Brunel: The Man Who Built Britain - CH5 Fridays at 8pm

[Envoy]

I have just watch the first episode of ‘Brunel: The Man Who Built Britain’ - Channel 5 Fridays at 8pm. What an excellent programme with a first rate presenter in Rob Bell. The use of drones for filming certainly brings a new dimension to modern TV programmes.

http://www.channel5.com/show/brunel-the-man-who-built-britain/

 

[MotorcycleAlan]

Totally agree. In fact all of Rob's various programmes over several years have benefited from a passionate and genuine engineer talking about a subject that clearly still excites him. If only more people were inspired by his enthusiasm to take up a career in engineering we might find a new Brunel is waiting to be discovered. Looking forward to part 2 next week.

 

[meolebrace]

My nephew wants to be an engineer.

Brunel is remarkable in that he had no calculator or computer.

 

[birchesgreen]

Yes though he would have had rooms full of clever chaps to do all the planning and calculations.

These days he could just do it all on his laptop!

 

[coppercapped]

Before 'computers' became things, they were people. (Really!)

 

[Elecman]

Doesn’t appear to be on My 5 Catch Up yet

 

[geoffk]

Just watched the first episode, not realising it was a repeat until I saw this discussion. I grew up in Bristol and a few years ago visited the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe. An excellent programme, I thought, and just the thing to inspire today's engineers.

 

[DarloRich]

shame he chose the wrong gauge...................

 

[geoffk]

shame he chose the wrong gauge...................

Well yes, that and the atmospheric railway in South Devon. The broad gauge failed not because of any technical fault but because the Gauge Commission ruled in favour of the greater mileage of standard gauge. Perhaps the atmospheric system was ahead of its time as the materials available to Brunel were not up to the job.

 

[6Gman]

In what sense did he "build Britain"?

I'd have thought Stephenson or Telford would be more deserving of that title.

 

[birchesgreen]

True Brunel seems to have gained this aura over the last few years, ever since he did so well in the greatest Britons programme, so blame Clarkeson

 

[Flying Phil]

What I find fascinating about Brunel is that he was the engineer in charge of so many areas/projects at the same time - and yes, he did have a team working under his direction. But to do all the surveying on foot/horseback/coach for the GWR in only (I think it said) 7 weeks!
The design and construction of the longest Tunnel, Railway/Bridge/Ship!! Truly a genius.

 

[gordonthemoron]

nice ships too

 

[Spartacus]

He set the standard: for engineering projects going vastly over budget!

 

[eastdyke]

In what sense did he "build Britain"?
I'd have thought Stephenson or Telford would be more deserving of that title.

I guess it may be a little play on the fact that he did design SS Great Britain?
And James Brindley (1716-72) would be on my contenders list - even if he could only build narrow canals. He pretty much started the network as we know it.

 

[Warwick]

He set the standard: for engineering projects going vastly over budget!

It's funny how people always seem to ignore that fact. Was there anything that he did that didn't go over budget or timetable?

 

[Busaholic]

Don't forget there were two Brunels, both of whom deserve all the plaudits going.