A subsequent attempt was made by the Great Eastern* which, in my humble opinion, is the coolest ship ever conceived.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Great_Eastern

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was not a man to faf around was he. He never even got to see her sail her first journey as he died of a stroke. You've done a lot if you've died at 53 and achieved as much as he did.

I went to see the SS Great Britain in Bristol recently. It's the best museum I've ever been to. Highly recommended.

True. Then again my grandfather led the charge on laying one under decidedly difficult conditions and that thing is still live (carries insignificant traffic though...mostly for backup).