Searching for the railway wreckage after the Tay Bridge disaster. The engineer Thomas Bouch advocated the need for a bridge crossing the Tay for a number of years before building began in 1873. The bridge was said to be unstable, especially during bad weather conditions. On the 28th December 1879, during stormy conditions, the Tay Bridge collapsed killing over 75 passengers and staff. Bad workmanship and incorrect materials were blamed for the disaster and Bouch's reputation was disgraced.