PASSENGERS DISCOVER BRUNEL’S LEGACY

Monday 3 Jul 2006

PASSENGERS DISCOVER BRUNEL’S LEGACY

Region & Route:: National

Thousands of passengers at Paddington railway station are today coming face to face with the achievements of one of the greatest engineers in history . The ‘Discover the Legacy’ exhibition is dedicated to Isambard Kingdom Brunel to mark the 200th anniversary of his birth. Chief Executive, John Armitt, said: “As an engineer, I am very pleased that Network Rail is involved in recognising one of history's most outstanding engineers. We have the unique honour of safeguarding much of Brunel’s legacy, including his drawings and structures. It is only fitting that we are involved in these celebrations.” Huge banners will be suspended from the roof, and large posters will dominate the concourse floor. The stands include rarely-seen drawings and plans by Brunel from Network Rail’s archive, commissioned photographs and information about the great man and the ‘pearls’ of the Great Western route - including Box Tunnel and Bath Spa station. This unique exhibition will stay at Paddington station until 14 July before travelling to Bath Spa Station, then stations at Reading station, Bristol Temple Meads and Plymouth, before finishing at the Swindon Steam Museum.

Notes to editors

The exhibition will be at the following locations: Paddington station 3 – 14 July Bath Spa 15 – 30 July Reading Station 31 July – 11 August Bristol Temple Meads Station 12 – 25 August Plymouth Station 26 August – 8 September Swindon Steam Museum 9 September – 23 September

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We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

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