Previous | Next :: Clifton Suspension Bridge : Bristol : UK | April 4, 2012, 8:56 pm

When I was a kid my fave historical figure was Isambard Kingdom Brunel ............ odd but true......

He was the engineer who in many ways began the modern era of transport systems we would recognize to day........... he designed the engines and track for the great Western Railway ..... he built bridges and tunnels....... I loved that photo of him in front of the huge chains for the anchor of one of his giant ships .........

As a small child I was taken to see the recently salvaged hulk of the SS Gt Britain ........ it had just been dragged out of the mud of the Falklands where it had been scuttled...... finally it was receiving recognition as an important relic ..... the first passenger liner of the modern age ....... a huge metal ship with a propeller........... nothing had ever existed like it before when it was launched in 1843 ....... it went on to sail round the world and complete over a million sea miles...... it was the transitional vessel from the age of old wooden ships....... this ship was the important precursor to modern liners and freight vessels of today...... I saw it again today after years and years of work it is restored to something very close to its former glory worth a visit if you are in Bristol :-))

I also went up to the Clifton suspension Bridge ....... another amazing bit of engineering designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel ........ he did amazing things to match his amazing name..........

Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

www.jezblog.com