Dating from the early 1900s, the Leith Walk railway bridge was a well-known local landmark for much of the last century.
The bridge was built by the Caledonian Railway Company as one of the essential components of their 'New Leith Line', which envisaged a connection between the north Edinburgh suburbs and Leith Docks.
It appeared during a period of extensive railway expansion in the area, with the Caledonian's main rival, the North British Railway Company, opening a multitude of lines and stations, including a huge terminus, Leith Central Station, at the Foot of Leith Walk.
Comprised of steel girders, arranged in a lattice fashion, the 35-ft-high crossing spanned Leith Walk between Jane Street and Manderston Street, where the lines were suspended over a series of arches. Similar bridges were also built at Bonnington Road and Easter Road.
Even before the Leith Walk bridge was complete, however, it was attracting criticism.
In a letter to The Scotsman newspaper, dated January 28, 1900, months before the bridge's construction, one irate member of the public wrote: "I take the opportunity of asking every acquaintance I meet his or her opinion of the proposed railway and find invariably that they consider it unnecessary and extravagant.
"The hideous overhead bridges proposed - especially that over Leith Walk - would be intolerable."
While the bridge and its nearby counterparts were not universally admired, in time they would become true icons of the Leith district, despite being used almost exclusively for freight.
Writing on the Lost Edinburgh Facebook group, one local recalled how the bridge acted as a handy indicator for when to alight from their bus.
They wrote: "Back in the '60s I often have my head tucked into a newspaper on the top deck, but I'd always know when to get off the bus.
"My stop then was at the Foot of the Walk, and the old bridge would cast a huge shadow over the bus, letting me know when to press the bell."
Following the closure of the Caledonian Railway's old lines in the 1960s, the Leith Walk bridge's days were numbered. It was finally removed in September 1980.
The stone abutments for the old bridge remain to this day, while there has also been talk of reinstating a crossing on the same site as part of a proposed new cycle route.
The Leith Walk bridge was immortalised in song in 1997 when the late Leith-born poet Jock Scot released his paean to the crossing on the album My Personal Culloden.
Titled 'Farewell to Ferodo' - a reference to the British brake company whose lettering appeared on the bridge for a time - the recording of Jock reciting the poem appears on YouTube.
Farewell to Ferodo by Jock Scot
Oh, beautiful railway bridge over Leith Walk
That I used to walk under on my way doon tae the Docks
Alas, you are no more
Let's raise a few more; and ask the city fathers what have you done this for
I used to live right next door; and felt that we had a certain rapport
Well, as much as a bridge and a man can
You were awfy handy for Leithers to shelter under when it rained
And it's highly unlikely that Leith Walk will see your like again
With your big white letters, spelling out F-E-R-O-D-O
I cannae believe artistically, there was any reason for you tae go
So aesthetically pleasing, albeit in a rigid sort of way
As usual, the city fathers' opinion held sway
What does Ferodo mean anyway?
