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
Millwall Iron Works John Scott Russell built complete ships in the works, fully fitted out, which they then floated out on to the river as ready to go ships. One of their earliest commissions was the iron steamer "Taman," completed in 1848 for the Imperial Russian government to operate from the Black Sea ports. On 31 January 1858, the largest ship of that time, the designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was launched from 'Napier Yard' the shipyard leased by Messrs J. Scott Russell & Co. The 211 metre (692 ft) length was too wide for the river, and the ship had to be