The Royal Albert Bridge, Saltash.

The Royal Albert Bridge, Saltash. This bridge was designed by the famed British engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859). Brunel left school in 1822 to work for his father Marc Isambard Brunel (1769-1849) on the construction of the Thames Tunnel. He later became the chief engineer of the Great Western Railway (1833-1858) and designed many bridges and viaducts, including the Royal Albert Bridge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge at Bristol. Brunel designed the 'Great Western' (1838), the first steamship to cross the Atlantic, the 'Great Britain', the first ocean screw-steamer and the 'Great Eastern', the largest ship ever built before 1899. From the British Transport Commission collection of photographs. Photographs, a collection of approximately 7,000 cellulose nitrate, cellulose diacetate and triacetate safety film negatives, 35 mm to 6½ x 4¾ ins and 1,050 silver gelatin glass negatives 2½ x 1¾ to 6½ x 4¾ ins, featuring copies covering the history of railways in Britain, including the Great Western Railway, London & North Eastern Railway, London Midland & Scottish Railway and Southern Railway, c1825-1960.  Also the work of Southern Railway official photographers, c1939-1948.  Part-listed on handwritten registers and four drawer card index.  Known as the Clapham or British Transport Commission Collection.