Here is Richard Tangye - one of Brunel's senior engineers - overseeing arrangements for one of the hydraulic presses used in the sixth attempt to launch the Great Eastern 1858.

The first attempt at launch was a disaster. Trying to launch the hull into the Thames sideways - like a drawer - it became stuck. Brunel had advised the Great Eastern Company not to have paying spectators present. But the company desperately needed the ticket revenue. A capstan failed, chains broke and several workers died.

Brunel had to scrap together all his last resources financial, physical and mental to complete the launch. After many, many attempts he squeezed the Great Eastern into the Thames only for it to be moored there for months waiting for the finance to complete its fitting out. It was Brunel's last effort. He died a few months after the launch.