Changes

==Ships==

==Ships==

Brunel astonished Britain by proposing to extend the GWR ''westward'' to North America by building steam-powered iron-hulled ships.  He designed and built three ships that revolutionized naval engineering.  The "SS Great Western" was by a factor of two largest ship of its day, a paddle-wheeled, wooden-hulled steamship of 2300 tons displacement.  The huge size meant there was ample room for fuel, as it demonstrated on its maiden run in 1838.  The "SS Great Britain," of 1843 was even more innovative--at 3018 tons, it was the first large iron ship, having a strong hull of riveted wrought-iron plates; and it was the first large screw-propelled ship (as opposed to paddle-wheeler). It made its first transatlantic voyage from Bristol to New York in 14 days (compared to 75 days for sailing ships). The "SS Great Britain"  launched the modern era of passenger ships. It was recovered in 1970 and relaunched in 2005 as a maritime museum. The Royal Navy soon adopted screw propellers in place of paddle wheels.  Finally came the “Great Eastern” (designed in 1853, finished in 1858, scrapped in 1889), at 680 feet long, displacing 22,000 tons, was the largest ship built before 1900.  Brunel made it so large that it could carry its own coal supply for a round trip to India. It was seriously underpowered with only 1600 horsepower, and handled Atlantic storms poorly.  It could hold 4000 passengers in comfort (when they were not seasick) it was a technological triumph; but it was far too big and expensive and became a financial disaster for Brunel and his backers. It never took passengers to India, but it did play a major role in communications history by laying four telegraph cables under the Atlantic, and others to link Bombay and Aden, in 1865-1872.

Brunel astonished Britain by proposing to extend the GWR ''westward'' to North America by building steam-powered iron-hulled ships.  He designed and built three ships that revolutionized naval engineering.  The "SS Great Western" was by a factor of two largest ship of its day, a paddle-wheeled, wooden-hulled steamship of 2300 tons displacement.  The huge size meant there was ample room for fuel, as it demonstrated on its maiden run in 1838.   

[[Image:ISAMBARD.JPG|thumb|left|340px]] The "SS Great Britain," of 1843 was even more innovative--at 3018 tons, it was the first large iron ship, having a strong hull of riveted wrought-iron plates; and it was the first large screw-propelled ship (as opposed to paddle-wheeler). It made its first transatlantic voyage from Bristol to New York in 14 days (compared to 75 days for sailing ships). The "SS Great Britain"  launched the modern era of passenger ships. It was recovered in 1970 and relaunched in 2005 as a maritime museum. The Royal Navy soon adopted screw propellers in place of paddle wheels.  Finally came the “Great Eastern” (designed in 1853, finished in 1858, scrapped in 1889), at 680 feet long, displacing 22,000 tons, was the largest ship built before 1900.  Brunel made it so large that it could carry its own coal supply for a round trip to India. It was seriously underpowered with only 1600 horsepower, and handled Atlantic storms poorly.  It could hold 4000 passengers in comfort (when they were not seasick) it was a technological triumph; but it was far too big and expensive and became a financial disaster for Brunel and his backers. It never took passengers to India, but it did play a major role in communications history by laying four telegraph cables under the Atlantic, and others to link Bombay and Aden, in 1865-1872.

 

==Personality==

==Personality==

Brunel was had quick mind, an unusually rich imagination, and a charismatic driving forceful personality that brooked no opposition.  He was active in many public affairs.  The “Napoleon of engineers,” he thought more of glory than profit.<ref> Obituary in ‘’The Scientific American” Oct 18, 1862 p 251 at [ http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/moa-cgi?notisid=ABF2204-1007-18]</ref> He died young, leaving an estate of  under £90,000, having lost much of his fortune in the “Great Eastern” venture.  

Brunel was had quick mind, an unusually rich imagination, and a charismatic driving forceful personality that brooked no opposition.  He was active in many public affairs.  The “Napoleon of engineers,” he thought more of glory than profit.<ref> Obituary in ‘’The Scientific American” Oct 18, 1862 p 251 at [ http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/moa-cgi?notisid=ABF2204-1007-18]</ref> He died young, leaving an estate of  under £90,000, having lost much of his fortune in the “Great Eastern” venture.