It was the 28th of December 1879,
As a gale swept over the land,
The wind and rain causing mayhem,
But the train left Edinburgh as planned,
Bound for Dundee on that cold wintry night,
The steam trains progress was good,
With the engineers stoking her boiler,
Everything seemed like it should,
Passengers going to meet loved ones,
And bring in a Happy New Year,
No one would ever think different,
Or dream that disaster was near,
The train reached the bridge at 7.14,
And started to cross the Tay,
She was seen running along the rails,
Then suddenly she was gone and away,
Word got out as soon as it could,
The main girders had collapsed in the gale,
But with the wind and rain blowing heavy,
Any rescue was bound to fail,
It was later next day before the weather died down,
And any boats could get to the scene,
But no survivors had made it,
With the icy waters so mean,
Seventy five passengers had perished,
But still are thought of today,
The night the girders collapsed,
On the rail bridge crossing the Tay.
