- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New ed of 2 Revised ed edition (28 Jun 1979)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140045902
- ISBN-13: 978-0140045901
- Product Dimensions: 19.3 x 12.7 x 1.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 360,670 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
On 28 December, 1879, the 13 raised spans at the centre of the Tay Bridge, the "high girders", fell, taking with them 160 yards of the bridge, and a railway train with 75 men, women and children on board. This tragically ended the dream of Thomas Bouch, recently knighted for his work on the bridge, and to some extent the unparalleled reputation of British engineering in works of this kind. This book tells the story of the construction of the Tay Bridge from its planning, through its brief moment of triumph followed by disaster and the grim aftermath. It recreates every character and ingredient of this man-made catastrophe, and evokes the drama of the fatal night.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
John Prebble has written a masterpiece. First he gives the political background why the Tay Bridge was built and then he gives a indepth account of its design and construction.
What puts this book out in front is that he gives a full senario of the accident itself with not only eyewitness accounts but a real build up to as if he was there. He describes in great detail the makeup of the unfortunate train that went over the edge as well as the train crew and many of the passengers.
It doesn't end there as he keeps it up with a full account of the aftermath of the disaster and the inquiry which revealed not only design flaws, but construction flaws, lack of proper supervision in both construction, quality of materials used and rectification of remedial work.
It was a disaster that was bound to happen from the moment Thomas Bouch dreamed up his "masterpiece".
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a thoroughly enjoyable true life account of the Tay Bridge disaster which occured in 1879. The author gives an indepth account of the people working to build the bridge, the victims and also friends and relatives of those who died. This is a book that once started, you just cannot put down.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A great book of early civil engineering construction and survey methods. It includes the political background of why the bridge was built and the state of railroad services and competition at that time. The Peace Bridge in Buffalo, NY has a part that is of similar construction. As usual, John Prebble is very thorough.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Just as good as I remember
I first read the 'High Girders' maybe 10-15 years ago. At that time, it really caught my imagination and since I have bought several other books on the Tay Bridge. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Scott MacMillan
130 Years on, this story still grabs one's imagination
I read this book soon after its publication, in 1956, and was captivated from the very first paragraph, with the two railway employees on a stormy night, sharing a can of tea in... Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2009 by Paul Fincham
Interesting account
This gives a good account of the building of the Tay Bridge, its fall and the aftermath. It's pretty compelling to read, and sheds an unfortunate light on practices of that period... Read more
Published on 19 May 2008 by Catherine Brown
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