description Tay Rail Bridge (1887) Overview
The Tay Rail Bridge is a railway crossing over the Firth of Tay between Dundee and Wormit in Scotland. The present bridge opened in 1887, replacing the first Tay Bridge, whose central section collapsed during a storm in December 1879 while a train was crossing. Built with iron and steel lattice-girder spans supported on masonry and concrete piers, it remains part of the main rail route connecting Dundee with destinations to the south.
help Tay Rail Bridge (1887) FAQ
Why was a new Tay Rail Bridge built to replace the original one?
The first Tay Bridge collapsed on 28 December 1879 during a severe storm while a train was crossing, killing everyone on board. The present bridge, opened in 1887, was constructed to restore the railway link across the Firth of Tay between Dundee and Wormit.
Can you still see the piers from the original collapsed Tay Bridge today?
Yes, the iron stumps of the original bridge's piers still stand alongside the current Tay Rail Bridge. They were deliberately left in place after the 1879 disaster and remain visible running parallel to the 1887 replacement structure.
Who engineered the second Tay Rail Bridge that opened in 1887?
The second Tay Rail Bridge was designed by William Henry Barlow, who took over the project after the 1879 disaster that occurred under the original designer Thomas Bouch. The new structure used far stronger wrought iron and wider piers than Bouch's ill-fated cast-iron design.
How long is the Tay Rail Bridge?
The current Tay Rail Bridge is over 3 kilometres long, making it one of the longest railway bridges in the United Kingdom. It carries the railway across the full width of the Firth of Tay between the city of Dundee and the Fife side at Wormit.
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