Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859)
He was born in Portsmouth and was a pioneer with a passion for perfection and one of the most versatile, audacious and inspirational engineers of the 19th century. Much of is fascinating work is still in daily use today.
Places to visit
Find out what life was like as a passenger or crew on Brunel’s great steam ship ss Great Britain, now fully restored in Bristol Docks. The ship is a unique survivor from Victorian times and forerunner of all modern shipping: the world’s first iron-hulled, screw propeller-driven, steam-powered passenger liner.
Spanning the beautiful Avon Gorge, this bridge was Brunel's favourite project, though tragically it was not completed until his death when his fellow engineers built it as a memorial to their great colleague. The bridge is an artwork in itself, a triumph of engineering, and the marvel of Bristol. A special exhibition will be housed at the bridge for the 2006 celebrations.
His last project and possibly his greatest triumph as a railway engineer, carrying the Cornish railway between Devon and Cornwall.
Housed in Brunel's original Bristol Terminus for the GWR, it now houses the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, and you can see the original passenger shed where thousands of travelers passed through.
Discover the birth of modern tunnelling and the impact Brunel and his father Marc had on civil engineering. The engine house originally contained the steam driven pumps used to keep the Thames Tunnel clear of water.
Be amazed at how a legendary transport network was created and run, and see what it was like to travel on the GWR. It's a fascinating story of people, trains, stations and signal boxes. Follow the incredible story through imaginative displays and hands-on exhibits. Build a bridge and shunt wagons, have a go at putting a locomotive together, ride on our train-driving simulator and make believe you're an engine driver!
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