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Line 1: − <blockquote>+ − Block quote − </blockquote>The first Tay Bridge, designed by [[Sir Thomas Bouch]] (1822-1880), carried the [[North British Railway]] (now the East Coast Main Line) across the [[Firth of Tay]] between Wormit in [[Fife]] and [[Dundee]], [[Scotland]], and was opened on 1 June 1878 by [[Queen Victoria]]. On the night of Sunday 28 December 1879, during a violent gale, part of the bridge collapsed, precipitating a crossing train into the waters below with the loss of more than 75 lives. The event was comemmorated by the Scottish poet [[William Topaz McGonagall]]: − '''The Tay Bridge Disaster'''+ − − 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. − − 'Twas about seven o'clock at night, − And the wind it blew with all its might, − And the rain came pouring down, − And the dark clouds seem'd to frown, − And the Demon of the air seem'd to say- − "I'll blow down the Bridge of Tay." − − When the train left Edinburgh − The passengers' hearts were light and felt no sorrow, − But Boreas blew a terrific gale, − Which made their hearts for to quail, − And many of the passengers with fear did say- − "I hope God will send us safe across the Bridge of Tay." − − But when the train came near to Wormit Bay, − Boreas he did loud and angry bray, − And shook the central girders of the Bridge of Tay − On the last Sabbath day of 1879, − Which will be remember'd for a very long time. − − So the train sped on with all its might, − And Bonnie Dundee soon hove in sight, − And the passengers' hearts felt light, − Thinking they would enjoy themselves on the New Year, − With their friends at home they lov'd most dear, − And wish them all a happy New Year. − − So the train mov'd slowly along the Bridge of Tay, − Until it was about midway, − Then the central girders with a crash gave way, − And down went the train and passengers into the Tay! − The Storm Fiend did loudly bray, − Because ninety lives had been taken away, − On the last Sabbath day of 1879, − Which will be remember'd for a very long time. − − As soon as the catastrophe came to be known − − And the cry rang out all o'er the town, − Good Heavens! the Tay Bridge is blown down, − And a passenger train from Edinburgh, − Which fill'd all the peoples hearts with sorrow, − And made them for to turn pale, − Because none of the passengers were sav'd to tell the tale − How the disaster happen'd on the last Sabbath day of 1879, − Which will be remember'd for a very long time. − − It must have been an awful sight, − To witness in the dusky moonlight, − While the Storm Fiend did laugh, and angry did bray, − Along the Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay, − Oh! ill-fated Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay, − I must now conclude my lay − By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay, − That your central girders would not have given way, − At least many sensible men do say, − Had they been supported on each side with buttresses, − At least many sensible men confesses, − For the stronger we our houses do build, − The less chance we have of being killed. +
cutting poem to its own entry
The first '''Tay Bridge''', designed by [[Sir Thomas Bouch]] (1822-1880), carried the [[North British Railway]] (now the East Coast Main Line) across the [[Firth of Tay]] between Wormit in [[Fife]] and [[Dundee]], [[Scotland]], and was opened on 1 June 1878 by [[Queen Victoria]]. On the night of Sunday 28 December 1879, during a violent gale, part of the bridge collapsed, precipitating a crossing train into the waters below with the loss of more than 75 lives.
The event was comemmorated by the Scottish poet [[William Topaz McGonagall]], in his poem ''[[The Tay Bridge Disaster]]''.
The alarm from mouth to mouth was blown,
The Tay Bridge was rebuilt to a stronger design and opened on 13 July 1887. It remains in service; piers from the earlier bridge can be seen as one crosses.
The Tay Bridge was rebuilt to a stronger design and opened on 13 July 1887. It remains in service; piers from the earlier bridge can be seen as one crosses.
[[category:Scotland]]
[[category:Scotland]]
[[Category:Bridges]]