Isambard Kingdom Brunel a white elephant, but it has been argued by David P. Billington that in this case Brunel's failure was principally one of economics—his ships were simply years ahead of their time. His vision and engineering innovations made the building of large-scale, propeller-driven, all-metal steamships a practical reality, but the prevailing economic and industrial conditions meant that it would be several decades before transoceanic steamship travel emerged as a viable industry. "Great Eastern" was built at John Scott Russell's Napier Yard in London, and after two trial trips in 1859, set forth on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York
Brunel FM renamed the station to Brunel FM, after Isambard Kingdom Brunel whose railway network had developed Swindon from a small village on the top of a hill, to a large town. Brunel Radio was also the previous name for Classic Gold Radio (now DAB Station Gold) when Wiltshire Radio/GWR (now Heart Wiltshire) launched on FM. However Brunel FM and Brunel Radio/Brunel Classic Gold had no connection other than their names and where their studios were based. The station launched at 10am on 2 September 2006, to the sound of many people from around the coverage area wishing the station luck. In