Trailer
Synopsis
Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw's Britain remains.
Episode 25 : Lochailort to Skye
February. 04,2011
This journey goes up the west coast of Scotland from Ayr to Skye
Ep25. Lochailort to Skye.
Michael discovers how the railways helped train the first generation of commandos at Lochailort in World War II, finds out why langoustines have replaced herrings as the top catch in the fishing port of Mallaig, and sails across the sea to Skye to explore the history of the highland crofters.
Episode 24 : Roybridge to Glenfinnan
February. 03,2011
This journey goes up the west coast of Scotland from Ayr to Skye
Ep24. Roybridge to Glenfinnan.
Michael investigates one of the great geological mysteries of the 19th Century, the parallel roads of Glenroy. Plus, he finds out how the Victorians put a weather observatory on the top of Ben Nevis and takes a steam train across one of the most spectacular viaducts in Britain at Glenfinnan.
Episode 23 : Oban to Corrour
February. 02,2011
This journey goes up the west coast of Scotland from Ayr to Skye
Ep23. Oban to Corrour.
Michael discovers how trains spread the word about Oban whisky, hears about the heroic struggle to build a railway across the desolate Rannoch Moor, and visits Corrour, one of the favourite shooting estates of the Victorian political elite.
Episode 22 : Dumbarton to Tyndrum
February. 01,2011
This journey goes up the west coast of Scotland from Ayr to Skye
Ep22. Dumbarton to Tyndrum.
Michael explores the historic Dumbarton shipyards that built the Cutty Sark, visits one of Queen Victoria's favourite haunts, Loch Lomond, and goes hunting for gold in Scotland's mountains.
Episode 21 : Ayr to Paisley
January. 31,2011
This journey goes up the west coast of Scotland from Ayr to Skye
Ep21. Ayr to Paisley.
Michael visits the hometown of Robbie Burns and finds out how to make haggis, discovers how the railways transformed the game of golf in Prestwick, and uncovers the story of the great Victorian tartan hoax in Paisley.
Episode 20 : Hythe to Hastings
January. 28,2011
London Bridge to Hastings - Ep 20. Hythe to Hastings.
Michael discovers a hardy breed of sheep on the atmospheric Romney Marsh, explores Kent's new sparkling wine industry and finds out why the Victorians went mad for ferns in Hastings.
Episode 19 : Sandwich to Folkestone
January. 27,2011
London Bridge to Hastings - Ep 19. Sandwich to Folkestone.
Michael explores a secret port that ran the first train ferries to France carrying vital supplies during World War I, visits Walmer castle, the home of the Duke of Wellington and discovers how the Victorians initiated the building of the Channel tunnel.
Episode 18 : Canterbury to Margate
January. 26,2011
London Bridge to Hastings - Ep 18. Canterbury to Margate.
Michael finds out how Canterbury Cathedral was saved during the Baedeker raids of World War II, goes whelk fishing in Whitstable and explores the origins of a seaside swim in Margate.
Episode 17 : Aylesford to Tunbridge Wells
January. 25,2011
London Bridge to Hastings - Ep 17. Aylesford to Tonbridge Wells.
Michael explores the life of Victorian hop pickers, finds out about Maidstone's revolutionary paper industry and discovers how the railways turned cricket into a national sport.
Episode 16 : London Bridge to Chatham
January. 24,2011
London Bridge to Hastings - Ep 16. London Bridge to Chatham.
Michael visits the Royal Observatory at Greenwich to see how the railways standardised time, takes a walk through the world's first underwater tunnel at Rotherhithe and explores the historic Dockyards at Chatham.
Episode 15 : Langley Mill to Melton Mowbray
January. 21,2011
Newcastle to Melton Mowbray - Ep 15. Langley Mill to Melton Mowbray.
Michael learns the secrets of stilton cheese, finds out how trains transformed the traditional British sport of fox hunting and attempts to make an authentic Melton Mowbray pork pie.
Episode 14 : Batley to Sheffield
January. 20,2011
Newcastle to Melton Mowbray - Ep 14. Batley to Sheffield.
Michael finds out about shoddy, a successful 19th-century recycling industry in the textile town of Batley, discovers how the railways boosted Yorkshire's forced rhubarb trade, and meets the great-great-granddaughter of George Bradshaw himself.
Episode 13 : York to Saltaire
January. 19,2011
Newcastle to Melton Mowbray - Ep 13. York to Saltaire.
Michael takes a Turkish bath in the famous spa town of Harrogate, explores the exemplary Victorian village of Saltaire, and rubs noses with some friendly alpacas, whose fleeces made fortunes in Bradshaw's day.
Episode 12 : Durham to Grosmont
January. 18,2011
Newcastle to Melton Mowbray - Ep 12. Durham to Grosmont.
Michael visits the historic Durham Cathedral, sees one of the first locomotives in Darlington and takes a Dracula tour in Whitby, before ending his journey on a steam train across the North Yorkshire Moors.
Episode 11 : Newcastle to Chester-le-Street
January. 17,2011
Newcastle to Melton Mowbray - Ep 11. Newcastle to Chester-Le-Street.
Michael visits the first locomotive factory in the world opened by George Stephenson, searches for the lost pit village of Marsden in South Shields, and is entertained by a comic troupe of rapper sword dancers in Chester-le-Street.
Episode 10 : Llanberis to Holyhead
January. 14,2011
Ledbury to Holyhead - Ep 10. Llanberis to Holyhead.
Michael takes the train to the top of Wales's highest peak, Mount Snowdon; witnesses the revival of Anglesey's sea salt industry; and discovers how the railways transformed the tiny port of Holyhead.
Episode 9 : Llanwst to Porthmadog
January. 13,2011
Ledbury to Holyhead - Ep 9. Llanwst to Porthmadog.
Michael explores the Conwy valley, stopping at Britain's first artists' colony at Betwys-y-Coed, visiting the Victorian slate capital of Blaenau Ffestiniog and taking a steam train down to the harbour at Porthmadog.
Episode 8 : Chester to Conwy
January. 12,2011
Ledbury to Holyhead - Ep 8. Chester to Conwy.
Michael takes a tour of Chester's Roman remains and discovers a secret World War II chemical weapons plant at Rhydmwyn. After spending the night in Llandudno, he goes mussel fishing on the beautiful Conwy estuary.
Episode 7 : Telford to Wrexham
January. 11,2011
Ledbury to Holyhead - Ep 7. Telford to Wrexham.
Michael visits the world's first Iron bridge at Coalbrookdale, explores the historic Chirk castle and has a go at making traditional Cheshire cheese.
Episode 6 : Ledbury to Shrewsbury
January. 10,2011
Ledbury to Holyhead - Ep 6. Ledbury to Shrewsbury.
Michael tastes the Victorian drink perry, a kind of pear cider, gets up close and personal with a pedigree Hereford bull and visits the grandfather of all skyscrapers, the world's first iron-framed building in Shrewsbury.
Episode 5 : Dereham to Cromer
January. 07,2011
Brighton to Cromer - Ep 5. Dereham to Cromer.
Michael gets the rare chance to drive a heritage diesel train, finds out why Norfolk black turkeys appeared on the Christmas menu in Bradshaw's day, and samples some classic Cromer crab.
Episode 4 : Ely to King's Lynn
January. 06,2011
Brighton to Cromer - Ep 4. Ely to King's Lynn.
Michael goes fishing with the last eel trapper on the Fens at Ely and visits one of the great triumphs of 19th century engineering, the Denver Sluice. He ends his journey in King's Lynn, where he uncovers an ambitious plan to reclaim the Wash in Bradshaw's day.
Episode 3 : Enfield to Cambridge
January. 05,2011
Brighton to Cromer - Ep 3. Enfield to Cambridge.
Michael visits the Government Arms Factory at Enfield, the largest machine shop in Europe in Bradshaw's day; discovers how the trains transformed Newmarket's races and finds out why Cambridge could be considered the birthplace of modern football.
Episode 2 : Waterloo to Canary Wharf
January. 04,2011
Brighton to Cromer - Ep 2. Waterloo to Canary Wharf.
Michael finds out about the Stiff's express, a funeral service running coffins from Waterloo to Brookwood cemetery. He discovers how London's west end became a great 19th century shopping destination and explores the changing fortunes of London's docks.
Episode 1 : Brighton to Crystal Palace
January. 03,2011
Brighton to Cromer - Ep 1. Brighton to Crystal Palace.
Michael finds out about Brighton's Victorian aquarium, the largest in the world at the time; explores the underground quarries of Godstone, and discovers the wonders of the Crystal Palace in suburban south London.
Similar titles
Combat Trains
For over a century, locomotives played a vital role in wartime. We explore some of the trains and railways, from the American Civil War through World War II, that turned the tides of battles and changed history. Rarely seen archival footage and accounts from vets who were there highlight these thrilling stories of engineering genius and extraordinary bravery.
Great Asian Railway Journeys
Michael Portillo is in Southeast Asia, armed with his 1913 Bradshaw's Handbook. It will lead him on a spectacular 2,500-mile railway adventure across six countries. He explores towering megacities and magnificent mosques.
Great American Railroad Journeys
Michael Portillo crosses the Atlantic to ride the railroads of America, armed with Appleton's General Guide to the United States, published in 1879.
Great Indian Railway Journeys
Guided by a century-old Bradshaw’s Handbook of Indian, Foreign and Colonial Travel, Michael Portillo embarks on a railway adventure across India and takes in the extraordinary variety of the Indian landscape.
Japan Railway Journal
Discover the secrets of Japan's railways, from the newest technologies and systems in use, to travel tips and must-see places.
Full Steam Ahead
With the help of Victorian steam enthusiasts across the country, historian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Peter Ginn and Alex Langlands journey back in time to the era of steam which shaped modern Britain.
Paddington Station 24/7
With visitor numbers approaching 70 million every year, Paddington is one of the UK's busiest transport hubs.
Railroad Australia
Discover what it takes to transport ever-growing numbers of passengers and crucial resources across Australia. With unprecedented access we go behind the scenes to meet the train drivers, locomotive servicing crews and track maintenance teams on some of the toughest and most spectacular journeys.
Locomotion: Dan Snow's History of Railways
Dan Snow examines the development of the railways from their beginnings as track-ways for coal carts in the early 18th century to the pivotal technology for modern Britain.
Related
The Sky at Night
Your monthly journey through the fascinating world of space and astronomy with the latest thinking on what's out there in space and what you can see in the night sky.
Eek! The Cat
Eek! The Cat is a Canadian-American animated series, created by Savage Steve Holland and Bill Kopp and produced by Fox Kids and Savage Studios with animation by Nelvana, that ran from 1992 to 1997.
Top Streaming TV Show
#1
Ikaw
November. 12,2021
5.9
#2
Dexter: New Blood
November. 07,2021
8.1
#3
Money Heist
May. 02,2017
8.4
#4
Chicago Fire
October. 10,2012
8
#5
Emily in Paris
October. 02,2020
6.9
#6
The Witcher
December. 20,2019
8
#7
Yellowstone
June. 20,2018
8.7
#8
Squid Game
September. 17,2021
8
#9
The Bachelorette
September. 23,2015
5.3
#10
See
November. 01,2019
7.6