The Forth Bridge/The Railway Connections

by Wilhelm Westhofen

The Railway Connections.

The railway works now in course of construction, and more or less directly connected with the Forth Bridge, are extensive and important as regards the amount of heavy work they entail. Of these only two lines are being constructed by the Forth Bridge Railway Company, the remainder being done by the North British Railway Company. The two lines are the south approach and the north approach railways, the former extending from the south arches of the bridge to a junction with the North British Railway at Dalmeny, the latter from the north arches of the bridge to a junction with the North British Railway at Inverkeithing.

The engineers for the approach railways are Messrs. Sir John Fowler and Baker, and the contractors Messrs. W. Arrol and Co. The further works are:

On the south side:

1. A line from Dalmeny Junction in a more direct line to a junction with the North British Railway at Corstorphine Station, outside Edinburgh. Total length, 6 miles. Engineer, Mr. James Carswell. Contractor, Mr. W. Arrol.

2. A line from a point between Dalmeny Junction and the Forth Bridge, to a junction with the North British Railway at Winchburgh. Length, 4¹⁄₂ miles. Engineer and contractor the same as for Corstorphine line.

On the north side:

3. A line from Inverkeithing to Burntisland to join the ordinary route from Edinburgh to Dundee, rid Granton and Burntisland. Total length, 7 miles 3 chains. Engineer, Mr. W. R. Galbraith. Contractors, Messrs. John Waddel and Sons.

4. Widening and doubling of a line from Inverkeithing to Townhill Junction, both on the North British system. Length, 5 miles 24 chains. Engineer, Mr. James Carswell. Contractors, Messrs. G. and R. Cousin.

5. A new loop line from Cowdenbeath to Kelty, both on the North British system. Length, 2 miles 69 chains. Engineer, Mr. W. R. Galbraith. Contractors, Messrs. Charles Brand and Son.

6. Widening and doubling of a line from Kelty to Mawcarse, North British system. Length, 10 miles 3 chains. Engineer, Mr. James Carswell. Contractor, Mr. John Best.

7. A line from Mawcarse through Glen Farg, to a junction with the Bridge of Earn station, North British system. Engineer, Mr. W. R. Galbraith. Contractors, Messrs. Charles Brand and Son.

A glance at the map of Scotland will show that through these new lines the North British Railway obtains access to both the east and west of the northern parts. To Dundee and Aberdeen, via Inverkeithing, Burntisland and the Tay Bridge. To Perth and the districts served by the Highland Railway, via Inverkeithing, Kinross, Glen Farg, and Bridge of Earn. The line from the Forth Bridge to Winchburgh opens a direct route to and from Glasgow and the west coast without touching Edinburgh. The following is the estimated cost of connecting railways now under construction on the North British system:

South of the Forth:
	£
Dalmeny to Winchburg	56,000
Dalmeny„ to Corstorphine	78,000
North of the Forth:
Inverkeithing to Burntisland	213,000
New lines, and widening and doubling existing lines between Inverkeithing and Mawcarse, also Glen Farg line from Marcarse to Bridge of Earn	435,000
Total estimated cost	£,774,000

The following Table of comparative distances between Edinburgh and four towns north of the Forth, both by Caledonian and North British, may be of interest:

———	Length in Miles.
	North British.	Caledonian.
Edinburgh to Aberdeen, viâ Forth and Tay Bridges	130	159
Edinburgh to Dundee, viâ Forth and Tay Bridges	59	90
Edinburgh to Perth, viâ Forth Bridge	48	69
Edinburgh to Montrose, viâ Forth and Tay Bridges	90	123

It is not improbable that arrangements can be made to get the following results as regards train service between London and the North. London to Perth, 9+³⁄₄ hours. London to Dundee, 10+¹⁄₂ hours. London to Aberdeen, 12+¹⁄₄ hours.