River Tay Railway Bridge Disaster

The River Tay Railway Bridge of course needs a mention all of it’s own. The North British Railway had taken full control of the East Coast railway lines and had to work out a route across the Rivers Tay and Forth. Thomas Bouch had put forward plans in 1854 but it wasn’t given Royal Assent  until 1870. The 2 mile span across the River Tay was completed in 1877 and after Board of Trade clearance in February 1878 was officially opened in the following May.

June the following year, Thomas Bouch was knighted in June 1879 for his efforts but what he didn’t know at that time was that the foundation survey he had based the build on what badly flawed. Queen Victoria actually travelled across the bridge some time during that year.

On the night of the 28th December 1879 Hurricane force winds blew down the Tay Valley. As the 7pm train from Edinburgh was crossing the bridge, weak iron work gave way and the bridge crashed into the river taking the train with it and a total loss of life. The only survivor so to speak was the locomotive which was recovered, repaired and back in use the following year. It was nick named “The Diver” by railway staff after this.

Excerpts from the poem by William McGonagall ‘The Railway Bridge of the silvery Tay’ are engraved in granite alongside the River Tay.

The Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay

BEAUTIFUL Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay !
With your numerous arches and pillars in so grand array
And your central girders, which seem to the eye
To be almost towering to the sky.
The greatest wonder of the day,
And a great beautification to the River Tay,
Most beautiful to be seen,
Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay !
That has caused the Emperor of Brazil to leave
His home far away, incognito in his dress,
And view thee ere he passed along en route to Inverness.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay !
The longest of the present day
That has ever crossed o'er a tidal river stream,
Most gigantic to be seen,
Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay !
Which will cause great rejoicing on the opening day
And hundreds of people will come from far away,
Also the Queen, most gorgeous to be seen,
Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay !
And prosperity to Provost Cox, who has given
Thirty thousand pounds and upwards away
In helping to erect the Bridge of the Tay,
Most handsome to be seen,
Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay !
I hope that God will protect all passengers
By night and by day,
And that no accident will befall them while crossing
The Bridge of the Silvery Tay,
For that would be most awful to be seen
Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay !
And prosperity to Messrs Bouche and Grothe,
The famous engineers of the present day,
Who have succeeded in erecting the Railway
Bridge of the Silvery Tay,
Which stands unequalled to be seen
Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.