HISTORY NOTES / NOTES HISTORIQUES REG WALLACE CHAIR NATIONAL HISTORY COMMITTEE ALISTAIR MACKENZIE P.ENG., FCSCE, RYERSON UNIVERSITY (Brunel’s original Temple Meads station) to recognize the Great Western Railway as an ASCE/ICE joint Historic Landmark. Sir Neil Cossons, chairman of English Heritage introduced Bristol’s Deputy Mayor who wel- comed us to Bristol. ASCE President Dennis Martenson described the GWR’s position in engineering history and the Historic plaque was unveiled by the ASCE and ICE Presidents. Brunel Bicentenary Conference railway depot for a cere- Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born on mony to “name” the spe- 9 April, 1806. Today he is the best known cial train which was to of the Victorian engineers through his inno- take attendees and other vative designs, many of which are still in guests to the conference existence. Brunel was an imaginative genius in Bristol on the fol- challenged by the impossible. Some of his lowing day. ! e “head- LEFT PHOTO Brunel-Clifton Bridge Plaque RIGHT PHOTO Brunel-Clifton Suspension Bridge projects were disappointments such as the board” mounted on the atmospheric propulsion system for the South vintage steam locomotive “King Edward I” ! is day of Brunel tributes ended with Devon Railway. Others were great hits such was duly unveiled by ICE President Gordon an evening civic reception on board Brunel’s as the Great Western Railway, the S.S. Great Masterton and the train offi cially named the famous iron ship, the SS Great Britain during Britain, and the Saltash Bridge across the “Isambard Kingdom Brunel”. which the ICE, ASCE and CSCE parties were Tamar River. On July 5th, together with some 150 presented to His Royal Highness the Duke of It is unusual that a structure be built as other guests, we checked in at Paddington Gloucester. Following this reception, we toured a memorial to an engineer after his death. First Class Waiting Room for the Brunel the beautifully restored ship and were able to However this did occur with the Clifton Bicentenary Special. ! e train consisted see the newly installed replica engines turning Suspension Bridge across the Avon Gorge of carriages of the Venice-Simplon Orient (although no longer powered by steam). in Bristol. Brunel had won a competition in Express pulled by the “King Edward I” loco- On the evening of July 6, Brunel’s “Train 1830 for the design of the bridge but it was motive. With a champagne reception on the Shed” was transformed into a spectacular never completed in his lifetime. After Brunel’s platform, the South Bank Sinfonia to see us space for a gala dinner. ! e stage had a back- demise two of his colleagues completed the off , and several TV crews fi lming the event, drop of the Clifton Suspension bridge and we design and the bridge, as shown, was opened there was quite a party atmosphere. were entertained by a jazz band and the Band in 1864. All passengers were provided with of the Royal Air Force Regiment. A highlight Because of the public’s fascination with a “! rough the Window” guide to items of the evening was the auctioning of the Brunel, many events celebrated his bicente- of interest on the 190 km journey. ! ese train “headboard”. Bidding was brisk and the nary in England this year. included Brunel’s notable structures, such as eventual successful bidder was ICE President ! e fi rst “action” of the Brunel Bicentenary the Wharncliff e Viaduct, Maidenhead Bridge Gordon Masterton! Conference, attended by delegations from and the Box Tunnel. We arrived in Bristol All who attended seemed very pleased with ICE, ASCE and CSCE, took place on the Temple Meads at around 2:30 pm, and then the success of these activities and you have evening of July 4. A small group from all three assembled in the “Brunel Board Room” of the to think that if I.K. Brunel himself had been organizations traveled to Old Oak Common British Empire and Commonwealth Museum there, he too might have been impressed! n 26 • CANADIAN CIVIL ENGINEER • AUTUMN 2006.