Ss Great Eastern Collection (#2)

The Paying-out Machinery in the Stern of the Great Eastern, 1865

Getting Out One of the Large Buoys for Launching, August 2nd, 1865, 1865

Interior of One of the Tanks on Board the Great Eastern: The Cable Passing Out, 1865-66

Launching the Buoy from the Bow of the Great Eastern on August 8th, 1865, 1865-66

Getting Out One of the Great Buoys: The Deck of the Great Eastern Looking From the Forecastle, 1865-66

View of the Interior of One of the Tanks on Board the Great Eastern, 1865-66

View, Looking Aft, from the Port Paddle Box of the Great Eastern, Showing the Trough for the Cable, etc. 1865-66

Deck of the Great Eastern, the Cable Trough, etc. 1866, 1865-66

News Received Through the Atlantic Cable From All Parts of the World, etc. 1866

The breaking of the Atlantic Cable on board the Great Eastern, August 2, 1865, (1901). The first transatlantic telegraph cable was laid across the floor of the Atlantic Ocean from Valentia Island in

Laying the Atlantic telegraph cable
A montage of illustrations depicting scenes concerning the laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable by Isambard Kingdom Brunelas ship aSS Great Easterna from Foilhommerum Bay, Valentia Island

The Great Eastern steamship laying the Atlantic Cable
The SS Great Eastern steamship laying the Atlantic Cable. The Great Easterna was an iron sailing steam ship which was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and launched in 1858

Cross section of the British steamship Great Eastern, christened Leviathan in 1857. Wood engraving, English, 1858
SHIPS: GREAT EASTERN, 1858. Cross section of the British steamship Great Eastern, christened Leviathan in 1857. Wood engraving, English, 1858

GREAT EASTERN, 1857. The first, unsuccessful, attempt, to launch the huge sail-and-steam ship Great Eastern in the Thames River. Line engraving from an English newspaper of November 1857

SHIP: GREAT EASTERN, 1858. British steamship: lithograph by Currier & Ives, 1858

The Great Eastern, 1937. From The Story of Navigation. [The Imperial Tobacco Co. (Of Great Britain & Ireland), Ltd, , 1937]

2619111; out of copyright

2619110; out of copyright

2619108; out of copyright

SHIPS: GREAT EASTERN. Isambard Brunels steamship the Great Eastern being built at Blackwall shipyard on the Thames. Lithograph, English, 1857

MERCHANT STEAMSHIP, 1861. The British steamship Great Eastern in 1861

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STEAMSHIP: GREAT EASTERN. Engineer Richard Tangye beside one of the Tangye hydraulic rams used for the sixth launch attempt of the Great Eastern, December 1857

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STEAMSHIP: GREAT EASTERN. Crewmen checking the drum of the Great Eastern before its first, abortive launch attempt, November 1857

GREAT EASTERN, 1858. Hull of I. K. Brunels steamship awaiting high tide at Millwall
GREAT EASTERN, 1858. Hull of I.K. Brunels steamship awaiting high tide at Millwall before the final launch attempt in January 1858

GREAT EASTERN EXPLOSION. The forward paddle engine boilers exploding on the maiden voyage of The Great Eastern, off Hastings in the English Channel, 9 September 1859

GREAT EASTERN, 1860. The iron sail-and-steam ship Great Eastern leaving Southampton, England, for New York on her first voyage, 17 June 1860. Line engraving from a contemporary English newspaper

STEAMSHIP: SCREW ENGINES. The screw engines designed by James Watt & Co. for Isambard Kingdom Brunels Great Eastern steamship, the largest in the world at the time of its 1858 launching

STEAMSHIP: PADDLE ENGINES. The paddle engines of Isambard Kingdom Brunels Great Eastern steamship, the largest in the world at the time of its 1858 launching

SHIPS: GREAT EASTERN. The Great Eastern (temporarily the Leviathan ) under construction at the shipyard at Blackwall on the Thames. Wood engraving from an English newspaper, 1857

ATLANTIC CABLE, 1869. The Great Eastern steam-ship leaving Sheerness with the French Atlantic Cable. Wood engraving from an English newspaper of 1869

TRANS-ATLANTIC CABLE, 1869. The Great Eastern laying the French trans-Atlantic cable in 1869. Wood engraving from a contemporary French newspaper

GREAT EASTERN, 1858-59. The iron steamship Great Eastern at dockside in New York City: stereograph view, 1858-59
GREAT EASTERN, 1858-59. The iron steamship " Great Eastern" at dockside in New York City: stereograph view, 1858-59

SHIP: GREAT EASTERN, 1859. The iron steamship Great Eastern at the foot of Gansevoort Street, New York City: stereograph view, 1858-59

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The SS Great Eastern, a monumental feat of engineering, stands as a testament to the brilliance of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. In 1857, amidst great anticipation and excitement, Brunel stood before the launching chains of this magnificent vessel. As an English engineer renowned for his innovative designs, he had poured his heart and soul into creating this marvel. With its launch in 1857, the SS Great Eastern became a symbol of progress and ingenuity. This colossal steamship was like no other; it dwarfed all others with its sheer size and power. The London Illustrated News captured this historic moment beautifully in their depiction of the grand event. Named "The Leviathan, " the Great Eastern embarked on her maiden voyage from Southampton on June 17th, 1860. Crowds gathered to witness this spectacle as she set sail towards new horizons. It was a sight that left people awestruck - a true testament to human achievement. However, time took its toll on this mighty vessel. By the late 19th century, photographs showed her being scrapped piece by piece - a bittersweet end for such an iconic ship. Yet even in her demise, she remained etched in history as one of Brunel's greatest creations. A longitudinal cross-section sketch reveals the intricate inner workings of the Great Eastern - paddle wheels churning tirelessly beneath decks filled with passengers seeking adventure or fortune across vast oceans. This steamship truly embodied progress during an era defined by innovation and exploration. Isambard Kingdom Brunel's vision lives on through sketches like these; they offer glimpses into his genius mind at work designing vessels that pushed boundaries and defied expectations. Today we remember the SS Great Eastern not only for its remarkable size but also for what it represented – ambition realized against all odds.