Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardTransport and Engineering Innovations

During the construction of the Great Western Railway in the 1830s, Isambard Kingdom Brunel faced the challenge of crossing the River Thames. To maintain a level track for high-speed travel, he designed a bridge that became famous for having the widest and flattest brick arches in the world at the time. Which engineering landmark is this?

  1. Maidenhead Railway BridgeAnswer
  2. B
    Clifton Suspension Bridge
  3. C
    Royal Albert Bridge
  4. D
    Menai Suspension Bridge

Answer

The Maidenhead Railway Bridge is the structure designed by Brunel for the Great Western Railway that features the widest and flattest brick arches.
The Maidenhead Railway Bridge was a significant engineering feat of the Great Western Railway. Brunel designed it with two main arches that spanned 128128 feet (3939 meters) each, with a rise of only 2424 feet (77 meters). At the time of its completion in 18381838, they were the widest and flattest brick arches in the world, proving that such a design could support the weight of heavy steam locomotives.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key engineer and project mentioned in the context.
The engineer is Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the project is the Great Western Railway (GWR).
Brunel was the chief engineer of the GWR, and his work is central to Victorian transport innovation.
2
Analyze the specific structural requirement mentioned.
The bridge must cross the Thames and feature 'widest and flattest brick arches'.
This specific engineering detail distinguishes the Maidenhead bridge from Brunel's other works like suspension or truss bridges.
3
Evaluate the options based on the location and engineering type.
The Maidenhead Railway Bridge fits both the location (Thames) and the description (brick arches).
The other options are either different types of bridges (suspension/truss) or built by different engineers (Telford).

Key Concept

Engineering milestones of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the Great Western Railway.

Practice More

Review other Brunel milestones such as the SS Great Britain and the Box Tunnel to see how he integrated different engineering disciplines.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Transport and Engineering Innovations

More questions from this topic