Forth Bridge / 福斯桥
The Forth Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world.
福斯桥是世界上最著名的桥之一。
The Forth Bridge is also known as the Forth Rail Bridge, to distinguish it from the nearby Forth Road Bridge.
福斯桥也被称为福斯铁路桥，以便与附近的福斯公路桥区分开来。
It has also been declared as Scotland’s greatest man-made wonder.
它也被称为苏格兰最大的人工奇迹。
This bridge spans the River Forth in the east of Scotland.
这座桥横跨苏格兰东部的福斯河。
Construction of the bridge started in 1882 and opened in 1890.
桥的建设始于1882年，1890年完工。
When it opened it had the longest single cantilever span in the world and was the first major structure in the UK to be built of steel.
当它开放时，它拥有世界上最长的单臂悬臂跨度，也是英国第一个用钢建造的主要结构。
It is still the second longest single cantilever span bridge in the world.
它仍然是世界上第二长的单臂悬臂桥。
At the time of construction, large amounts of steel became available to engineers, thanks to a new steel manufacturing process invented in the U.K. called the Bessemer process.
在建造的时候，工程师们获得了大量的钢材，这要感谢在英国发明的新钢铁制造工艺，叫做贝塞麦尔工艺。
Previously, other iron structures such as the Eifel Tower were made from wrought iron.
以前，其他铁结构比如埃菲尔铁塔都是用锻铁做的。
Before the Forth Bridge was built, the only method to cross the River Forth was by ferry.
在福斯桥建成之前，过度福斯河的唯一方法是乘坐渡轮。
The rail carriages would be loaded onto a ferry and then transported across the river to the opposite side.
铁路车厢将被装载到渡轮上，然后过河运送到对岸。
Although this method was effective, it obviously could not be attempted in bad weather.
虽然这种方法很有效，但显然不能在恶劣的天气下尝试。
In 1806, engineers proposed a pair of tunnels to go under the river.
在1806年，工程师们提议建造一对隧道穿过河底。
However, the engineering problems associated with building these tunnels were too difficult and the solutions were too expensive.
不过，建造这些隧道的工程问题太难了，解决方案也太贵了。
Another engineer proposed a plan to build a bridge across the River Forth.
另一个工程师提议在福斯河上建造一座桥。
He was already building another bridge of similar design across the River Tay, also in Scotland
他已经在苏格兰的泰河上建造另一座类似设计的桥了。
In 1879, when this bridge collapsed in a severe storm, his plan for a bridge across the River Forth was abandoned.
在1879年一场严重风暴中，这座桥倒塌了，他的福斯河桥计划就被放弃了。
The engineering problems in building a bridge across the River Forth were extremely complex.
在福斯河上建造桥的工程问题非常复杂。
In some places the mud was 70 metres deep and therefore could not support a heavy structure such as a steel bridge.
在一些地方，泥土有70米深，所以无法支撑像钢桥这样重的结构。
The area where the bridge was to be built suffered from high winds.
桥要建造的地方风很大。
Approximately 4600 workers were employed in the construction of the Forth Bridge.
大约有4600名工人在福斯桥的建设中工作。
However, at that time health and safety regulations were not as strict as they are today.
不过，那时候的健康和安全规定没有今天这么严格。
It is said that 73 people died whilst building the bridge and several hundred more were severely injured.
据说在建造桥时有73人死亡，还有几百人重伤。
When the bridge was finished in 1889, the bridge was tested.
桥在1889年完工后进行了测试。
2 trains consisting of 3 locomotives and 50 wagons loaded with coal were successfully driven across the bridge.
两列由3台机车和50辆装满煤的货车组成的火车成功地开过了桥。
This was more than twice the expected load on the bridge.
这比桥上预期的负载多了两倍还多。
In addition, a few days previously there had been a violent storm producing the highest winds ever recorded.
此外，几天前发生了一场猛烈的暴风雨，产生了有史以来最高的风速。
The distortion of the bridge during this storm was measured as less than 1 cm.
这场暴风雨中桥的变形测量不到1厘米。
The completed bridge had a significant impact on rail travel between London and Scotland.
完成的桥对伦敦和苏格兰之间的铁路旅行产生了重大影响。
Previously, the train journey between London and Aberdeen, in the north of Scotland would have taken approximately 13 hours.
以前，从伦敦到阿伯丁的火车旅程大约需要13个小时。
This journey time was reduced to an average of 10 and a half hours
这段旅程的时间缩短到平均10个半小时。
The shortest journey time recorded for this route was 8 and a half hours.
这条路线记录的最短旅行时间是8个半小时。
Since the bridge opened, it has been in constant use.
自从桥开通以来，它一直在不断使用。
Currently, between 100 and 200 trains a day cross the bridge.
目前每天有100到200列火车经过这座桥。
With a structure of this size, the bridge needs constant maintenance.
这种规模的结构，桥需要不断维护。
Indeed there is a common English expression of describing a seemingly never ending task as being like “painting the Forth Bridge”.
确实有一个常见的英语常言，用来形容似乎永无止境的任务，就像“给福斯桥刷漆”。
In reality, there has never been the need to constantly paint the Forth Bridge but some parts of the bridge require more attention than others.
实际上，根本不需要一直给福斯桥上漆，但桥的某些部分确实需要更多关注。
Between 2001 and 2011 the steel bridge received a new coating that is designed to last 25 years.
在2001到2011年之间，这座钢桥涂上了一层新涂料，设计使用寿命为25年。
As the bridge is so famous it has appeared in several films, books, documentaries, coins, banknotes and even computer games.
这座桥太有名了，出现在好几部电影、书籍、纪录片、硬币、钞票甚至电脑游戏里。
Like the Great Wall of China, it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
像中国的长城一样，它被宣布为联合国教科文组织世界遗产。
It is also a significant Scottish landmark and thousands of people come to the banks of the River Forth to admire the bridge.
这也是一个重要的苏格兰地标，成千上万的人来到福斯河河边欣赏这座桥。