Perpetually painted - the Forth Bridge

Painting the Forth Rail Bridge is a full time job; by the time the painters get to the other end, it needs painting again at the other end. It is the second longest bridge in the world, with its centre span being1,710 feet long. Its overall length is 8,296 feet with ten spans of 168 feet on the south approach and five on the north. 13,00,000 rivets were used in its construction, and the central span weighs 11,571 tons.

I think the most impressive thing about the Forth Bridge, apart from all its incredible statistics is its bulk; viewed from miles away along the Forth, the mighty spans dominate the landscape; from the road bridge alongside, the sheer size of the spans draws the eye dangerously.

In the film, The Thirty Nine Steps, Kennth More leaves the train and climbs the bridge's girders to escape from the pursuing police constables and detectives. Of course, the hero, Richard Hannay gets way - the bobbies are slow and nothing like as nimbe, sure footed or desperate as Hannay.

John Buchan knew his stuff, the means of keeping the reader turning the pages - the Forth Bridge helped in the great film version with More as Hannay.
Robert L. Fielding