Sunset over the Tay Rail Bridge

The original Tay Rail Bridge opened in 1878, only to fail during the stormy night of 28 December 1879 while a train was crossing. The train, with seventy five passengers and crew, poured off the collapsing bridge into the icy river with all lives lost. An enquiry blamed the exceptional weather conditions, and poor quality design.

The bridge was re-constructed in 1887, and the bases of the original's supporting legs can still be seen along the eastern side.

Related Information:

• The Tay Bridge Disaster (external)
• Tay Bridge... (external)
• William McGonagall's poem The Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay (external)
• William McGonagall's tribute to the new railway bridge - An Address to the New Tay Bridge (external)