BRUNEL’S TIMBER BRIDGES AND VIADUCTS

Widely considered to be one of the greatest engineers ever produced by Britain, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was undoubtedly an iconic figure both for contemporaries as well as those who, 200 years after his birth, still marvel at the phenomenal achievements of his relatively short life. A master in the use of many materials – from brick in the viaduct over the Thames at Maidenhead to iron in his great steam ships – when it came to the construction of railways he proved himself equally adept in the use of wood for the construction of bridges and viaducts, setting him apart from most other British railway engineers who preferred to use brick, stone or iron for such structures. Many of the wooden-built viaducts that Brunel designed survived for many years; indeed it was only during the early decades of the 20th century that the final wooden viaducts on the Great Western main line through Cornwall were replaced.

Brian Lewis, the chairman of the Stephenson Locomotive Society, has been researching the history of Brunel’s wooden bridges and viaducts for many years. Drawing upon the records of the GWR held by such bodies as the National Archives and the National Railway Museum and in various county record offices, the book shows how prevalent the use of wooden bridges and viaducts was across the entire Great Western Railway and its satellite companies. Traditionally associated primarily with Cornwall, wooden structures designed by Brunel could be found almost anywhere on the broad gauge, from the Home Counties through to the Cotswolds. Illustrated throughout, with both contemporary engineering drawings and photographs of the structures in use, Brunel’s Timber Bridges and Viaducts represents a detailed study into this important, but often overlooked, facet of Brunel’s work.

With interest in Brunel heightened as a result of the bicentenary celebrations in 2006, this new addition to the well-received publications produced by Ian Allan Publishing on this most individualistic of engineers is certain to be required reading for all those interested in the history of Brunel and the GWR as well as all engineers interested in the history of their profession. There will in addition be a strong local interest in the areas served by the former Great Western Railway in England and Wales

Author: Brian Lewis
Format: HB 144 pages
Publisher: Ian Allan Ltd
Pub date: June 2007
ISBN: 9780711032187

List Price: £24.99