Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806–1859)

Civil and mechanical engineer

Isambard Kingdom Brunel is known as an engineering genius. His Great Western Railway was built for speed and efficiency, and his bold ideas and record-breaking structures are still important today. He combined great creativity with a daring vision, even if some of his projects were controversial.

Born on April 9, 1806, in Portsea near Portsmouth, Brunel was the third child of Marc Brunel, a French engineer, and Sophie Kingdom, an English mother. After studying in England and France, Brunel began an apprenticeship with his father on the Thames Tunnel project in London. He quickly became the resident engineer, gaining valuable experience in large-scale construction and learning about brickwork and cement, which helped him in his future projects.

The Great Western Railway

Brunel’s work on a proposed bridge over the River Avon at Clifton introduced him to the Bristol Railway Committee. In 1833, they hired him to survey a railway line between Bristol and London. He presented his plans after just three months. His ambitious scheme included carefully planned gradients to make the route as level and straight as possible for high-speed travel.

The Great Western Railway Act was approved by Parliament in 1835, and work on the 116-mile line began in 1836. The construction was more difficult and expensive than Brunel had estimated, especially due to the immense work needed for Box Tunnel near Bath. Shareholders, particularly in Liverpool, were unhappy with Brunel and tried to remove him from his position before the line was finished. However, his strong defense of the engineering secured his position, though there was ongoing debate about his use of the broad gauge.

Engineering feats

Brunel’s railway from London to Bristol required groundbreaking engineering. The Wharncliffe Viaduct (1837) was the first major structure he completed on the line. In 1839, he convinced the Great Western Railway (GWR) to install wires for the new electric telegraph system between Paddington and West Drayton, making it the first commercial electric telegraph installation.

The arches of the Maidenhead Bridge (1838) were the flattest brick arches ever built at the time. Box Tunnel (1840) was the largest project on the line and the longest tunnel ever constructed then. Brunel’s designs for the Windsor Bridge (1849) and the Chepstow Bridge (1852) influenced his work on the much larger Royal Albert Bridge (1859) for the Cornwall Railway. This bridge, which crosses the Tamar at Saltash, used both wrought iron tubular arches and suspension chains, giving it a unique look.

Grand designs

Throughout his career, Brunel worked on many engineering projects with varying success. He pioneered the ‘atmospheric railway’ for the South Devon Railway between Exeter and Newton Abbot. This system used stationary engines and a vacuum pipe to move trains. However, it faced many problems and was quickly abandoned.

Brunel’s vision to connect London and New York via Bristol by rail and sea became his legacy. The Great Western Railway created the Great Western Steamship Company for this venture and made Brunel its chief engineer. His first ship, the SS Great Western, was the largest steamship of its time. It was built to carry enough fuel for a non-stop journey across the Atlantic, which it successfully completed in 1838. His second ship, the SS Great Britain, was even larger and the first big ship made of iron. The SS Great Eastern was his biggest challenge. Built on a massive scale, its construction and launch in 1858 were difficult. Although not commercially successful, it was a precursor to modern cargo ships.

Brunel’s health declined, and he had a stroke on the SS Great Eastern. He was taken to his home in London, where he died on September 15, 1859, at age 53. He was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London. Memorials were quickly made, including adding ‘I K Brunel 1859’ to the Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash, which opened just before his death. This memorial is still visible today.