In the 19th century, Britain was an industrial giant. Engineers were superheroes. This is the story of the engineers who shaped the modern world.

They changed the British landscape at will, and accelerated every aspect of life. One man emerged as a true colossus among them – although he was only 5ft 3. Isambard Kingdom Brunel had an insatiable desire to build things that other engineers claimed were impossible.

Not content with just building the finest railway in England, Brunel wanted to go global: A high-speed transport link between London and New York - powered by steam. This seemingly mad project (initiated by a man who had never built a ship in his life) led to three revolutionary ships, each the biggest and most technically advanced of their time. It was also the final chapter in Brunel’s life, dominated by a monster ship that eventually destroyed its creator.