Brunel's Great Britain (1998)
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1h 0min
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- Synopsis:
Brunei was undoubtedly a genius, but many of the projects he was involved with were dogged by bad luck. The SS Great Britain was no exception, yet nevertheless when she was launched in 1843 she was the largest and most advanced ship afloat having all the features of a modern passenger liner. During her first few years of service misfortune followed her, culminating in 1846 when she ran aground on the east coast of Ireland during a stormy night, with 180 passengers on board. She remained stranded for nearly a year but was saved from destruction by two ingenious ideas of Brunei. One to protect her from the weather while she remained aground on a very exposed coast, the second a remarkable method which he put forward to the Great Western Steamship Company for re - floating her. She was re-floated in August 1847 and was towed back to Liverpool where she was sold. From 1852 till 1876 she plied to and from Australia carrying passengers. Later she served as a cargo ship until she became stranded in the Falklands Islands in 1886 where she remained till 1970 when she was towed back to Bristol to be restored. Brunei's Great Britain follows the story of the ship from the formation of the Great Western Steamship Company, her first owner till the ship was brought back to Bristol in 1970. It is a fascinating tale, which spans 135 years. - Actors:
- John Woodvine
- Studio:
- IVL
- Genres:
- Documentary, Special Interest
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