1 8 Book of Engineering 



which was to set the fashion for many 

 greater ones in the world of railways 

 overseas. 



In assessing the Forth Bridge the granite 

 and shorter spans are frequently overlooked, 

 but one has only to stand beneath the 

 preliminary spans to realise that if they 

 were not so completely dwarfed by those 

 huge cantilevers nearer the centre of the 

 bridge, they would be acclaimed as wondrous 

 indeed. 



Possibly owing to the failure of the Tay 

 Bridge, the Bill for the greater structure 

 was only obtained after a severe struggle, 

 and finally the big contract was awarded to 

 a firm formed specially for the undertaking ; 

 this was known as Tancred, Arrol & Co. 

 There was no time lost in making a start 

 upon the venture. The Act was obtained 

 in 1882; in January of the following year 

 a beginning was made. For more than 

 seven years work went ahead as speedily 

 as possible, due regard being had to the 

 delays incidental from rough and winter 

 weather. Never before in Great Britain had 



