The Tay Bridge Disaster

This article is about the poem. For the disaster itself, see Tay Bridge disaster.

The Tay Bridge Disaster
by William McGonagall
Original Tay Bridge (from the South) the day after the disaster
Written1880
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Subject(s)Bridge collapse
Genre(s)Lament
Publication date1880
Lines61
Full text
The Tay Bridge Disaster at Wikisource

"The Tay Bridge Disaster" is a poem written in 1880 by the Scottish poet William McGonagall, who has been acclaimed as the worst poet in history.[1] The poem recounts the events of the evening of 28 December 1879, when, during a severe gale, the Tay Rail Bridge at Dundee collapsed as a train was passing over it with the loss of all on board. The number of deaths was actually 75, not 90 as stated in the poem.[note 1] The foundations of the bridge were not removed and are alongside the newer bridge.

Sepia colourted photograph of the section of the first Tay Bridge before its collapse. A steam train is crossing the bridge.
Photograph of section of the first Tay Bridge before its collapse, with a steam train
Black and white photograph of the Tay Bridge before its collapse. The photograph is taken from the North.
Original Tay Bridge (from the north)
  1. ^ William McGonagall (1992), World's Worst Poet: Selections from "Poetic Gems", Templegate Publishers
  2. ^ "Courier article to blame for Tay Bridge Disaster death toll confusion, says researcher". The Courier. 28 March 2014.


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