tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287675141745937676.post7757661667452057473..comments2024-03-20T23:43:28.613+00:00Comments on Caroline's Miscellany: Tay Bridge DisasterCarolineLDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00197813252586559665noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287675141745937676.post-48088032077444236302015-01-03T03:04:36.419+00:002015-01-03T03:04:36.419+00:00Sir Thomas Bouch had made a reputation for constr...Sir Thomas Bouch had made a reputation for constructing lightweight and low cost railway structures. Because the original bridge was only single track it was very narrow and was described as looking like a thread thrown over the Tay.<br />As a layman one suspects that on high narrow piers the bridge lacked lateral stability. The poor construction and maintenance merely compounding the problem.<br />The attention given to railway accidents and deaths nowadays is a reflection of how high safety standards are compared to the past and how comparatively rare such incidents are. <br />On researching local newspapers in the 1880's I had been struck by the fact that in one year there had been around 6 deaths of people either working on the railways, crossing lines or walking alongside tracks. Given these deaths were for one rural area, I did wonder how many people died nationally on the railways.Stephen Barkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287675141745937676.post-25160407752104096832014-12-30T23:52:56.158+00:002014-12-30T23:52:56.158+00:00The quality of the castings was worse than questio...The quality of the castings was worse than questionable. The iron was impure, and they were peppered with holes which had been filled with a grey putty called 'Beaumont Egg' to avoid their being noticed.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287675141745937676.post-4080171738102926642014-12-30T19:56:33.236+00:002014-12-30T19:56:33.236+00:00Ah yes, McGonagall seems to have been particularly...Ah yes, McGonagall seems to have been particularly 'inspired' by the bridge!CarolineLDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00197813252586559665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287675141745937676.post-68548775356259288232014-12-29T23:31:40.250+00:002014-12-29T23:31:40.250+00:00"Oh! Ill-fated bridge of the silv'ry Tay,..."Oh! Ill-fated bridge of the silv'ry Tay,<br />I now must conclude my lay<br />By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay,<br />That your central girders would not have given way,<br />At least many sensible men do say,<br />Had they been supported on each side with buttresses<br />At least many sensible men confesses,<br />For the stronger we our houses do build,<br />The less chance we have of being killed."<br />~~William McGonagall, c. 1880Elsewherehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625710674154702934noreply@blogger.com