Premium
Brunel's coastal railway
Author(s) -
Fookes Peter G.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geology today
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.188
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1365-2451
pISSN - 0266-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2451.2007.00595.x
Subject(s) - genius , bridge (graph theory) , archaeology , geology , oceanography , history , art history , medicine
In 2006 the engineering profession (and many others) celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The list of Brunel's engineering successes is extensive, including the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, and the Thames Tunnel, and his influence is felt world‐wide. Although not usually quoted as one of his iconic masterpieces, Brunel's stretch of coastal railway from Dawlish Warren to Teignmouth in southern England (South Devon) is an early Victorian engineering triumph that has a close connection with geology. Although having many initial technical problems, subsequent breaches and continual need for maintenance, it still stands today as a monument to Brunel's genius. It has, however, influenced coastal processes, and has yet to face the predicted global warming sea level rises.