With 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.
Grateful acknowledgement is made to the following sources for permission to reproduce material within this site: St. Andrews University Valentine Collection; Dundee Central Library; BRB (Residuary) Limited; Dr David Jones, Cambridge University
Grateful acknowledgement is made to the following sources for permission to reproduce material within this site: St. Andrews University Valentine Collection; Dundee Central Library; BRB (Residuary) Limited; Dr David Jones, Cambridge University
The Tay Bridge collapse
The disaster had its roots in the very building of the Tay Bridge.
The expert theories
Forensic advances
Take a look at the methods employed today by forensic engineers in their investigation of accidents.
Other disasters
Discover how forensic engineers investigated three very different disasters: Challenger, Concorde and Hatfield.
Your investigation
You've got the facts; you've learned the science. Now it's time to weigh the evidence.
Basic skills
Explore our interactive diagrams explaining the principles of centre of gravity and trajectory.
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