Tay Bridge, Dundee

The Tay Railway Bridge, Dundee

A railway viaduct spanning the Firth of Tay, designed by William Henry Barlow and constructed between 1882 and 1887. The bridge incorporates surviving structural elements from the first Tay Bridge, designed by Sir Thomas Bouch and built between 1871 and 1877. The original bridge was destroyed when its high girders collapsed on 28 December 1879. The first bridge was built by Charles de Bergue and Co and Hopkinson Gilkes and Co; the second bridge was built by William Arrol and Co. The structure is principally of wrought-iron and extends for the full length of 10,711 feet (3.264 kilometres), including brick viaducts at the Newport and Dundee ends and the downstream piers of the first bridge.

From south to north, the bridge comprises the following sections:

At Wormit, there are 4 brick arches with 50-foot spans, with piers and masonry widening towards the south to accommodate the diversion of lines to Newport and Edinburgh.

The South Approach section has piers numbered 4 to 28, which are twin wrought-iron cylinders lined with brickwork and filled with concrete below water level. A connecting tie of cast and wrought-iron, brick and concrete runs at high water level. The superstructure consists of a hollow octagonal wrought-iron plate pier linked by an arch. Girders span 129 and 145 feet, arranged in groups of 4, with Barlow's 2 new girders sandwiched between Bouch's re-used girders. Both types are of double-triangular wrought-iron construction. The decking is of corrugated-iron and steel, and a wrought-iron lattice parapet with a wooden rail runs along the length.

The Navigation Spans section comprises 13 spans measuring 245 and 227 feet, supported on a similar substructure to the South Approach. These spans feature parabolic hog-backed girders, all constructed by Arrol, positioned above track level to provide a clearance of 77 feet for shipping. Cast-iron segmental arches on cast-iron piers with dated plaques at the entrances to the navigation sections support this section.

The North Approach has a gradient falling towards Dundee and contains 37 spans. Spans numbered 42 to 53 are similar to those in the South Approach. Spans numbered 54 to 77 curve towards the station, with narrower spans supported on trabeated cast-iron piers filled with brick and concrete.

The Esplanade Section comprises piers numbered 78 to 85, featuring 2 wrought-iron skew arches on brick piers spanning Riverside Drive, followed by 4 spans of wrought-iron girders on cast-iron columns, arranged in groups of 4. Later fish-bellied girders are cantilevered outward to support the station platform.

The BR Division Civil Engineer's Office and Workshops, dating from the late 19th century, occupy the space of the original 100-foot hog-backed girder that once spanned the Esplanade. The building is constructed of red brick with yellow brick bands on the north and south elevations and features 3 wide arches. A wrought-iron footbridge on cast-iron columns provides pedestrian access to a subway.

The viaduct of the original bridge descends to ground level on 34 arches and a ramp, with a parapet on the westernmost arch.

At the time of listing, this was the longest bridge in Britain and possibly the largest wrought-iron structure in the world.