History
Details about the Tay Bridge disaster and subsequent anniversary hauntings can be found on our Haunted Dundee page. |
| An estimate of 75 men,women and children, passengers and crew, on the Burntisland to Dundee train, known as the 'Edinburgh', lost their lives when the high girders of the bridge collapsed. The train, due to arrive in Dundee at 7.15 pm, plunged 88 feet into the Tay during the stormy night of 28th December 1879. There were no survivors and 29 of the bodies were never recovered despite all attempts to find them. The most unconventional approach for the time was used on one occasion when a female psychic was taken out into the river in a small yacht in an attempt to locate more bodies. She claimed to have sensed a man's body by the Middle Bank but the trawl used to search the area could not reach the river bed at the spot indicated.
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28th December 2007
Since Paranormal Discovery is a Dundee based team, it seemed a waste to let another year slip by without visiting the site of Dundee's most famous ghost stories. So on the 28th December 2007 the team crossed the river Tay to watch the bridge at the appointed time (7.15pm) from the bank of the river at Wormit, Fife.
The actual site for the vigil was carefully chosen to allow the team to come as close as possible to the old bridge site. A small jetty was found which was ideally situated next to the first two 'stumps' of the now demolished bridge. The Fife side was selected as the vantage point because the ill-fated train never actually made it across to Dundee, having fallen into the Tay after reaching the high girders.
After settling down just before 7pm in front of a small boat shed, the investigators soon started talking about the terrible events of December the 28th 1879. The light wind and drizzle on the night of the investigation was of little comparison to the storm that raged on the night of the disaster, hampering rescue attempts. Indeed, the first rescue mission was not possible until 10pm by which time all of the 75 victims would have perished. The bravery of John Watt, an off duty railwayman, was acknowledged (he had ran the 4 miles to Leuchars station to raise the alarm. He was so distressed upon arrival that a doctor was summoned. He was disbelieved at first till the story was confirmed later by telegraph). The other forgotten men who had lost their lives during the construction of the bridge were also remembered. They had their lives cut short by drowning, explosion, or from having been blown off the bridge. It was no surprise to the team, then, that the area near the bridge had a depressing and gloomy feel to it and was disliked by all.
Only a short time was spent outdoors due to the cold weather and the team soon retreated to the warmth of the Taybridge Halt. The walls of this pub were adorned with old photographs including some post-disaster ones. Several people could be heard chatting about the accident and the so-called ghost train and how, on this night, it was supposed to cross the bridge. Either the train itself or its lights are said to be visible as it crosses the bridge to the area of the high girders where it then falls into the water below. Some stories elaborate on this by adding in the sight of the engine's lights, shining from the depths of the river.
The ghost sightings were discussed and it was noted these do not tie in with the facts. The old bridge was demolished following the accident and recycled, most of the metal was incorporated into the new structure. The old brick pillars, known as 'stumps', are clearly visible to the east of the second bridge. So the new rail track actually follows a route several feet to the west of the original. Have the witnesses to the phantom train actually seen it crossing the bridge ? Or did they just assume that it was on the bridge itself rather than in mid-air following a long gone track?
Conclusion
Nothing of note was captures on audio, video or on photograph. As soon as the team arrived on site, it was agreed that evidence collection would be futile. What had started out as an investigation became a simple 'ghost-watch'. The inaccessibility of the location, the poor weather conditions and the number of other 'ghost hunters' lined up along the river, hoping to catch sight of the phantom train, were all barriers to a decent investigation. Any photographic anomalies could not have been accepted. Various flashes of light could have been warning lights, rail signals or torchlight from others watching the bridge or railway personnel. Audio recordings were also pointless due to the presence of other people nearby and the noise of the waves breaking on the shore (which sounded like murmuring voices at times). The weather too was not conducive to evidence collection. Raindrops and water spray could easily have resulted in photographic anomalies. The light wind would also negate any sightings of movement or shadows near/on the bridge or in the water (loose tarpaulins or rubbish being blown about were possibilities).
Despite the limitations imposed on the team, the night did not pass without some interesting events, all between 7-7.15pm. Three of the team were witness to strange lights. Tori saw a bright beam of light pass over her as she sat on the jetty. Nobody had shone a torch and she was actually shielded by the boat shed from view of the other group standing on the stairs above. Mike saw a flashing light high up on the metal supports of the high girders. Natalie saw a wide area, tens of feet across, being illuminated for a few seconds by an unknown light source. Mike's camera suddenly stopped working despite having had new batteries inserted that night. Several photos had been taken prior to this although only 3 had been saved. The remaining 17 or so had somehow been deleted when the camera malfunctioned. The camera is now working perfectly well.
In retrospect was the 'investigation' worthwhile ? As far as evicence collection goes, then 'no'. As far as the historical knowledge acquired and the emotions which surfaced during the research process and the vigil itself, then 'yes' it was very worthwhile.
