RAILDATE 2022.09.23

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Online talks, Galas, and Open Days this week and next.

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23-25 Sep 2022

Bluebell Railway: Beer Festival

https://www.bluebell-railway.com


24-25 Sep 2022

Spa Valley Railway: Model Railway Weekend

https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk


24-25 Sep 2022

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre: Steam & Agricultural Show

https://www.bucksrailcentre.org


29 Sep 2022 19:30-22:00

RCTS 'National Zoom' Meeting - A Tour de France by Narrow Gauge

On the metre gauge Chemin de fer du Vivarais - a classic of the French Narrow Gauge - 0-6-6-0T Mallet No. 403 works a photographic special from Tournon to Lamastre in October 2003. Image: Jeremy Harrison

Michael Bunn will present 'A Tour de France by Narrow Gauge', in which he tells the story of the rise and fall of the secondary 60cm and metre gauge networks once a feature of French railways, and of the tourist and SNCF public service narrow gauge lines still in service.

Non-members welcome. Pre-registration required. Suggested donation £4.


01-Oct-2022

Plym Valley Railway

Bernard Mills presents "Twilight of Steam" (1965-68)

Cottle Lodge, Plympton, PL7 2AU

Admission £5, 1830 for 1900, buffet included

https://www.plymrail.co.uk


01-Oct-2022

Sheffield Model Railway Society: Exhibition

Grenoside Community Centre, Main Street Sheffield, S35 8PR

1000-1600

https://www.SheffieldMRS.co.uk


02-Oct-2022

Romsey Signal Box Working Museum Open Day

Brick Lane, Romsey, Hants, SO51 8LG

Opens 1100, last entry 1530

https://romseysignalbox.org.uk/


03-Oct-2022

Hampshire Industrial Archaeology Society

The Underhill Centre, St. John's Road, Hedge End, SO30 4AF

7:30 for 7:45pm

"Brunel's Timber Viaducts, Masterpieces or Aberrations?" by Roger Davies

Non-members welcome

https://www.hias.org.uk/meetings.htm


03-Oct-2022

Peak Railway Association - Sheffield Branch

"More Trains, Trams, Trolleys and Trivia" - digital - Frank Greaves

Farm Road Sports & Social Club, Farm Road, Sheffield S2 2TP

£4 donation requested on the door, non-members welcome

Starts 1930

http://peakrailwayassociation.co.uk/sheffield.html


07-09 Oct 2022

Mid-Hants Watercress Line: Autumn Steam Gala

https://watercressline.co.uk/


07-09 Oct 2022

Spa Valley Railway: Real Ale and Cider Festival

https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk


08-09 Oct 2022

Apedale Valley Light Railway: Hunslet 1215 Running Days

https://avlr.org.uk/


09-Oct-2022

Gainsborough Model Railway Society: Open Day

The Clubrooms, Florence Terrace, Gainsborough, DN21 1BE

1330 to 1730 (last admission 1630)

http://gainsboroughmodelrailway.co.uk/

TELEVISION

UK television listings with a transport theme for the next eight days

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Abandoned Engineering -:- An eerie, empty country village which hides a sad secret, a mysterious tower battered by the elements and a disused railway deep beneath the streets of a city

Agatha Christie's Poirot -:- The Belgian sleuth is asked to vet potential suitors vying for the hand of an Australian heiress and discreetly accompanies her on a rail journey aboard the Plymouth Express, only to find himself investigating a jewel theft. Mystery, with David Suchet and Julian Wadham

Bangers and Cash -:- Derek has a three-hour drive in a 1960s bus that arrived in the UK after a life in the sun. Dave takes a Triumph TR7 convertible to auction

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys -:- Chris travels the entire length of Vietnam's Reunification Line, from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to Hanoi in the north. His first stop is Di An, where he learns about an ambitious heritage project that reflects the country's increasing engagement with its history, before heading to some of the key locations of the Vietnam war, including Da Nang Beach and the Viet Cong tunnels

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys -:- The broadcaster explores the use of trains in transporting millions of prisoners to ghettos and death camps during the Holocaust. The programme retraces how the implementation of Nazi Germany's first anti-Jewish laws coincided with a drive to construct the world's most extensive rail network, and features contributions from survivors, including a Polish man who worked as a child slave in building the railway, who reveals how he narrowly escaped being transported to Auschwitz by hiding in a cemetery

Coastal Railways with Julie Walters -:- The actress travels from Cardigan Bay to Liverpool, visiting the heritage railway in Tywyn that was the inspiration for Thomas the Tank Engine and a community that is famous for knitting. She also paints a carriage in Boston Lodge, catches the famous Ffestiniog railway through Snowdonia, and visits Europe's fastest zip wire and largest pet cemetery

Discover Britain by Train -:- A promotional short film detailing the benefits of rail travel in Britain

Europe from Above -:- A spectacular aerial journey across Switzerland reveals Europe's highest observatory, an earthquake-proof skyscraper and a gravity-defying railway

Gino's Italian Escape -:- For the final leg of his journey, Gino D'Acampo takes a railway adventure to picturesque Lake Iseo, a hidden gem often overshadowed by its big sisters Garda and Como. He starts out angling for sardines, then takes his catch and prepares a dish of grilled fish for the passengers of Treno dei Sapore - a tourist train that takes guests along the lakeside and into the Franciacorta region. While they enjoy the views they also get a seven-course meal - with today's starter cooked by Gino

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo begins a new journey on the tracks of the Ocean line to explore Canada's maritime provinces, en route to Quebec City. Along the way he dons a kilt and sporran to join in the recreation of an 18th-century Scottish Highland regiment and learns of a catastrophic explosion in Halifax harbour in 1917, which killed 2,000 people and left 25,000 homeless

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo boards one of the world's most famous trains, the Rocky Mountaineer, to cross the backbone of the North American continent from Kamloops to the spa resort of Banff. This magnificent journey takes him to the highest point of the 19th century transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway line at Kicking Horse Pass, past Lake Louise and inside spiral tunnels blasted through the mountains. Along the way, Michael hears of the harsh and dangerous conditions endured by the Chinese and European labourers who built the railway, and looks back at the historic driving of the Last Spike, which completed the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey to Quebec City, beginning by boarding the train from Nova Scotia to New Brunswick. Along the way he investigates the world's biggest tide at Hopewell Rocks and admires its dramatic rock formations and caves. He also appears to defy gravity on a magnetic hill in a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville, before joining the Elsipogtog First Nation to learn about quilting and traditional dress. He also goes fishing for oysters and helps quarry 150-year-old sandstone

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo explores the Province of Quebec, taking the Charlevoix train along the north bank of the St Lawrence River to La Malbaie. Along the way he flies over the Laurentian Mountains in a seaplane, fishes for trout and views the waterfall at Montmorency from a zipwire - and that's just the first half of this leg

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey along the Great Eastern Line, which ventures from the edge of England to the heart of London. In this leg, he examines the Victorians' fascination with the Suffolk village of Dunwich, Britain's answer to Atlantis, and discovers how nearby Felixstowe became home to the UK's biggest container port

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues to follow the route of the Great Eastern Line, enjoying a ride on a miniature railway hidden beneath London. During his trip, he also rings the bells of Bow Church, and tries his hand at announcing at Fenchurch Street station

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo learns more about the country's railways, beginning with the Great Eastern Line, which runs along the edge of England and into central London. On his travels, the former politician discovers the grave-robbing history of Great Yarmouth and tries his hand at working a Victorian swing bridge in Reedham, Norfolk. He also takes to the air to reveal how a rail guidebook helped aviators during the Second World War

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo retraces railway journeys made by Queen Victoria in the south of England, where she would travel from Windsor Castle in Berkshire to her summer retreat on the Isle of Wight. The first leg of the trip takes him from Windsor's railway station to Didcot in Oxfordshire, stopping along the way to view a structure designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in Maidenhead. He also tries to collect the mail in the manner of Victorian postal workers on a steam-powered travelling post office

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from Epping, Essex, to Hackney in north-east London, discovering why dairy herds were transported by train all over Britain. He also finds out the importance of the gunpowder trade to Waltham Cross, and learns the gruesome details of the first murder to take place on a train

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo visits the sites of Victorian freak shows, rides one of the world's first electric railways in Southend and encounters the preserved head of a medieval politician as he continues his journey along the route of the Great Eastern Line

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Armed with his trusty 1913 Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide, Michael Portillo travels east through the Balkans along the most exotic section of the route taken by the Orient Express. His journey begins in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, and includes stops in the ancient city of Plovdiv, the region of Rumelia, and former capital of the Ottoman Empire Edirne. Arriving in Istanbul, Michael takes a trip on the Bosphorus - a much-coveted stretch of water - finds out about Turkish delight and travels along the Marmaray metro line, which connects European and Asian Istanbul via a tunnel beneath the Bosphorus

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo follows in the footsteps of Edwardian travellers to trace a route recommended in his Bradshaw's guide from the heart of France to the Mediterranean coast. His journey begins in Lyon, where he learns how the city got its gastronomic reputation, and takes instruction from a leading chef on making an omelette. In Avignon, he samples a glass of the region's famous wine Chateauneuf-du-Pape, before his journey ends at the Mediterranean port of Marseille, where he joins a pilot boat as it leads a supertanker to its berth

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo uses his 1913 copy of Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide as he travels through Spain and Portugal. He begins in the city of La Coruna, where he examines the Celtic roots of the Galician people and tries to master the bagpipes, before meeting walkers from all over the world on the pilgrims' trail to Santiago de Compostela. Heading across the border to Porto, Michael finds out about the origins of Britain's long alliance with the Portuguese, and finishes his journey in the capital Lisbon

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo uses his 1913 copy of Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide to venture beyond Europe as he travels through the Holy Land. He begins in Israel, learning about the Baha'i faith and how it spread to Britain in the Edwardian era, hearing the story of the origins of Tel Aviv, and visiting the Christian, Jewish and Muslim quarters of the capital Jerusalem. Michael then crosses the separation barrier between Jerusalem and the West Bank in the company of his Palestinian guide and meets the embroiderers of the Arab Women's Union in Bethlehem, before finishing his journey in the Negev desert

Griff's Great Australian Adventure -:- Comedian, actor and travel enthusiast Griff Rhys Jones journeys from Brisbane to Cairns aboard the Spirit of Queensland railway - and during his various stops, he comes across all manner of things that seem determined to kill him, from jellyfish to dingoes to whitewater rapids and more

Have I Got a Bit More News for You -:- Richard Ayoade hosts an extended episode with panellists rail union leader Mick Lynch and actress and comedian Roisin Conaty joining team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop

Have I Got News for You -:- Richard Ayoade guest hosts the satirical current affairs quiz, as rail union leader Mick Lynch and actress and comedian Roisin Conaty join regular team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton to poke fun at the week's headlines

Hornby: A Model World -:- Designer Sam creates a model of Winston Churchill's funeral wagon and first-time modeller Simon builds Britain's biggest model railway layout from his memory

Hornby: A Model World -:- Record producer Pete Waterman is commissioned by Chester Cathedral to construct a monster layout in tribute to the unsung 19th-century railway builder Thomas Brassey

How Do They Do It? -:- The movement of heavy steam turbines and the manufacture of black boxes used to monitor aircraft flights

Inside Central Station -:- It's Easter Weekend and an influx of rival football fans at Glasgow Central puts extra pressure on the staff and transport police, as they segregate the fans heading to Hampden. There is a new team member on the concourse as police dog recruit, Marvin, is put through his paces during training. Outside Central, the Network Rail ecologists work to help a peregrine falcon nesting on one of their bridges. And the engineering team get to work on the Argyll line track repairs

Japan Railway Journal -:- Japan's railway news as covered by NHK from January to June 2022 - join us as we look at new and unique trains, fun events, and the introduction of AI technology on trains and at stations.

Japan Railway Journal -:- JR West's Okayama Branch in Okayama Prefecture recently ran one of Japan's largest tourism campaigns. See how the branch utilized its old trains to attract tourists.

Kansas Pacific (1953) -:- US army officer John Nelson spends time undercover as a civilian in an attempt to speed the construction of the east-to-west Kansas-Pacific Railroad, which is being delayed by saboteurs. Western, starring Sterling Hayden, Eve Miller and Barton MacLane

Look at Life -:- A look at controversial railway modernisation schemes

Mega Shippers -:- In Texas, the process of unloading a 726-tonne column requires everyone's attention, while in London, a rail worker sends 22 train carriages of cement across the city

Monkman & Seagull's Genius Guide to Britain -:- Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull head to Northern Ireland, where they find out about the invention of the ejector seat, and visit Armagh Observatory, a railway museum located inside a barber shop, and SS Nomadic, known as Titanic's little sister

Monkman & Seagull's Genius Guide to Britain -:- Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull head to Wales and discover a strong industrial engineering history, sailing across Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the highest navigable aqueduct in the world. The tiny village of Hawarden gives the duo the opportunity to stay overnight in the UK's only residential library, before they make an attempt on the summit of Mount Snowdon itself - via the mountain's iconic rack-and-pinion narrow gauge steam railway train

Murder, She Said (1961) -:- Elderly sleuth Miss Marple is travelling by rail when she witnesses a murder on a passing train. The police dismiss her claims, so she launches a private investigation and goes to work as a servant in the stately home where she believes the body is hidden. Agatha Christie mystery, starring Margaret Rutherford, Arthur Kennedy, Muriel Pavlow and James Robertson Justice

Railroad Alaska -:- A family faces down a threat to its food supply, a man makes a grueling five-hour hike in the wilderness and an ice storm threatens to derail a scheduled freight train

Railroad Alaska -:- An earthquake threatens to bring the railroad to a standstill and derail a speeding freight train, and Steve races to build an emergency shelter to protect his baby

Railroad Alaska -:- A porcupine infestation threatens to leave Nancy and Jim without electricity, while an emergency crew battles blocked bridges on the railroad to make way for a shipment

Railroad Alaska -:- Jim and Nancy rush to make repairs before the Alaskan winter chases them out of their home, and Dan decides to sell his cabin - but first he must find a buyer

Richard Hammond's Big -:- In this edition, Richard ventures beneath the Alps into the world's longest underground railway connection, the Brenner Base Tunnel

Salvage Hunters -:- At a railway museum in Somerset, Drew Pritchard and Tee John uncover two rare signs from the 1920s. Later, Drew finds shoe lasts made for music legend Paul McCartney

Salvage Hunters -:- Modern day treasure hunter Drew Pritchard visits a heritage railway in Minehead, Somerset, where he finds a fantastic selection of pieces. The highlight of the trip is a ride in the cab of a vintage steam train

Steam Train Britain -:- At South Devon, engineer Ray Lee is working to bring a loco back in to service. There is also a visit to the SS Kingswear paddle steamer In Dartmouth, the oldest vessel of its kind

Steam Train Britain -:- At the East Lancashire Railway, the annual Race the Train event gets under way - with athletes of all abilities taking on the 11-mile course from Bury to Rawtenstall

Steam Train Britain -:- At the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highlands Railway, manager Stephen Greig is trying to ensure that all goes to plan ahead of the opening of the new station at Caernarfon

Steam Train Britain -:- Behind the scenes of three preserved steam railway lines - the South Devon Railway heritage line, the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highlands Railway and the Great Central Railway. Sports scientist Megan Smith has a dream of tending the fire of a steam locomotive on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway, and she stokes the bolier of NG143 and sets off along the 25 miles from Caernarfon to Porthmadog

Steam Train Britain -:- Meeting the Welsh Highland Railway's oldest volunteer fireman, 80-year-old Cedric Lodge, who has worked on the railways for 60 years. In Devon, there is a look at the Autotrain

Steam Train Britain -:- On the Welsh Highland Railway, trainee Claire Oates takes her driving test, while chef Alex and manager Michelle prepare a dinner for 130 people on the East Lancashire railway

The Architecture the Railways Built -:- Tim Dunn is in London exploring the striking stations of the Piccadilly Line's northern extension. He also takes a look at Causey Arch in Co Durham

The Architecture the Railways Built -:- Tim Dunn is in Windsor to find out how two rail companies fought to be first to get to Queen Victoria. He also explores the stunning Connel Bridge in the Scottish Highlands

The Architecture the Railways Built -:- Tim Dunn visits Swindon's railway village, which became home to Great Western's enormous works and he also explores the dark and secret past of Milan's station

The Architecture the Railways Built -:- Tim Dunn visits the architecture of the Stockton & Darlington railway, the first passenger steam line in the world and learns how Essex's enormous Chappel Viaduct was built

The Architecture the Railways Built -:- Tim Dunn visits the Royal Albert Bridge and finds out how it was constructed. He also visits Wolverhampton to learn about the history of its train stations, old and new

The Architecture the Railways Built -:- Tim Dunn visits Wemyss Bay Station in Inverclyde and also explores the engineering marvel that is Blackfriars station in central London

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) -:- A British colonel in a Japanese PoW camp is ordered to build a railway bridge over a river, forging a vital communications link. At first he refuses to obey, but eventually agrees to take the project on - and becomes so obsessed with the task that he creates a dilemma for an American soldier sent to destroy the structure. David Lean's Oscar-winning Second World War drama, starring Alec Guinness, William Holden and Jack Hawkins

The Great Model Railway Challenge -:- James Richardson and Tim Shaw present the third heat of the railway modelling contest, in which three new teams of modellers set out to impress judges Steve Flint and Kathy Millat with their miniature masterpieces. This week's challenge is to create layouts inspired by locations all around the world. The creative masterminds vying to create these unique layouts are traditional modellers Team Tonbridge, seasoned surrealist modellers Basingstoke Bodgers and creative railway renegades Team Steampunk

The Great Model Railway Challenge -:- The Diesel Dynamos, The Fawley Flyers and The Railway Children arrive at Fawley Hill in Henley-on-Thames, and are tasked with building railway layouts on the creatively taxing theme of 'fire and ice'. Standing between the three teams and the final are judges Steve Flint, editor of the UK's leading railway magazine Railway Modeller, and renowned master modeller and modelling vlogger Kathy Millat. Presenters James Richardson and Tim Shaw oversee proceedings and offer words of wisdom to the contestants

The Great Model Railway Challenge -:- The last day at Fawley Hill sees the five winning teams from across the heats take on their toughest challenge to date - a journey through time. The modellers are tasked to take viewers and regular judges Steve Flint and Kathy Millat on a voyage through the Cold War, the Industrial Revolution, 1950s West Country railways and the 2012 Olympics - plus a glimpse into a potential future. Presenters James Richardson and Tim Shaw oversee proceedings, offer words of wisdom to the contestants and see the series winners announced

The Great Model Railway Challenge -:- The Wakefield RMS, Aberdeen Model Railway Club and pan-European entertainers Shunter Guys compete for a place in the final by creating railway layouts based on the fiendishly difficult theme 'waterworld'. Standing between the teams and the final are judges Steve Flint, editor of the UK's leading railway magazine Railway Modeller, and renowned master modeller and modelling vlogger Kathy Millat. Presenters James Richardson and Tim Shaw oversee proceedings and offer words of wisdom to the contestants

The Station Agent (2003) -:- A misanthropic dwarf with a love of railways inherits a disused station. Determined to shut the world out, he retreats into a hermit-like existence, but the curious locals refuse to leave him alone and he soon finds himself forming new friendships. Comedy drama, starring Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale and Michelle Williams

The Stranger Wore a Gun (1953) -:- A spy for the Confederacy during the American Civil War decides to make a fresh start after the conflict, and takes a job working for a railroad freight company. However, his past catches up with him in the form of a former ally who is now the leader of a gang of bandits and is plotting a train robbery. Western, starring Randolph Scott and Claire Trevor

Train Cruise -:- The steel industry of Kitakyushu drove Japan's modernization. Ride the rail lines that sprang up to transport coal from the resource-rich Chikuho area to supply its ironworks.

Train Truckers -:- The Train Truckers are on the clock this week as they attempt to move a 100-ton diesel engine to a gala extravaganza, as well as a 175-ton rail crane destined for Egypt

Transsiberian (2008) -:- American couple Roy and Jessie are heading from China to Moscow on the Transsiberian railway when they befriend fellow travellers Carlos and Abby. However, when Roy fails to board the train following a station stop, Jessie begins to suspect her new travelling companions are harbouring a deadly secret. Thriller, starring Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, Kate Mara, Eduardo Noriega and Ben Kingsley

Walking Britain's Lost Railways -:- Rob Bell explores more abandoned rail routes, beginning with one that cut an outrageous path through the dramatic hills and gorges of the Peak District - part of the 1860s express route between London and Manchester. From Matlock to the spa town splendour of Buxton, Rob unearths a tale of Victorian ambition, as he travels along a route filled with great engineering, which is now a beloved part of the Peak District National Park

Walking Britain's Lost Railways -:- Rob Bell explores the lost railways of Northern Ireland, starting in Belfast, where they helped to create a city and a world-renowned shipbuilding centre. Rob's railway route takes him from the Irish Sea to the Atlantic coast, and, on a visit to Armagh, he learns of a campaign to restore the Belfast to Armagh route and visits the site of the Armagh railway disaster, which proved a watershed moment for railway safety

Walking Britain's Lost Railways -:- Rob Bell is in Kent following a quiet, rural line that exploded into prominence during two world wars. The Elham Valley railway once linked Canterbury to Folkestone via the chalk downs of the 'Garden of England'. As Rob discovers, the line was built as part of a tug of war between competing Victorian rail companies

Walking Britain's Lost Railways -:- Rob Bell is in Yorkshire on the trail of a man once known as the 'Railway King'. George Hudson rose from farming origins to become Lord Mayor of York, and the greatest railway builder of all. Rob starts in York, which Hudson almost single-handedly turned into a railway city - home now to the National Railway Museum

Walks Around Britain -:- Andrew White treks up The Great Orme in North Wales and beside a railway in West Yorkshire

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- A journey from the Mexican border at San Diego, following the Californian coast north to the city of San Luis Obispo, aboard the aptly named Pacific Surfliner. Pulled by a gleaming Siemens Charger locomotive, the rake of five double-deck coaches takes viewers on a 350-mile trip. Narrated by Bill Nighy

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- A trip from the Kyle of Lochalsh, a tiny fishing village on the far west coast of Scotland. The journey heads east across the Highlands, then turns south through the whisky country of Speyside to Aberdeen, Scotland's oil capital

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- A trip through the Peak District at full steam, pulled by the Royal Scot, one of the finest locomotives ever built. On the way from Crewe to York, the train travels over Chat Moss on a line built by Robert Stephenson, which once served the famous Rocket. Bill Nighy narrates

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- Bill Nighy narrates a trip along the Far North Line between Inverness and Wick, a four-hour ride that travels 167 miles along the coast. There is a stop at Beauly for a visit to a renowned tartan tailors and a spot of fly fishing, as well as a look at Dunrobin Castle, the abode of the Duke of Sutherland, who built part of the railway and then fancied himself a castle styled like a French chateau

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- Following the Neapolitan Line in Italy, travelling west from the seaside town of Pescara, through the remote and wild Apennine Mountains down to the bustling city of Naples on the west coast. Rising into the Apennines on coaches that date back to the 1920s, winter descends, on a section of the line given the nickname of Italy's Trans-Siberian

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- Globe-trotting documentary featuring a coast-to-coast journey through the Australian outback. On board the iconic Indian Pacific, cameras focus on the spectacular Blue Mountains. There's also a look at one of the oldest steam railways in Australia, the Zig Zag Railway. Narrated by Bill Nighy

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- In Anchorage, Alaska, cameras focus on flagship service the Denali Star, a luxury passenger train and part of the great Alaska Railroad fleet. The vehicle then heads north along the Knik Arm, and crosses this huge sea inlet to enter the vast wilderness of Alaska, America's largest and remotest state. Bill Nighy narrates

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- The latest train excursion includes a trip to Portugal's Quinta de Vargellas, a vineyard that has been making port for centuries. Cameras also focus on the seaside city of Aveiro, and there's a trip to Lisbon to visit the home of the regional custard tart. Narrated by Bill Nighy

SMALL PRINT

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©  Matthew Shaw 2022