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forensic engineering: The Tay Bridge Disaster
solve the riddle modern methods join the debate learn more
Tay Bridge image
Tay Bridge
background
design
timeline
BOT inquiry
aftermath
theories
Bill Dow
Tom Martin
Peter Lewis
basic skills
centre of gravity
trajectory
weigh up the evidence
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Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv’ry Tay!
Alas! I am very sorry to say
That ninety lives have been taken away,
On the last Sabbath day of 1879
Which will be remember'd for a very long time.

William McGonagall, 1880

Artist's impression of the disasterWith the loss of all 75 lives on board the fateful passenger train, the Tay Bridge disaster of 1879 was not just a catastrophe, it was (and remains) the worst structural disaster in British history.

This tragedy had a major influence on the way bridges were built afterwards, in particular the replacement Tay Bridge built alongside the remains of the original and the much larger Forth Rail Bridge near Edinburgh.

Discover in this section the history and design of the bridge and the period in which it was built. Learn about the events leading up to the disaster and the subsequent Board of Trade inquiry.

Many people have offered views as to why the bridge collapsed. Read the theories of three experts and then, using skills acquired in the basic skills section, weigh up the evidence for yourself.