How people died during the Ferry bridge disaster?

On December 28, 1879, the Tay Bridge in Scotland collapsed during a violent storm, resulting in the deaths of at least 75 people. The bridge, designed by renowned engineer Thomas Bouch, was considered a marvel of Victorian engineering and had been in service for only 18 months before its tragic demise.

The primary cause of the disaster was the failure of the central spans of the bridge, which snapped under the immense force of the storm. As the bridge collapsed into the River Tay below, a passenger train carrying approximately 75 passengers and crew was crossing it. Tragically, almost all the individuals aboard the train perished in the disaster.

The collapse of the Tay Bridge sent shockwaves throughout the engineering community, leading to thorough investigations into the factors that contributed to the failure. The inquiry revealed several crucial flaws in the design and construction of the bridge.

Critical Factors in the Disaster:

1. Design Flaws: The design of the bridge was based on an earlier structure built by Bouch, which had also suffered several stability issues. Bouch employed the same design principles and materials, despite warnings from other engineers about potential risks.

2. Weak Columns: The bridge's central spans consisted of iron lattice girders supported by slender cast-iron columns. The columns were prone to buckling under the weight of the bridge and the dynamic forces of the storm.

3. Lack of Redundancy: The bridge lacked adequate redundancy, meaning there were no backup structural elements to compensate for the failure of one component. As a result, the entire central section of the bridge collapsed when the columns supporting it snapped.

4. Environmental Factors: The severe storm that occurred on the day of the disaster brought winds of up to 80 miles per hour, which exceeded the design parameters of the bridge.

Rescue Efforts and Lessons Learned:

In the aftermath of the tragedy, heroic rescue efforts were undertaken, with local boats attempting to save survivors from the icy waters. However, due to the ferocity of the storm, only a handful of survivors were rescued.

The Tay Bridge disaster highlighted the importance of thorough engineering evaluations and adherence to safety standards in infrastructure projects. It led to the establishment of stricter regulations and practices for bridge design and construction.

The lessons learned from the Tay Bridge collapse have left a lasting impact on engineering practices and instilled a greater emphasis on safety, resilience, and redundancy in large-scale infrastructure projects.