Stephenson had large wrought-iron boiler plates available and he also had the courage of his calculations... The idea found its best-known expression in the Menai railway bridge opened in 1850. Stephenson's beams, which weighed 1,500 tons each, were built beside the Straits and were floated into position between the towers on rafts across a swirling tide. They were raised rather over a hundred feet up the towers by successive lifts with primitive hydraulic jacks. All this was not done without both apprehension and adventure; they were giants on the earth in those days.

Summary

This quote describes George Stephenson's remarkable accomplishments in engineering, specifically highlighting his use of large wrought-iron boiler plates and his fearless approach to his calculations. These innovations were exemplified in the construction of the Menai railway bridge, which was opened in 1850. The bridge featured massive beams weighing 1,500 tons each, which were built alongside the Straits and then floated into position using rafts across turbulent waters. To raise the beams, primitive hydraulic jacks were utilized, lifting them over a hundred feet up the towers. Despite the challenges, Stephenson's boldness and determination made him a true leader in the field of engineering during that era.

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