Online Catalogue last updated 25th of June 2012
One of the greatest engineers ever produced by Britain, Isambard Kingdom BruneI left a legacy of a phenomenal range of constructions in his relatively short life. He was 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 - and 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. In this he was unusual amongst British railway engineers who preferred to use brick, stone or iron for such structures. Many of the wooden-built viaducts that BruneI 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.
Brunels Timber Bridges and Viaducts is the result of many years' research by Brian Lewis. Drawing upon the records of the GWR held by such bodies as the National Archives, the National Railway Museum and county record offices, the book shows how prevalent the use of wooden bridges and viaducts was across the entire Great Western Railway and its associated companies. Traditionally associated primarily with Cornwall, wooden structures designed by Brunel could be found any where 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 is a detailed study into this important, but often overlooked, facet of Brunel's work.
This book is essential reading for all those interested in the history of Brunel and the GWR as well as for engineers interested in the history of their profession.
Code No. 012842, 144 pages, ISBN 9780711032187, $78.00