Trains crossing the Forth Road Bridge

Cities and Memory - remixing the world

Living in Edinburgh, I often forget that I see a UNESCO Heritage site every morning rising above the River Forth. I catch a train across the Forth Road Bridge to Fyfe, drive past it through South Queensferry or simply see it in the distance as I walk the dog in Portobello. I remember the first time I saw it I was in absolute awe of the huge iconic structure, wondering how on earth was it built.
When I walk under it, I find the sounds otherworldly. A sense of a strange noise building in the distance as the sound of the train travels along long the 2.5 km bridge. I sometimes find myself looking at the sky because my ears are tricked into believing they are hearing an aeroplane rather than a train. This recording captures the sounds of trains crossing the Forth Road Bridge as I sat at the bottom of one of the great pillars with my recorder.
UNESCO listing: The Forth Bridge
Recorded by Simon Holmes
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This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.
Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage