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The Open University

Tay Bridge disaster

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Overview

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The sudden collapse of Scotland's Tay Bridge in 1879 killed more than 70 rail passengers and shocked the population. An extensive inquiry was carried out, including numerous witnesses, experts and reports. Were the high winds that night to blame, or were poor design or mechanical failure at fault? This free course re-examines some of the original evidence from the Tay Bridge disaster.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Disasters of natural origin
  • 1 Disasters of natural origin
  • 1.1 Overview
  • 1.2 Earthquakes and volcanoes
  • 1.3 Hurricanes and storms
  • 2 Disasters of human origin
  • 2 Disasters of human origin
  • 2.1 Overview
  • 2.2 Transportation disasters
  • 2.3 Railways in Britain
  • 2.4 Early disasters
  • 3 Tay Bridge disaster
  • 3 Tay Bridge disaster
  • 3.1 Overview
  • 3.2 Background
  • 3.3 Description of the bridge
  • Bridge girders
  • Construction of piers
  • 3.4 Building the bridge
  • 3.5 Sunday 28 December 1879
  • Disaster!
  • 4 Investigation into the Tay Bridge disaster
  • 4 Investigation into the Tay Bridge disaster
  • 4.1 Condition of the bridge: an overview
  • 4.2 An introduction to the Board of Trade photographs
  • 4.3 Photographs showing the detail: collapsed piers
  • 4.4 Photographs showing the detail: partly collapsed piers
  • 4.5 Photographs showing the detail: broken lugs
  • 4.6 Photographs showing the detail: debris field
  • 4.7 Photographs showing the detail: damage to pier 1
  • 4.8 Photographs showing the detail: standing pier 28
  • 4.9 Survey results
  • 4.10 High girders and the train
  • 4.11 Model for pier failure
  • 5 Board of Trade enquiry into the Tay Bridge disaster
  • 5 Board of Trade enquiry into the Tay Bridge disaster
  • 5.1 Overview
  • 5.2 Eye-witness testimony
  • 5.3 Worker testimony
  • Bridge oscillations
  • Loosening of tie bars
  • 5.4 Expert evidence: an overview
  • 5.5 Evidence of Henry Law
  • 5.6 Casting defects
  • 5.7 Fitment flaws
  • 5.8 Design problems
  • 5.9 Mechanical tests by David Kirkaldy
  • 5.10 Bridge stability
  • 5.11 Further evidence on stability
  • 5.12 Pole and Stewart report
  • 5.13 Conclusion of the BoT enquiry
  • 5.14 Questions remain and myths persist
  • 5.15 Further investigation is possible
  • Myths persist
  • 6 Afterword
  • 6 Afterword
  • 6.1 New Tay Bridge
  • 6.2 Forth Bridge
  • 6.3 Tacoma Narrows suspension bridge failure
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

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