1833 March
Great Western Railway
Brunel is appointed engineer for the proposed railway between Bristol and London.
Brunel engineering · permanent subject timeline
Great Western Railway
Brunel's railway from London toward Bristol and the West. This page combines historical context with 33 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Brunel chronology.
Historical context
Great Western Railway: overview and significance
What happened?
Brunel became engineer of the Great Western Railway and developed a route linking London with Bristol and later extensions toward the west. The line included major earthworks, tunnels, bridges, stations and the distinctive broad-gauge track system.
Why was it important?
The Great Western Railway was Brunel's largest integrated land-transport project. Its alignment, structures and engineering standards shaped the development of railway infrastructure across southern and western Britain.
World History Database records
Great Western Railway timeline
The records below are selected from the 361-record Brunel chronology and are rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1833
1833 30th July
Great Western Railway
The proposed Great Western Railway route between Bristol and London is formally announced.
1833
Railway Survey
Brunel surveys the proposed Great Western Railway route on horseback and negotiates with landowners.
1835
1835 31st August
Great Western Railway Act Receives Approval
Parliament authorises construction of the Great Western Railway between London and Bristol.
1835
Great Western Railway
Parliament authorises the Great Western Railway and allows construction of Brunel's London to Bristol route.
1836
1836
Broad Gauge
Brunel adopts a broad railway gauge of seven feet and one quarter inch for the Great Western Railway.
1836
Railway Construction
Large-scale construction begins on Brunel's Great Western Railway between London and Bristol.
1836
Wharncliffe Viaduct Construction
Directs construction of the Wharncliffe Viaduct for the Great Western Railway.
1837
1837
Wharncliffe Becomes First Major GWR Structure
The Wharncliffe Viaduct becomes the first major completed structure on Brunel's Great Western Railway.
1837
Wharncliffe Viaduct Completed
Completes the Wharncliffe Viaduct on the Great Western Railway.
1838
1838 4th June
Great Western Railway
The first public section of the Great Western Railway opens between Paddington and Maidenhead.
1838 4th June
Paddington Station
The first temporary Great Western Railway terminus at Paddington opens for services between London and Maidenhead.
1838 December
Box Tunnel
Work begins on Box Tunnel through Box Hill for the Great Western Railway.
1838
Dumb Bell Bridge
Designs the sharply skewed Dumb Bell Bridge beneath the Great Western Railway.
1838
Early GWR Broad-Gauge Operations Begin
The first working section of the Great Western Railway demonstrates Brunel's broad-gauge track and early bridge designs.
1838
Leigh Road Bridge
Completes the Leigh Road overbridge on the early Great Western Railway.
1838
Middlegreen Road Bridge
Completes an early Great Western Railway overbridge at Middlegreen Road.
1838
St Mary's Road Bridge
Completes the St Mary's Road bridge on the Great Western Railway.
1839
1839
Brook Road Bridge
Completes Brook Road Bridge for the Great Western Railway near Bath.
1839
Commercial Electric Telegraph
Supports installation of electric telegraph wires beside the Great Western Railway.
1839
Paddington-West Drayton Telegraph
The Paddington-West Drayton link becomes an early commercial telegraph installation.
1839
River Avon Viaduct Design Developed
Brunel develops the masonry viaduct carrying the Great Western Railway across the River Avon in Wiltshire.
1840
1840
Bath Avon Railway Bridge
The crossing carries the Great Western Railway through the city.
1840
Bourton Church Bridge Completed
A Brunel-designed accommodation bridge is completed on the Challow to Wootton Bassett section of the Great Western Railway.
1840
Highnams Farm Bridge
Designs a Great Western Railway bridge near Saltford.
1840
River Chew Bridge
Designs the Great Western Railway crossing over the River Chew.
1840
Twerton Viaduct Completed
Completes the long Twerton Viaduct for the Great Western Railway.
1841
1841 30th June
Great Western Railway
The complete Great Western Railway route between London and Bristol opens for through services.
1841 30th June
London-Bristol Through Journey Established
Completion of the main line allows continuous railway travel between London and Bristol in about four hours.
1843
1843 2nd January
Swindon Railway Works
The Great Western Railway works open at New Swindon and become a major centre for locomotive engineering.
1852
1852 1st October
Snow Hill Station
The Great Western Railway opens its Birmingham station at Snow Hill.
1853
1853 February
Paddington Station
The Great Western Railway approves Brunel's plans for a grand permanent terminus at Paddington.
1854
1854 16th January
Paddington Station
The first Great Western Railway service departs from Brunel's new Paddington Station before completion of the roof.
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Brunel records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
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