WI: Queen Victoria killed in 1879?

Mosshadow

Mosshadow

In our timeline the Tay Bridge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tay_Rail_Bridge , was built over the Firth of Tay. Shortly after its construction Queen Victoria traveled on it on June 20th, and then on December 28th it collapsed in high winds, killing 75 people.

Lets say that a combination of these factors occur:

1.The Queen is delayed in visiting the bridge and comes a few months later.
2.One of the many construction flaws is slightly more problematic than OTL.
3.High winds occur while the Queen is on the bridge.

Due to these factors the bridge fails killing the Queen and anyone traveling with her, sometime between June and December of 1879.
 

Alanith

Mosshadow said:
In our timeline the Tay Bridge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tay_Rail_Bridge , was built over the Firth of Tay. Shortly after its construction Queen Victoria traveled on it on June 20th, and then on December 28th it collapsed in high winds, killing 75 people.

Lets say that a combination of these factors occur:

1.The Queen is delayed in visiting the bridge and comes a few months later.
2.One of the many construction flaws is slightly more problematic than OTL.
3.High winds occur while the Queen is on the bridge.

Due to these factors the bridge fails killing the Queen and anyone traveling with her, sometime between June and December of 1879.
Click to expand...

Well I’d hate to be the builder who killed the Queen...
 

Byzantion

Mosshadow said:
In our timeline the Tay Bridge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tay_Rail_Bridge , was built over the Firth of Tay. Shortly after its construction Queen Victoria traveled on it on June 20th, and then on December 28th it collapsed in high winds, killing 75 people.

Lets say that a combination of these factors occur:

1.The Queen is delayed in visiting the bridge and comes a few months later.
2.One of the many construction flaws is slightly more problematic than OTL.
3.High winds occur while the Queen is on the bridge.

Due to these factors the bridge fails killing the Queen and anyone traveling with her, sometime between June and December of 1879.
Click to expand...
The cultural impact on a Victorian age cut short by decades and ended by disaster.
 

pjmidd

How much Victoria herself altered attitudes is debatable , an earlier Edward VII could be interesting as he ended up with good personal relations with France and poor ones with Germany. The main effect could be actually in Germany as Wilhelm II disliked Edward VII but was in awe of his Grandmother. Anglo German relations will be far worse once he comes to power and the naval race could start earlier (Edward VII was a strong supporter of modernizing the RN so if Wilhelm starts, he will follow ). WW1 could even start in 1901 if Germany backs the Boers and France is no longer isolated.
 

dcontreras

I would be curious how this would alter other situations with regards to the British and European Royal Families. The succession, the marriages, etc. For example, this would make Prince Albert Victor, Prince of Wales. Now he is in direct line of succession instead of his father being ahead of him. How might this alter a need to marry him off sooner. And supposedly some more heirs prior to the the real time date he dies in 1892, (Maybe he lives longer and does succeed.). Then what becomes of his brother, Prince George? Does he play into the succession of his Great Uncle Duke Ernst in Coburg? Does he stay in Britain and have a long time naval career? How about Victoria's youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice who was limited to whom she could marry because Victoria wanted to ensure she stayed close to her. Would Edward VII encourage some of the same marriages that aligned the British Royal families so close to the rest of Europe's crowned heads? And having his Uncle Bertie already a monarch before he becomes German Emperor in 1888, Wilhelm II might change his attitude towards him and Edward VII may also change his attitude one way or anther due to his being A King-Emperor before his nephew.
 

dcontreras

I assume you mean in Britain. That is a good point. Even through the British Empire flourished under Queen Victoria, it remained a male dominated and chauvinistic society. How might a male monarch, (Edward VII), fare with regards to political influence if he had a longer time to reign during the years prior to his actually becoming king.
 
Last edited:
Old1812

Old1812

I'm guessing the government will come down hard on the railways and their infrastructure. Perhaps some kind of oversight on railway bridges, tunnels, and the like, to make sure this never happens again.
 
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