Breakthrough (Isambard Kingdom Brunel) with John Craven (1981)

[@davidyoung5114]

Curious that someone so talented as Isambard Kingdom Brunel hasn't had a serious bio-pic made about his life. The list of his accomplishments is astonishing. You can just imagine all the actors who would compete for the part.

[@jakedovey1586]

Hes almost too impressive for any mere mortal.

[@deeremeyer1749]

No I can't.

[@logicalnetwork1611]

yes I was thinking the same. Perhaps Daniel Day Lewis could come out of retirement to play him.

[@nw8000]

One word reason "Feminism"

[@daystatesniper01]

Good video ,and John Craven ,what a broadcasting legend

[@muhammadalieesaa3379]

I think broadcasting is his passion.

[@ianofliverpool7701]

Among the greatest of Brits of that era and there was many Brunel stood towering above them.....If Brunel was alive today we would`ve long since populated Mars taken there by a spaceship he designed to arrive on that planet`s City he built. Sadly his like has never been replaced......He stands alone

[@hendo337]

As soon as the music started...instant thumbs up.

[@gordonpeden6234]

Puts shade on every Public "hero" Statesman, men of Letters, strutters of the stage.Soccer players and 'Stars" A true frikkin' legend a 'Man of steel: And balls of titanium. God bless you IKB

[@rm-anderson]

Awesome. Love Brunel. I even wrote a song about him as part of my London history songs project

[@JRobbySh]

Remarkable that they did not remind us that the Great Eastern was the ships that laid the transatlantic cable.The she despite her failings was a safer ship than the Titanic and her sisters. Both for her design and because of her superior riveting.

[@patricktomaszewski2063]

That telegraph connect Europe with the Americas and changed the world forever. A message from the United States could be send to the United Kingdom in minutes that took weeks before at best....

[@steveluck9541]

Loved this series as a 13 year old especially the Romeo and Juliet Motagues and Capulets intro music.

[@Cool2BCeltic]

Thanks for uploading this.

[@teddy1066]

Someone on this planet surely has the rest of this series? I’ve been waiting 40 years to see the Breakthrough episode on Thomas Telford again!

[@MrDannyDetail]

TV Brain and Getty Images both confirm that the BBC still has copies of all 8 episodes: Episode Guide: All broadcasts were on BBC1. Series 1 6th March 1981 17:05 - The Shepherd's Son - Tom Telford 13th March 1981 17:05 - The Rocket-Builder - George and Robert Stephenson 20th March 1981 17:05 - The Little Giant - Isambard Kingdom Brunel 27th March 1981 17:05 - The Gateway to India - Ferdinand de Lesseps Series1 was repeated in the same order on 20th August 1982 17:05, 27th August 1982 17:05, 3rd September 1982 17:10 and 10th September 1982 17:10. Series 2 15th April 1983 17:10 - Smallpox is Dead - Edward Jenner 22nd April 1983 17:05 - Death in the Drinking Water - Edwin Chadwick 29th April 1983 17:10 - Surgery Without Germs - Joseph Lister 6th May 1983 17:10 - The Miracle Drug - Howard Florey Series 1 Episode 3 was repeated once more on 16th August 1985 17:05.

[@MrLibbyloulou]

3 days before his birthday actually.........

[@augustwest6637]

Fred Dibnah bought me here

[@gordonpeden6234]

Another frikkin' legend unstoppable force of nature.

[@augustwest6637]

@@gordonpeden6234 my God that's the truth brother. They do not will not ever make him like that again that's facts

[@johnclarke2997]

15:21. If I'm right that is 08037 being cut up at Swindon works around the time this programme is being made.

[@jimmyviaductophilelawley5587]

I remember watching this series when I was ten....does the rest of it exist?

[@MrDannyDetail]

According to TVBrain and Getty Images all 8 episodes do survive.

[@TheGodParticle]

A tunnel under the channel between the uk and france, thats a stupid idea.. lol

[@Keithbarber]

Blame napoleon for first dreaming up the idea He wished to invade the uk by digging a tunnel

[@mrrolandlawrence]

i wonder what ever happned to that tunnel proposal under the channel?

[@bobsmith-dn1xw]

Haven't you heard? They've built one. It goes all the way to France non-stop.

[@youandwhosearmy6339]

Isambard Kingdom Ironing board Crosby Stills Nash ..

[@mrbanditoxyz]

Don't have the link, but they recently closed the tunnel for repairs - and it is true - the sun shines down the tunnel on his birthday! Cool hack!

[@deeremeyer1749]

Only British "engineers" can call it "building tunnels". Makes it sound so much more impressive than digging tunnels like so many "lower species" do so much more "brilliantly" than humans do. Especially British humans that have "built" most of their "tunnels" aboveground using the "cut and fill" method as their most "brilliant".

[@aidenteszke9000]

You're a sad little person

[@carlmitchell9958]

Get over yourself 🙈

[@fatwalletboy2]

Why was box hill tunnel so tall inside or was it just made to look like that at the mouths?

[@neilmitchell1980]

Double 7ft gauge tracks

[@steveluck9541]

Somewhere for the smoke to go from the steam trains.

[@24nov67]

what was the theme tune to this series?

[@teddy1066]

fitasafiddle Prokofiev's Dance of the Knights.

[@benlahrman4149]

Too bad the UK rail network loading gauge is just to small for most every other form of rolling stock.

[@peterrebic4436]

The English and these crazy names they give to there kids,,,lol

[@spankflaps1365]

His father was Marc Isambard Brunel, a French exile from the revolution. That’s why the name is so silly but cool.

[@watchfan6180]

Euro tunnel

[@donwright3427]

Woping

[@davefrompa5334]

Islamabad Kingdom of Brunei