It is a strange sort of achievement when Wikipedia entry says of you "... who has been recognized as the worst poet in history." But few would dispute that the Scottish poet William McGonagall (1825 – 1902) was really, seriously bad. Many consider that McGonagall’s masterpiece of awfulness was his poem to mark the frightful 19th-century accident referred to in the question. The railway disaster occurred when the long bridge over the Firth of Tay collapsed during a gale, just as a train was passing over it: everyone on board perished.

The poem begins:

"Beautiful railway bridge of the silv'ry Tay

Alas! I am very sorry to say

That ninety lives have been taken away

On the last sabbath day of 1879

Which will be remember'd for a very long time."

The work concludes:

"Oh! Ill-fated bridge of the silv'ry Tay,

I now must conclude my lay

By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay,

That your central girders would not have given way,

At least many sensible men do say,

Had they been supported on each side with buttresses

At least many sensible men confesses,

For the stronger we our houses do build,

The less chance we have of being killed."

How did McGonagall achieve this unique standard? Perhaps the key is that he exhibited no recognition of, or concern for, his peers' opinions of opinions of his work.

The picture is an 1879 photograph of the aftermath of the accident. The remains of the bridge can still be seen to this day.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org