ViewLogo

The Newport, Wormit & Forgan Archive

Tay Bridge & Dundee Union Railway, 1864

The first proposals to get as far as Parliamentary plans for a bridge over the Tay.

Background information is in the blog - The Tay Bridge and Dundee Union Railway.

Original proposal (no plans), October 1864:

                  Tay Bridge & Dundee Union Railway.

  At the Dundee end, the bridge was to run to Craig Pier and the line would then turn west.

 

 

Final proposal (with plans), end of November 1864:

                Tay Bridge & Dundee Union Railway.

  At the Dundee end, the line was to turn east and run into the town (shown dotted).

Originally the result of suggestions for a bridge from Tayport across to Hare Craig (at West Ferry), the Tay Bridge & Dundee Union Railway was presented by Thomas Bouch, its engineer, to the Dundee public on 26 October 1864. He proposed a bridge to run from Newport (exact location unknown but from the number of spans, 64, probably Craighead) to Craig Pier (now Discovery Point) where the line would turn west to run to a station. It was envisaged that it would be complemented by a railway on the Fife side from Tayport to Newport, where it would have sufficient height to enable the bridge to cross the river, and another direct line from Newport to Leuchars1. A central station in Dundee was proposed with links to the other railways coming into the town.

There was considerable discussion and argument locally, eventually leading to many changes.

The proposed Bill to go before Parliament was published on 22 November 18642. It was for a railway to run from the station at Ferryport-on-Craig (Tayport) and terminate just west of the Craig Pier.

But the detailed plans3 which had to be submitted to the Sheriff Clerk before the proposals could go to Parliament show the Dundee landfall of the bridge to be just to the east of Magdalen Point (near where the present railway bridge has its landfall). The plans were described in detail in the local press4. They show a line from the station at Tayport running along near the coast to Newport, then round to Woodhaven, from where a bridge, now with 80 spans, would be built directly across the river towards Magdalen Point, but turning eastwards at the north end continuing to a station opposite the foundry of the Scottish Central Railway. These plans were deposited on 30 November - change had been rapid.

Although confusing to many, the plans do not contradict the proposed Parliamentary Bill since the proposed Bill only mentions the end point of the railway (west of Craig Pier) and does not detail its route.

The line was never built - killed off by too many vested interests (Dundee Harbour Trust, Dundee Town Council, Perth Town Council & competing railway companies). Officially postponed in Parliament May 18655. The planned route from Tayport station to Castle Brae in Newport was used for the first planned Newport Railway.

References:
1. Dundee Advertiser, 18 October 1864, p2 & 27 October 1864, p3 (all newspapers available at British Newspaper Archive)
2. Edinburgh Gazette, 22 November 1864, p1559
3. Plans - at National Records of Scotland, ref. RHP24551
4. Dundee Advertiser, 1 December 1864, p2
5. Dundee Advertiser, 11 May 1865, p3

Additional reading:
Battle for the North, Charles McKean, 2007

 

Return to:    Railway Plans

 

These are the entries in the Books of Reference which accompany the various railway plans, RHP24551, held at the National Records of Scotland, but not online. The full plans are not on this site.

     There are 247 records.

Co.YearPlanRefDescriptionOwner or reputed ownerOccupier[Comments]Location
TB & DU1864RHP24551150Occupation roadJohn Berry, owners of 138 to 156 inclusive, and of 159 to 187 inclusive, Alex. RhindOwners; occupiers of 138 to 156 inclusive, and of 159 to 187 inclusive, John Hampton
TB & DU1864RHP24551151Garden groundMisses Ann, Catherine, Elizabeth & Margaret WilsonOwners
TB & DU1864RHP24551152Bleaching greenMisses Ann, Catherine, Elizabeth & Margaret WilsonOwners
TB & DU1864RHP24551153Arable fieldMisses Ann, Catherine, Elizabeth & Margaret WilsonOwners
TB & DU1864RHP24551154Garden ground and bleaching green with appurtenances, including well and piggeryThomas LandsmanThomas LandsmanLocation
TB & DU1864RHP24551155Stripe of ground for footpathJohn Berry, James Butchart and Mrs Agnes Butchart his wifeJohn Berry, James Butchart
TB & DU1864RHP24551156Dwelling house with garden ground before and behind and outhousesJames Butchart and Mrs Agnes Butchart his wifeJames ButchartLocation
TB & DU1864RHP24551157PlantationJohn BerryJohn Berry
TB & DU1864RHP24551158Occupation roadJohn Berry, owners of 151, 152, 153 and of 159 to 179 inclusiveThe owners; the occupiers of 150
TB & DU1864RHP24551159Dwelling house with coal house attached and small garden or entryMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Helen Thomson (lessee & occupier)Location
TB & DU1864RHP24551160Dwelling house with coal house attached and small garden or entryMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)David Galbraith (lessee & occupier)Location
TB & DU1864RHP24551161Dwelling house with passage and small garden in front and pigstye and lumber house behindMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Mrs Elspeth Haig (lessee & occupier)Location
TB & DU1864RHP24551162Dwelling house with passage and garden in frontMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)William Scott (lessee & occupier)Location
TB & DU1864RHP24551163Dwelling house with passage and garden in front and coal houseMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Mrs Elspeth Paterson & Mrs Isabel Scott (lessees & occupiers)Location
TB & DU1864RHP24551164Dwelling house with small garden in frontMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)William Walker (lessee & occupier)Location
TB & DU1864RHP24551165Dwelling house with passage and small garden in frontMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Mrs Irvine (lessee & occupier)Location
TB & DU1864RHP24551166Dwelling house with small garden in front and behindMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Robert Kidd (lessee & occupier)Location
TB & DU1864RHP24551167Dwelling house with small garden in frontMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)William Landsman (lessee & occupier)Location
TB & DU1864RHP24551168Washing house with small plot in front and entry and small garden on east endMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Robert Kidd (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551169Well & bleaching greenMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Occupiers of 159 to 168 inclusive
TB & DU1864RHP24551170Triangular piece of garden groundMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Mrs Haig, Helen Thomson & David Galbraith (lessees & occupiers)
TB & DU1864RHP24551171Piece of garden ground and piggeryMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)David Galbraith (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551172Piece of garden groundMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Mrs Elspeth Haig (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551173Piece of garden groundMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Helen Thomson (lessee); David Galbraith (occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551174Piece of garden groundMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)William Scott (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551175Piece of garden groundMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)William Landsman (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551176Piece of garden groundMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Mrs Scott & Mrs Paterson (lessees & occupiers)
TB & DU1864RHP24551177Piece of garden ground with washing house & pigstyeMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Robert Kidd (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551178Piece of garden ground & pigstyeMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)William Walker (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551179Piece of garden ground & pigstye & washing house & privyMrs Catherine Meldrum, only surviving trustee of Alexander Meldrum (Robert Kidd, factor)Mrs Irvine (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551180Dwelling houses & toofallsCharles JacksonCharles Jackson
TB & DU1864RHP24551180/1Old quarry and ground with footpath, well and piggeriesJohn BerryCharles Jackson, John Jackson, Mrs Ferrier, Mrs Hislop (lessees & occupiers)
TB & DU1864RHP24551180/2Coal houseJohn BerryCharles Jackson, John Jackson, Mrs Ferrier, Mrs Hislop (lessees & occupiers)
TB & DU1864RHP24551180/3Washing houseJohn BerryCharles Jackson, John Jackson, Mrs Ferrier, Mrs Hislop (lessees & occupiers)
TB & DU1864RHP24551181Garden ground with coal shed at cornerCharles JacksonCharles Jackson
TB & DU1864RHP24551182FootpathCharles JacksonCharles & John Jackson
TB & DU1864RHP24551183Dwelling house and court and outhousesJohn JacksonMrs Charlotte A Ferrier, Mrs Hislop (lessees & occupiers)
TB & DU1864RHP24551184Garden groundCharles JacksonJohn Jackson (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551185Garden groundCharles JacksonJohn Jackson & Mrs Hislop (lessees); Mrs Hislop (occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551186Arable fieldJohn BerryJames Scott (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551187Toofal or dwelling house, with small stripe in frontJohn JacksonJohn Jackson
TB & DU1864RHP24551188Occupation roadJohn BerryJohn Berry, James Scott
TB & DU1864RHP24551189Arable fieldJohn BerryJames Scott (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551190Clump of trees partially enclosedJohn BerryJohn Berry
TB & DU1864RHP24551191Garden ground enclosed with hedge and palingJohn BerryJames Scott (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551192Arable fieldJohn BerryJames Scott (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551193Bleaching greenJohn BerryJames Scott (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551194Washing house and dairy and patch of ground on south and west endJohn BerryJames Scott (lessee & occupier)
TB & DU1864RHP24551195Farm dwelling house with coal house, privy and ashpit attached at south endJohn BerryJames Scott (lessee & occupier)Location
TB & DU1864RHP24551196Private road and courtJohn BerryJames Scott (lessee & occupier)

Page 4 of 5      Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next

 

Return to:     Home Page   Railway Plans   Railway Plan References