Editing Tay Bridge (section)

=== Inspection and opening ===
[[File:Original Tay Bridge before the 1879 collapse.jpg|thumb|The original Tay Bridge before the 1879 collapse]]
Like all UK rail lines, the Tay Bridge was subject to a [[Board of Trade]] inspection before it could carry passenger trains. The inspection was conducted 25–27 February 1878<ref>by which time ballast trains had been running over the bridge for 2 months – evidence of [[Charles Scrope Hutchinson|Major General Hutchinson]] Minutes of Evidence, p. 376</ref> by [[Charles Scrope Hutchinson|Major General Hutchinson]] of the Railway Inspectorate, who measured the deflection of the {{convert|245|ft|m|abbr=on}} bridge girders under a distributed load of 1.5 tons per foot (5 t/m) due to heavy locomotives, travelling at up to {{convert|40|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, as less than {{convert|2|in|mm}}. He reported that "these results are in my opinion to be regarded as satisfactory. The lateral [[oscillation]] [roughly, rhythmic side-to-side movement], as observed by the [[theodolite]] when the engines ran over at speed, was slight and the structure overall showed great stiffness".<ref>Hutchinson's report of 5 March 1878 annexed to evidence of Major General Hutchinson Minutes of Evidence, p. 373.</ref>

Hutchinson did require some minor remedial work to be performed, and also issued a "recommendation" to impose a {{convert|25|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} speed limit on traffic passing over the bridge.<ref>This was not a requirement -the Railway Inspectorate had no formal powers on operational matters although their views on them carried considerable weight where they did not entail significant expenditure.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}}</ref> Subsequently, Hutchinson explained to the Inquiry that he had suggested this speed limit because of the minimal taper on the piers. The inspection report added: "When again visiting the spot I should wish, if possible, to have an opportunity of observing the effects of high wind when a train of carriages is running over the bridge".<ref>[http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BoT_TayInquiryAppendix1880.pdf "Tay Bridge Disaster: Appendix to the Report Of The Court of Inquiry."] ''railwaysarchive.co.uk'', 9 April 1880. p. 42.</ref>

[[File:Tay bridge down.JPG|thumb|Tay bridge following the collapse]]
On 1 June 1878, the Tay Bridge was opened for passenger traffic,<ref>{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=John| author-link = John Thomas (author) |title=The North British Railway, vol. 1 |year=1969 |publisher=[[David & Charles]] |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-4697-0}}</ref> with formal opening ceremonies having taken place during the previous day, in the course of which Thomas Bouch was made a [[burgess (title)|burgess]] of Dundee "in respect of his meritorious services as engineer of the bridge.&nbsp;..."<ref>Millar, A. H. 'Roll of Eminent Burgesses of Dundee 1513–1886.' Dundee, 1887. Retrievable at [https://archive.org/details/rolleminentburg00scogoog]</ref> On 20 June 1879, [[Queen Victoria]] crossed the bridge during her return south from staying at [[Balmoral Castle|Balmoral]]; Bouch was presented to her before she did so. On 26 June 1879, he was knighted by the Queen at [[Windsor Castle]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=The Queen has been graciously pleased to confer the honour of knighthood upon Thomas Bouch|date=24 June 1879|work=Aberdeen Evening Express}}</ref>