(LONDON ENGINEERING) Thames Tunnel Company The Thames Tunne

Sale 2369 - Lot 355

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Estimate: $ 200 - $ 300

(LONDON--ENGINEERING.) Thames Tunnel Company. The Thames Tunnel, is Open to the Public Every Day. Broadside with wood-engraved illustrations of one of 19th century London's greatest engineering accomplishments. 375x250 mm; old folds with minor loss at intersections, minor spotting, archivally backed. London: Teape & Son, 1840

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By the 19th century London was badly in need of a new downstream link between the north and south banks of the Thames. The Thames Tunnel between Rotherlite and Wapping was masterminded by engineer Marc Brunel, who employed a revolutionary 'shield' technology for underwater excavation. The tunnel opened in 1843 after 18 years of work, including a 7-year stoppage due to financial problems. Despite its great size it was only used by pedestrians, whose tolls were never sufficient to recoup the enormous costs of construction. In 1865 it was sold to the East London Railway Company, and today it forms part of the Underground's East London line and is the most ancient component of the system's infrastructure.