Forth Rail Bridge to get gold Blue Peter badge

THE Forth Rail Bridge is to become the first man-made structure to receive a coveted gold Blue Peter badge, joining the likes of David Beckham and the Queen.

The gold badges are awarded to people who have achieved something extraordinary, with the bridge due to receive the award on Thursday.

Programme editor Tim Levell said: “Legend says that when the Prince of Wales opened the bridge in 1890 he placed a ceremonial golden rivet on the bridge. However, this has never been found. So we thought it would be a fitting tribute to present the bridge with its own gold badge.

“The Forth Bridge is a truly outstanding piece of engineering and the gold badge is our way of acknowledging the thousands of workers that risked their lives to build it, the hundreds of individuals who have helped to maintain it ever since and the fact that it has benefited millions of British people who have used it in its 121-year history.”

In Thursday’s episode of Blue Peter, presenter Barney Harwood will visit the bridge, in a programme investigating the history of the structure and the recently completed painting job.

Ian Heigh, project manager at Network Rail, said: “It’s a great honour to accept the gold Blue Peter badge on behalf of the thousands of men and women who have worked on the bridge over the last 130 years.”

A 300ft-high viewing platform on the top of the bridge is being considered by Network Rail. A spokesman said that during the restoration work, lifts were built in all three of the bridge’s towers to allow workers access.

He said: “We have a good amount of experience of building these platforms for the work that was being carried out and could look at making it more permanent. We are examining the feasibility of establishing visitor access to the bridge and this is one of a number of options under discussion.”