Details of the Fatal Accident

Place Tay Bridge, Firth of Tay, Dundee, Angus (Forfar), Scotland
Date Sunday 28th December 1879, 7.15 p.m.
Railway Company North British Railway
No. of Fatalities 75
Cause of Accident Collapse of bridge
Description A gale estimated at force 10 or 11 was blowing down the Tay estuary that night (not an uncommon event). The inquiry concluded that the bridge was not built strong enough to take the strain of the strong winds. Several of the spans gave way and the train of six carriages fell into the waters of the River Tay.

Sources/Further Reading

  • 100yrs of the Forth Bridge, Paxton R. (Thomas Telford 1990)
  • Court of Inquiry (1880) Report upon the circumstances attending the fall of a portion of the Tay Bridge.
  • Family Tree magazine, December 2003
  • Poem "The Tay Bridge Disaster", Sir William Topaz McGonagall (1825 - 1902)
  • Red for Danger, Rolt LTC (Sutton Publishing 1955)
  • The Fall of the Tay Bridge, Swinfen D. (Mercat Press 1994)
  • The Tay Bridge Disaster, Thomas J. (David and Charles 1970)

List of Fatalities

61 of the 75 fatalities that have been identifed so far are listed in the table below together with brief notes on any other information found so far.

The last column shows the General Register Office (England and Wales), Statutory Register (Scotland), General Register Northern Ireland or Civil Registration for Ireland reference where this has been identified.

Surname First Names Age Occupation Residence Notes GRO/SR/GRONI/GROIE Reference
ANDERSONJoseph21Compositor13 South Ellen Street, Dundee, ANS
ANNANThomas20Iron turner48 Princes Street, Dundee, ANS
BAINArchibald26Farmer and local agent for the sale of manures.Mains of Balgay, Dundee, ANSBrother of Jessie BAIN.
BAINJessie22Mains of Balgay, Dundee, ANSSister of Archibald BAIN
BENYONWilliam H.PhotographerCheltenham, GLS
BROWNLizzie14Tobacco spinner28 Arbroath Road, Dundee, ANS
CHEAPMrs.51Domestic servant121 High Street, Lochee, ANS
CRICHTONJamesPloughmanMains of Fintry, Dundee, ANS
CRUICKSHANKAnnie54Domestic servant (Lady's maid)Moray Place, Edinburgh, MLNLady's maid to Lady Baxter. Aunt of Elisabeth SMART. Was alleged to have been murdered and body brought to the scene, but the police disproved this rumour.
CULROSSRobertCarpenterNewport-on-Tay, FIF
CUNNINGHAMDavid21Mason23 Pitalpin Street, Lochee, ANSFriend of Robert FOWLIS
DAVIDSONThomas28Farm servantLinlathen, Dundee, ANS
EASTONMrs., Widow
FOWLISRobert21Mason23 Pitalpin Street, Lochee, ANSFriend of David CUNNINGHAM
GRAHAMDavid37TeacherStirling, STI
HAMILTONJohn32Grocer16 North Ellen Street, Dundee, ANS
HENDERSONJames22Labourer3 Church Street, Dundee, ANS
HENDRYElizabeth62Prior Road, Forfar, ANS
JACKWilliam H.Grocer57 Mains Road, Dundee, ANS
JOBSONDavid39Oil and colour merchant3 Airlie Place, Dundee, ANS
JOHNSTONDavid24Railway guardEdinburgh, MLNMarried. Brother of Andrew JOHNSTON.
JOHNSTONGeorge25Mechanic, Fiancé of Elisabeth SMART.
KINNEARMargaret17Domestic servant6 Shore Terrace, Dundee, ANS
LAWSONJohn25Plasterer39 Lilybank Road, Dundee, ANS
LESLIEJames22Timber merchant's clerkBaffin Street, Dundee, ANS
MACDONALDDavid11Schoolboy70 Blackness Road, Dundee, ANS
MACDONALDWilliam41Sawmiller70 Blackness Road, Dundee, ANS
MARSHALLJohn24Stoker18 Hunter Street, Dundee, ANSNo next of kin - body identified by co-worker.
MCBEATHDavid44Railway guard46 Castle Street, Dundee, ANS
MCINTOSHGeorge43Goods guard25 Hawkhill, Dundee, ANS
MILLARJamesFlax DresserDysart, Dundee, ANS
MILNEElizabethDressmaker,
MITCHELLDavid37Engine driver89 Peddie Street, Dundee, ANS
MURDOCHJames21Engineer1 Thistle Street, Dundee, ANS
MURRAYDonald49Mail guard13 South Ellen Street, Dundee, ANS
NEILSONWilliam3153 Monk Street, Gateshead, DUR
NEISHBella551 Coupar Street, Lochee, ANSDaughter of David NEISH
NEISHDavid37Teacher and Registrar51 Coupar Street, Lochee, ANSFather of Bella NEISH
NEISHWalter24Saddler4 Bain Square, Wellgate, Dundee, ANS
NESSGeorge21Engine cleanerOgilvy Street, Tayport, FIF
NESSWalterForeman saddler, Member of the Dundee Artillery Volunteers and so buried with full military honours
NICOLLElizabeth2446 Bell Street, Dundee, ANSMarried
PATONJames42MechanicEdinburgh, MLN
PEEBLESJames15Apprentice grocerNewport-on-Tay, FIF
PEEBLESWilliam30-40ForesterCorrimony, INV
ROBERTSONAlexander23Labourer100 Foundry Lane, Dundee, ANS
ROBERTSONWiliam21Labourer100 Foundry Lane, Dundee, ANS
SALMONDPeter43Blacksmith50 Princes Street, Dundee, ANS
SCOTTDavid26Goods guard7 Yeaman Shore, Dundee, ANS
SCOTTJohn30Pipe maker,
SHARPJohn35Joiner76 Commercial Street, Dundee, ANS
SMARTElizabeth22Domestic servant (Table maid)Union Mount, Perth Road, Dundee, ANSNiece of Annie CRUILSHANK and fiancé of George JOHNSTON.
SPENCEAnnie21Weaver62 Kemback Street, Dundee, ANS
SYMEDavid22ClerkRoyal Hotel, Nethergate, Dundee, ANS
TAYLORGeorge25Mason56 Union Street, Dundee, ANS
THRELFELLWilliam18Confectioner9 Union Street, Dundee, ANSHis brother was a trooper in the Enniskillen Dragoons.
VEITCHWilliam18Cabinetmaker39 Church Street, Dundee, ANS
WATSONDavid912 Lawrence Street, Dundee, ANSSon Robert WATSON
WATSONDavid22Commission agentNewport-on-Tay, FIF
WATSONRobert612 Lawrence Street, Dundee, ANSSon of Robert WATSON
WATSONRobert34Moulder12 Lawrence Street, Dundee, ANSFather of David and Robert WATSON