The Board of Trade Inquiry

The inquiry team, set up by the Board of Trade, held an initial session in Dundee Court House on Saturday, 3rd January 1880.

There were three members:

Mr H Rothery, Chairman
Henry Rothery was a mathematics graduate but trained as a barrister. He had been appointed in 1876 as Wrecks Commissioner. Cases on which he gave judgement included fires at sea on colliers and ways of stowing grain to maximise stability.

Colonel Yolland, Commissioner of Wrecks and Inspector of Railways
Colonel Yolland was a Royal Engineer who also had mathematics training and had worked at the Ordnance Survey in the Tower of London. He had become Chief Railways Inspector in 1877.

Mr W H Barlow, President of the Institute of Civil Engineers
Mr Barlow was a distinguished practising civil engineer.

They were assisted by counsel for the inquiry, the Northern British Railways and other parties involved with construction of the bridge.

In all, they heard 121 witnesses and the final reports were delivered in the remarkably fast time of six months. The magnitude of the disaster and the shock to the railway system may explain the speed of the inquiry but it was also essential to learn the design lessons for future bridges.