Isambard's kingdom

the long version

Not known for his modesty, Isambard Kingdom Brunel described 'his' Great Western Railway as 'England's finest work'. Despite Dr Beeching's axe, much of the original line and branches, the magnificent bridges and tunnels, stations and viaducts remain intact and in use more than a century later. But has Brunel's boast stood the test of time? Narrowly pipped (by Winston Churchill) to the title of 'Greatest Briton' in a BBC TV poll in 2002, the great engineer clearly still occupies a special place in people's hearts and minds. To mark the bicentenary of Brunel's birth, writer Judy Jones trekked more than 500 miles from Paddington to Penzance to explore the legacy of the Victorian railway revolution. She reveals a hidden world of dedicated rail enthusiasts, and sketches the people, landscapes and wildlife she encountered along the way.