For the Note on the Carbonic Acid Gas Engine which follows Chapter I., I am indebted to Mr. William Hawes; and for Chapter VI. (on the Atmospheric System) to Mr. Froude, F.R.S.
I have also printed letters, written to me at my request, relating to various incidents in my father’s life.
The assistance I received in the preparation of the chapters on Steam Navigation from my friend the late Captain Claxton, R.N., has been referred to in the note to p. 234.
I have throughout availed myself of my brother’s professional knowledge.
I have been compelled, in order to bring the work within the compass of a single volume, to omit much that would otherwise have been inserted, and I must therefore be held responsible for the general arrangement of those parts which have been contributed by others, as well as for the chapters which I have written myself.
Lastly, I desire gratefully to thank those friends who, by supplying me with materials and revising the proof sheets, have helped me in my endeavour to make this book, as far as possible, an accurate record of my father’s life, written in the spirit of which he would have approved.
I. B.
18 Duke Street, Westminster:
November, 1870.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
List of Reports and Other Original Documents | [xvii] |
List of Illustrations | [xxvii] |
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| EARLY LIFE. | |
| A.D. 1806—1828. | |
Birth of Mr. Brunel, April 9, 1806—Sir Marc Isambard Brunel—TheBlock Machinery—Mr. Brunel’s School Life—The ThamesTunnel—Sinking of the Rotherhithe Shaft—Description of theShield—Extracts from Sir Isambard Brunel’s Journals from theCommencement of the Thames Tunnel to the date of the SecondIrruption of the River, January 12, 1828—Note A: The BourbonSuspension Bridges—Note B: Experiments with Carbonic AcidGas. | [1] |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| THE CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE. | |
| A.D. 1829—1853. ÆTATIS 24—48. | |
Origin of the Undertaking—The First Competition, November 1829—Descriptionof Mr. Brunel’s Plans—Mr. Telford’s Decision asUmpire—Mr. Telford’s Design—The Second Competition—Mr.Brunel appointed Engineer, March 1831—Commencement of theWorks, August 1836—Description of the Design—Abandonmentof the Works, 1853—Formation of a New Company and Completionof the Bridge, 1864—Note: The Hungerford Suspension Bridge | [46] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| EARLY HISTORY OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. | |
| A.D. 1833—1835. ÆTATIS 27—30. | |
Sketch of the History of Railways in England prior to 1833—TheStockton and Darlington—The Liverpool and Manchester—TheLondon and Birmingham—Proposed Railway between Londonand Bristol—Mr. Brunel appointed Engineer, March 7, 1833—Surveyof the Line—Unsuccessful Application to Parliament in1834—Successful Application in 1835—Reminiscences of Mr.Brunel, 1833-1835—Extract from Mr. Brunel’s Diary, written atthe close of 1835 | [61] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| RAILWAY WORKS. | |
| A.D. 1835—1859. ÆTATIS 30—54. | |
Construction of the Great Western Railway—The Box Tunnel—TheBath and Bristol Stations—The Paddington Station—TheGreat Western Hotel—Branches and Extensions of the GreatWestern Railway—The Bristol and Exeter Railway—Railwaysin Devonshire and Cornwall—Railways to Basingstoke, to Weymouth,and to Salisbury—In South Wales—In Ireland—In Italy—InIndia—Supervision of Works—Mr. Brunel’s EngineeringStaff—His Reputation as a Witness—Reminiscences of Mr. Brunel,1835-1838 | [79] |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| THE BROAD GAUGE. | |
Origin of the Ordinary Gauge of Railways—Adoption by Mr. Brunelof the Broad Gauge on the Great Western Railway—Reasons forits Adoption—The Permanent Way—Reports of Mr. NicholasWood and Mr. John Hawkshaw, 1838—Extract from Report ofDirectors of Great Western Railway Company (December 20,1838)—Extension of the Broad Gauge System—Break of Gauge—RoyalCommission on the Gauge of Railways, 1845—Letter ofMr. Brunel on the Broad Gauge (August 6, 1845)—Gauge Act of1846—The Mixed Gauge—Report of Railway Commissioners,1847—Northern Extensions of the Great Western Railway—Advantagesof the Broad Gauge—Partial Abandonment of theBroad Gauge | [99] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| THE ATMOSPHERIC SYSTEM. | |
| A.D. 1840—1848. ÆTATIS 35—43. | |
Preliminary Observations—The South Devon Railway—Descriptionof the Atmospheric System—History of its Introduction prior to1844—Report by Mr. Brunel, recommending its Adoption on theSouth Devon Railway (August 19, 1844)—Examination of thisReport—Mr. Brunel’s Evidence before the Select Committee onAtmospheric Railways, 1845—History of the Application of theSystem on the South Devon Railway, 1844-1848—Report onState of Works (August 28, 1847)—Report on Causes of Failure(August 19, 1848)—Abandonment of the System, September1848—Note: Comparison of Stationary and Locomotive Power | [131] |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| RAILWAY BRIDGES AND VIADUCTS. | |
1. Brickwork and Masonry Bridges—Hanwell Viaduct—MaidenheadBridge—Flying Bridges—Letter from Mr. Brunel on BridgeConstruction (December 30, 1854)—2. Timber Bridges—SonningBridge—Bath Bridge—Stonehouse Viaduct—Bourne Viaduct—St.Mary’s Viaduct—Viaducts on the South Devon Railway—Ivy-bridge—Viaductson the South Wales Railway—Newport—Landore—Viaductson the Cornwall Railway—St. Pinnock—Viaductson the West Cornwall and Tavistock Railways—Preservationof Timber—3. Cast-iron Bridges—Letter on Use of Cast Iron(April 18, 1849)—Hanwell Bridge—Experiments on Cast-ironGirders—Extract from Letter to Secretary of Commission on Applicationof Iron to Railway Structures (March 13, 1848)—4.Wrought-iron Bridges—Girder Bridges—Experiments onWrought-iron Girder—Opening Bridges—Trussed Bridges—NewportViaduct—Windsor Bridge—Chepstow Bridge—Method ofSinking the Cylinders—Description of the Main Truss—TheFloating Operations—The Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash—TheCentre Pier—Description of the Superstructure—The Floatingand Raising of the Trusses—Opening of the Bridge by H. R. H.the Prince Consort—Note: Experiments on Matters connectedwith Bridge Construction | [171] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| STEAM NAVIGATION. THE ‘GREAT WESTERN’STEAM-SHIP. | |
| A D. 1835—1847. ÆTATIS 30—42. | |
Introduction to the Chapters on Steam Navigation—Formation ofthe Great Western Steam-Ship Company—Commencement ofthe Building of the ‘Great Western’—Report on Selection ofthe Builders of the Engines (June 18, 1836)—Statements of Dr.Lardner on the probable Failure of a line of Steam-ships betweenEngland and America—Voyage of the ‘Great Western’ to London—Completionof the Engines—Her return to Bristol—Fire onBoard, and Accident to Mr. Brunel—Voyage to New York—Comparisonbetween the Performances of the ‘Great Western’ andthe ‘Sirius’—Subsequent History of the ‘Great Western’—Note:Dimensions of the Ship and Engines | [231] |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| STEAM NAVIGATION. THE ‘GREAT BRITAIN’STEAM-SHIP. | |
| A.D. 1838—1847. ÆTATIS 33—42. | |
Commencement of the building of the ‘Great Britain’—Report onthe Engines (June 13, 1839)—Experiments on the Screw Propeller—ItsAdoption in the ‘Great Britain’—Completion of theShip—Her Voyage across the Atlantic—Stranding of the ‘GreatBritain’ in Dundrum Bay—Letter to Captain Claxton on theCondition of the ‘Great Britain’ and on the Means to be adoptedfor saving her (December 10, 1846)—Report to the Directors onthe same Subject (December 14, 1846)—Appointment of CaptainClaxton to superintend the Execution of Mr. Brunel’s Plans—Letterto Captain Claxton on the Difficulties to be overcome(December 29, 1846)—Report enclosing Captain Claxton’s Accountof the Erection of the Breakwater (February 27, 1847)—Reporton the Arrangements for Floating off the Ship (May 4, 1847)—SuccessfulAccomplishment of the Floating Operations—SubsequentHistory of the ‘Great Britain’—Note: Dimensions ofthe Ship and Engines | [246] |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
| STEAM NAVIGATION. INTRODUCTION OF THE SCREWPROPELLER INTO THE ROYAL NAVY. | |
| A.D. 1841—1844. ÆTATIS 36—39. | |
Appointment of Mr. Brunel to conduct Experiments for the Admiraltywith various Forms of the Screw Propeller, April 1841—Trialswith the ‘Polyphemus’—Opposition to Mr. Brunel’sExperiments—Trials with the ‘Rattler’, October 1843—October1844 | [283] |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
| STEAM NAVIGATION. THE ‘GREAT EASTERN’ STEAM-SHIP,FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE UNDERTAKINGTO THE LAUNCH. | |
| A.D. 1851—1857. ÆTATIS 46-52. | |
Introductory Observations—The Australian Steam NavigationCompany—Statement of Mr. Brunel’s Project of a Line of largeShips (June 10, 1852)—Adoption of his Plans by the EasternSteam Navigation Company—Extract from a Letter describing theScheme (July 1, 1852)—Letter to J. Scott Russell, Esq., on theForm and Dimensions of the Great Ship (July 13, 1852)—Reporton Mode of Proceeding (July 21, 1852)—Report on EnquiriesRelating to the Draught and Form of the Vessel (October 6, 1852)—Reporton the Proceedings of the Committee appointed to considerMr. Brunel’s Plans (March 21, 1853)—Tenders invited forthe Ship and Engines—Report on Tenders (May 18, 1853)—Preparationof the Contracts and Specifications—Extracts fromMr. Brunel’s Memoranda (A.D. 1852, 1853, 1854)—Letter on hisPosition and Duties as Engineer of the Company (August 16,1854)—Letter on an Article in a Newspaper (November 16,1854)—Report on the Undertaking (February 5, 1855)—Arrangementsproposed for obtaining Astronomical Observations—Letterto G. B. Airy, Esq., Astronomer Royal (October 5,1852)—Appointment of Mr. William Harrison to the Commandof the Ship—Memorandum on the Management of the Great Ship(October 1855)—Letter on the Duties of the Chief Engineer(March 19, 1857)—Suspension and Resumption of the Works | [289] |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
| STEAM NAVIGATION. THE ‘GREAT EASTERN’ STEAM-SHIP.THE LAUNCH. | |
| A.D. 1857, 1858. ÆTATIS 52. | |
Determination that the Ship should be launched broadside to theRiver—And that the Launch should be slow—Extracts from Mr.Brunel’s Report of February 1855—Reasons for the Adoption ofIron Sliding Surfaces—Description of the Ways and Cradles—Andof the Motive Power provided for launching the Ship—Memorandumon proposed Arrangements for the Launch (September 26,1857)—Letter to Captain Harrison on River Tackle (September 30,1857)—Letter on the Nature of the Operations (October 23, 1857)—Memorandumon general Arrangements and intended Mode ofProceeding (October 30, 1857)—History of the Launch, Nov. 3,1857 to January 31, 1858—Letter to the Directors (November 26,1857)—Report and Memorandum on the Launching Operations(December 17, 1857)—Floating the Ship—Note A: Experimentsand Observations on Friction—Note B: Letter to W. Froude,Esq. (February 2, 1858) | [340] |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | |
| STEAM NAVIGATION. THE ‘GREAT EASTERN’ STEAM-SHIP.COMPLETION AND SUBSEQUENT HISTORY. | |
| A.D. 1858, 1859. ÆTATIS 52-54. | |
| A.D. 1859-1870. | |
Preparations for completing the Ship—Formation of the GreatShip Company—Mr. Brunel’s Absence from England—Progressof the Works from his Return to his last Illness—Voyage to Weymouth—Explosionof Water-Heater—Storm at Holyhead—Descriptionof the Ship—Her first Voyage to New York, June 1860—SecondVoyage to New York, May 1861—Voyage with Troops toQuebec, June 1861—Fracture of Rudder Head and Destruction ofPaddlewheels, September 1861—Voyages in 1862—Accident offMontauk Point, August 27, 1862—Voyages in 1863—Formationof the Great Eastern Steam-Ship Company—Remarks on theHistory of the ‘Great Eastern’ previous to her Employment inlaying Submarine Telegraph Cables—Telegraph Expeditions of1865 and 1866—French Cable Expedition of 1869—Voyage toBombay and Aden, 1869, 1870—Concluding Remarks—Note:Dimensions of the Ship and Engines | [392] |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | |
| DOCK AND PIER WORKS. | |
| A.D. 1831—1859. ÆTATIS 26—54. | |
Monkwearmouth Docks, 1831—Bristol Docks—Floating Harbour,1832—Proposed Works at Portishead—New Lock at Bristol, 1845—BristolDock Gates—Plymouth Great Western Docks, 1847—BritonFerry Docks, 1851—Brentford Dock, 1856—Pier at MilfordHaven, 1857 | [417] |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | |
| MISCELLANEOUS WORKS. | |
The Great Exhibition of 1851—The Crystal Palace Water Towers,1853—Polygonal Rifle, 1852—Gunnery Experiments, 1854—FloatingGun-Carriage, 1854—Renkioi Hospital Buildings, 1855 | [445] |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] | |
| MR. BRUNEL’S PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS ANDPRACTICE. | |
Scheme of the Chapter—Mr. Brunel’s Position in relation to theCompanies of which he was Engineer—Letter on the Direction ofRailway Works in Italy (March 4, 1845)—Letter on the Positionof Joint Engineer (October 16, 1843)—Letter on the Position ofConsulting Engineer (December 30, 1851)—Letter on the Positionof the Engineer in relation to the Contractors (May 26, 1854)—Letterson the Position of the Engineer in relation to the Directors(April 15, 1850, December 6, 1851, January 22, 1857)—Mr.Brunel’s Assistants—Letters on Interference of Directors with theAssistant Engineers (January 19, 1842, January 28, 1842, January12, 1851)—Mr. Brunel’s Pupils—His Relations with other Engineers—Inventors—Letterin reply to an Inventor (September 17,1847)—Mr. Brunel’s Views as to State Interference—Letter on theRoyal Commission on the Application of Iron to Railway Structures(March 13, 1848)—Letter on a Proposal to obtain the Recognition inEngland of Decorations conferred at the Paris Exhibition of 1855(February 9, 1856)—Mr. Brunel’s Opinion on the Patent Laws—Memorandumfor Evidence before the Select Committee of the Houseof Lords on the Patent Laws, 1851—Extract from Observations onthe Patent Laws, made by Mr. Brunel at a Meeting of the Societyof Arts, March 26, 1856 | [474] |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] | |
| PRIVATE LIFE. | |
Reminiscences of Mr. Brunel’s Private Life—Removal to 18 DukeStreet, Westminster—His Marriage, 1836—Special Constable in1848—Mr. Brunel’s Love of Art—His Journey to Italy, 1842—Accidentwith the Half-Sovereign, 1843—Purchase of Propertyin Devonshire, 1847—His life at Watcombe—The Launch of the‘Great Eastern,’ 1857—Mr. Brunel’s Failing Health—Journeysto Switzerland and Egypt, 1858—Letter from Philæ (February 12,1859)—His last Illness—His Death, September 15, 1859—Funeral—Addressof Joseph Locke, Esq., M.P., at the Institutionof Civil Engineers, November 8, 1859 | [499] |
| [APPENDIX I.] | |
Report to the Directors of the Great Western Railway on the BroadGauge, &c. (August 1838) | [525] |
| [APPENDIX II.] | |
Report to the Directors of the Great Western Steam-Ship Company,recommending the Adoption of the Screw Propeller in the ‘GreatBritain’ Steam-ship (October 1840) | [539] |
| [559] | |