The museum has in its collection a ship’s rudder which was repurposed for use as an engineering anchor plate to secure one of the chains on the Gattonside pedestrian bridge near Melrose. The bridge was opened in 1826 and the rudder dates from that time. The museum has discovered that this rudder, made of malleable […]
Celebrating their 50th Anniversary, seven civil engineering graduates of 1972 visited the museum on 30 June 2022 and were shown round by David McGuigan. The event was organised by The Watt Club, Heriot-Watt University’s alumni association.
A film by Peter Longman chronicling the conservation work undertaken from its start in July 1995 up to the opening ceremony on 29 October 1996. This viaduct on the Kilmarnock & Troon Railway, believed to be the world’s oldest on a public railway, was the work of leading civil engineer William Jessop. The double-track, horse-operated […]
The building of the Erskine Road Bridge (1972). The film is available to view in the Moving Image Archive of the National Library of Scotland at https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/2208 National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive (21 mins).
This short video with fly-over drone footage shows early work on the refurbishment of the Union Chain Suspension Bridge over the River Tweed.
This video comprises a virtual tour of the museum and focuses on some of the objects held in the collection. It was prepared as part of a virtual doors open day following a request by the organisers of the Edinburgh Doors Open Open Day 2020 which had to be cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Over recent years the museum has taken part in the Edinburgh Doors Open Day event. Unfortunately, because of the Covid-19 pandemic this year’s event has had to be cancelled. The organiser, the Cockburn Society, has decided to promote a virtual event for this year and has asked for contributions from venues in the form of […]
A short time-lapse video showing the bridge structure being lifted into place. The bridge – crossing the River Clyde in Glasgow – was built in 2010 as part of the northern extension of the M74.
The construction of the Forth Road Bridge from initial Survey to the official opening. In 1966 the film was nominated for an Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Documentary Feature (it didn’t win). In 1965 the film won First Prize at the Sixth International Industrial Film Festival in Rouen, France. Items relating to Gordon Lang’s work […]
Working on a job that never ends – keeping the in order the the great spans of the mighty Forth Bridge. Footage of workmen painting the Forth Bridge in Scotland. British Pathé, 1930 (2.5 mins)
