Tay Bridge from North, December 28, 1879

Tay Bridge from North. (before accident) 894. J.V. (18.5 x29 cm albumen type print pasted onto a modern rust colored pebble surfaced matte 27 x 33 cm). (The first Tay Bridge was a lattice-girder iron railway bridge built to complete the Caledonian Railroad between Edinburgh and Dundee, Scotland. The bridge was single track railroad bridge designed by Thomas Bouch and at the time the longest bridge in the world [2.25 mi/3.5 km]. In 1879 the “high girder” section of the bridge [designed to allow ship traffic beneath the bridge over the Tay River estuary) collapsed carrying a train pulled by North British R.R. engine 224 [see 0020.02.02]. The bridge collapse occurred December 28, 1879 due to high winds, poor design [no calculations for wind load] and cost cutting material selection [cast iron columns and wrought iron struts possibly damaged in careless construction]. At the time it was a terrible disaster. A total of 75 people were drowned and there is a memorial erected to commemorate them in Dundee).