Brunel's coastal route and the Cornish main line

Did the railway take a water-level route?

The inherited route is attributed to Brunel, and some coastal and Cornish alignments are criticized despite admiration for the engineering and scenery.

The inherited railway route is attributed to Brunel, with criticism of parts of its alignment alongside praise for its bridges and tunnels. Coastal waves washing over passing trains prompt the complaint. The Cornish main line between Par and St Austell is offered as another stretch whose route is worth examining on a map. Its scenery is admired, while the discussion questions whether the same alignment would be chosen for a railway built today.