Railway Giants: Brunel—The Mad Genius Who Dug a Tunnel and Rewrote History

Explore the fascinating life of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the engineer who transformed Great Britain by constructing the first tunnel under the Thames and the famous railway between London and Bristol. But his ambitions reached far beyond that—he dreamed of connecting London to New York by land and sea. This is a story of determination, innovation, and an indomitable will that overcame even the toughest challenges.

It’s 1806, and we find ourselves in Portsmouth, a port city in southern England. It’s here that a boy named Isambard is born to the prominent engineer Marc Brunel, who hails from France, and his wife Sophia, as noted by Network Rail.

At this time, Great Britain, of which England is a part, is engaged in the Napoleonic Wars, fighting as part of a coalition against the French emperor, who has been winning battles across Europe with remarkable speed. Great Britain is investing significant resources in the fight against the "usurper," making it Napoleon's most formidable opponent—a foe he respects enough to never attempt an invasion. Ultimately, Britain and its allies will defeat Napoleon multiple times, delivering the final blow nine years later at the famous Battle of Waterloo.

The wars with France are not the only significant strain on the royal treasury. By 1806, it has been 41 years since the brilliant James Watt invented the steam engine, an invention that will turn the wheels of history and spark the revolution that historians will later logically call the Industrial Revolution. Industrial factories will begin to spring up across England, particularly in the north, leading to a massive influx of people into cities that will expand rapidly. This is an era that, despite its many challenges, offers countless opportunities that were unimaginable to ordinary people for centuries.

But let’s return to Isambard, who will be sent by his parents to a boarding school in the port town of Hove, according to World History Encyclopedia. His father, being an engineer, is acutely aware of the opportunities that could open up for his son, so he spares no expense or effort on Isambard’s education.

After completing his studies in Hove, Isambard heads to France in 1820, where he attends schools in Caen and later Paris. Following this experience, he apprentices with the famous watchmaker Louis Breguet. In 1822, after finishing his education, Isambard returns to his native England. Upon his return, he works as an apprentice in the renowned workshop of Henry Maudslay in London, where he proves to be an exceptionally skilled draftsman and mathematician. He also develops a growing interest in architecture. Additionally, he becomes increasingly involved in his father’s engineering projects, particularly the construction of the tunnel under the River Thames in London.

London faces growing challenges with the lack of crossings over its main artery, the Thames River. It becomes evident that another route is essential, and this time, it must run beneath the river, not over it. Marc Brunel is entrusted with this difficult task, and he significantly involves his son Isambard in the project. Work on this ambitious tunnel begins in 1824. Unfortunately, the project is plagued by numerous setbacks, including several tunnel floodings. Isambard, who works as an independent engineer on the project, sustains several injuries during the construction.

The most serious of these injuries occurs in 1827 when Isambard falls into an uncovered water tank and is saved from drowning by the workers. Despite the many challenges, the grand tunnel, which will provide Isambard with invaluable experience and make his name known among professionals, is finally opened in 1843.

The London tunnel is not the only project occupying Isambard during this time. After the success of a railway bridge he designed over the River Avon in Clifton, he is asked to design a railway connection between Bristol and London. Isambard proposes an ambitious project for a 116-mile (187 km) line, designed with an unusually low gradient for the time to enable higher speeds.

The project is approved, and construction begins in 1836. The line, built with a broad gauge of 2,134 mm, becomes costly, especially due to the many bridges and tunnels required to maintain the low gradient. Among the many structures built along this line are the Wharncliffe Viaduct, Maidenhead Bridge, and Box Tunnel. The project’s budget is exceeded, but Isambard remains at the helm until its completion despite efforts by some shareholders to remove him. The line is opened in stages between 1838 and 1841.

In 1836, Isambard marries Mary Elizabeth Horsley, who will stand by his side until his death. She comes from an artistically inclined family, as her father, William Horsley, was a composer and organist. Together, they have three children: a daughter, Florence Mary, and two sons, Isambard and Henry Marc, the latter of whom will follow in his father’s footsteps to become a successful engineer.

Due to the great success of the London-Bristol railway, Isambard is appointed chief engineer of the Great Western Railway. Not one to rest on his laurels, Isambard conceives a new project: connecting London to New York by rail and sea. The plan is to use the existing London-Bristol railway, from where passengers would then be transported by ship to New York. The project is well received by shareholders, and a separate company, the Great Western Steamship Company, is established for it. Following his own design, Isambard builds the largest steamship of its time for this ambitious project.

Sadly, Isambard, a heavy smoker, doesn’t accomplish much more. His health has been deteriorating for some time, and it seems almost inevitable when he suffers a stroke aboard a ship. Though he is taken back to his home at 18 Duke Street in London, nothing more can be done. The visionary engineer passes away at home on September 15, 1859, at the age of 53. He is buried in the family tomb at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.

Memorials quickly appear on the portals at both ends of the Royal Albert Bridge near Plymouth, which Isambard designed but did not live to see opened. The inscription "I K Brunel 1859" is still visible on the bridge today.

Source: Network Rail; World History Encyclopedia