Forth Bridge. 19th-century illustration of the Forth Bridge spanning 2528 metres across the estuary of the River Forth at Queensferry, Scotland. This rail bridge has a cantilever design, the steel arches allowing sailing ships to pass beneath it. The bridge was designed by Scottish engineer Sir William Arrol, and was opened in 1890. Artwork from 'Chemins de Fer, Automobiles' (1911) by French civil engineer Max de Nansouty (1854-1913), part of the 'Les merveilles de la science' series of 1867-1891 by Louis Figuier.