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Monday 2 Mar 2015

Forth Bridge marks historic 125th anniversary

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

A week of celebrations are set to mark the 125th anniversary of the Forth Bridge this week, with over 500 bridge visits planned, over £160,000 raised for charity and a memorable flypast scheduled to mark the bridge’s special birthday.

The highlight of the week will see two iconic aircraft from past and present take to the air on March 4, the date in 1890 on which the bridge opened, with the flypast of a Spitfire and an RAF Typhoon at 1.25pm on Wednesday.

The event has been arranged to celebrate an incredible moment from the bridge’s history, when on 16 October 1939, the Forth Bridge was at the centre of the German Luftwaffe’s first raid over British soil.

Prior to Wednesday’s events, both North and South Queensferry will be abuzz with anniversary celebrations.

On Sunday 1 March, The Platinum Abseil Experience arranged by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and supported by Network Rail and Balfour Beatty brought over 300 dedicated fundraisers to the bridge for a one-off event.

Participants were taken to the top of the 360ft-high North Queensferry tower before abseiling off the 160ft-high approach span at Hawes Brae on the South Queensferry side of the structure. The event raised £125,000 for charity.

Running throughout the anniversary week, a Network Rail team will also be guiding 250 people to the top of the Forth Bridge from Monday, March 2, through to Friday, March 6.

The event, in aid of the Princes Trust is expected to generate almost £40,000 for the young people’s charity.

David Dickson, route managing director for Network Rail in Scotland, said: “The coming week of celebrations is the culmination of a great deal of planning from a wide range of organisations including Transport Scotland, Queensferry Ambition, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, Balfour Beatty and my own colleagues at Network Rail.

“A big vote of thanks should also go to Mark Taylor from Queensferry Tours and Edinburgh Libraries whose fascinating exhibition at Queensferry museum helped to inspire the planning for Wednesday’s flypast.

“This week is intended to start of a year of celebrations to mark the 125th anniversary. Queensferry Ambition have already confirmed that the Forth Bridges Festival is returning for a second year and the Forth Bridge Live music event is also set to return in September. We aim to confirm additional public events in the near future.

“Like all of our generous fund raisers, we’re looking forward to an inspiring week which helps celebrate the contribution that this wonderful structure has made to our lives during its 125 year history.”