view from the east of the three piers of the Forth Railway Bridge, cantilevers completed but central connecting girders not yet commenced, 15 April 1889 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/189)

View from the east of the three piers of the Forth Railway Bridge, cantilevers completed but central connecting girders not yet commenced, 15 April 1889 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/189)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA01423

Photograph of the incomplete Forth Railway Bridge from the north west, Fife pier in the foreground, Inchgarvie and Queensferry beyond. Cantilevers almost completed but central girders not commenced, 22 March 1889 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/223)

Incomplete Forth Railway Bridge from the north west, Fife pier in the foreground, Inchgarvie and Queensferry beyond. Cantilevers almost completed but central girders not commenced, 22 March 1889 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, BR/FOR/4/34/223)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA01436

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Find out more about railway records in National Records of Scotland.