two girders)) The actual strength fell below this because of the casting defect; "The sectional area of the bottom flange would at one place be reduced from 36 (sq) ins to only 28 (sq) ins, thus enormously reducing the strength of the girder" It was considered that the fault could not have been detected by routine inspections, so no blame attached to those responsible for inspecting the bridge, but this conclusion gave the BoT inspector considerable concern For, if one such girder, which was of sufficient theoretical strength when cast, and which, being in constant use for 25 years, had never shown any signs of weakness or any outward flaw, suddenly breaks down, owing to a defect which must have existed when it was originally made, and laid latent ever since, it is very difficult to know what steps should be taken to guard against the recurrence of a like disaster. Aftermath The railway's 8 bridges with similar double structure were replaced as quickly as possible, and a warning was circulated to all British railways with similar cast iron under-bridges. Little further action was taken until the 1891 Norwood Junction rail accident of a first class train which injured 1 businessman because of a cast iron girder fracture from a latent defect. References 1882 in Scotland Bridge disasters in the United Kingdom Bridge disasters caused by construction error History of Aberdeenshire Derailments in Scotland Railway accidents in 1882 Transport in Aberdeenshire Accidents and incidents involving Great North of Scotland Railway 19th century in Aberdeenshire November 1882 events 1882 disasters in the United Kingdom