In 1837, construction of the Great Western Railway by Isambard Kingdom Brunel began and was completed in 1867 (“Victorian Events” 1). In 1845, the SS Great Britain was designed and built by Brunel (“Victorian Events” 1). This ship was the first ship built without sails (“Victorian Events” 1). He also built the Great Eastern, the largest ship ever built, which sailed in 1858 (“Victorian Events” 2). Instant photography was invented by William Fox Talbot in 1851. In 1851 and 1857 the first telegraph cables were laid across the English Channel and the Atlantic respectively. The first tramway opened in 1860 and the first subway in 1863. In 1875, Alexander Graham Bell successfully used the telephone and it did not become available to the general public until 1877 ("Victorian Events" 3-4 ). Thomas Edison invented the phonograph and the electric light bulb in 1877 and 1879 respectively ("The Victorian Era" 4). When Karl Benz invented the first automobile in 1885, the speed started at 4 mph but was later increased to 20. mph in 1896 (“Victorian Events” 4-5) Finally, in 1896, Marconi patented the wireless telegraph (“Victorian Events”).”