RAILDATE 2023.01.20

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Timetable World is another project that your editor is involved with.

The January 2023 release has just added 72 new railway and bus timetables to the collection, available for free browsing. The Winter 2023 newsletter (a PDF file) provides some insights into a selection of the new timetables.

Credits

Thank you to this week's contributors. We welcome Andy Davies as a new contributor.

The Weekly Poser: Who is this?

A railway civil engineer of great repute, responsible for several fine projects. Who is (was) he?

Please email your answers to raildate.co.uk@gmail.com

Last week's Where is this?

A railway junction made up of loops and swirls. An industrial loop too. Where is this?

Answer: Ely North, looking from the north. Congratulations are due to the following for their correct answers: Richard Maund, Richard Whitbread, Vince Shirley, Paul Hopper, Andrew Treves, Neil Kearns, Blair Robinson,and David Sharp.

The west loop (right) allows for trains between Peterborough and Norwich (and Kings Lynn) to avoid turning. Its unusual design avoided constructing another bridge over the Great Ouse. The B1382 through the village of Queen Adeleide has four railway crossings, three of them at level.

It is a design that is vulnerable to disrupting a wide area, and is operating at capacity. A grade separation project is being consulted upon by Network Rail, which would remove one crossing and also quadruple tracks to Ely South, thus enabling more Felixtowe freight traffic flows to the Midlands.

TELEVISION

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

Click me to open/close [Online only, not in the weekly email]

3:10 to Yuma (1957) -:- A farmer in need of money agrees to guard a notorious outlaw until the train arrives to transport him to jail. Meanwhile, the pair are holed up in a hotel, where his prisoner plays mind games with him - and the villain's cohorts are waiting outside ready to engineer an escape. Western adapted from a novel by Elmore Leonard, with Van Heflin, Glenn Ford, Felicia Farr and Leora Dana

Around the World by Train with Tony Robinson -:- Riding both Japan's local railways and the legendary bullet train, Tony explores the samurai of Kyushu, the neon and noise of Tokyo, and the fresh sushi of Hakodate

Around the World by Train with Tony Robinson -:- The actor embarks on a global journey, beginning in Paris, where he meets up with a friend who explains the finer points of French social etiquette. In Germany, Tony compares a gentle spin in a replica of the first automobile with an exhilarating blast in the latest Formula 1 car. Then it's over to Hungary, where capital Budapest is now very different from how it was under communist rule. Lastly, Tony heads towards Turkey, which straddles Asia, where he explores Istanbul's spice markets and visits the main train station where renovations have uncovered ruins dating back to 400BC

Around the World by Train with Tony Robinson -:- The actor goes on rail journeys around the globe, jumping on and off trains to find adventure and face challenges, while exploring the history and culture of each place he visits

Around the World by Train with Tony Robinson -:- The actor heads to Thailand, where he emerges from the Chiang Mai train station to find himself amid a Buddhist ceremony in which the town's citizens offer gifts to monks from the local temple, with Tony joining the monks to grasp what their daily life entails. Crossing the border into Malaysia, he instantly sees echoes of British rule everywhere, before ending in Kuala Lumpur, where he discovers a city of wild contrasts

Around the World by Train with Tony Robinson -:- The actor travels across Australia, begins his trip by boarding a sea plane to fly over Sydney before taking a sleeper train to a farm deep in the Outback where herding is done by helicopter. From there, Tony heads to the north of Queensland to learn about the uncertain future facing the world-famous Great Barrier Reef

Around the World by Train with Tony Robinson -:- The actor travels across India and Burma, beginning in Delhi, where he visits one of the city's oldest markets, before taking a ride on the Himalayan Mountain Railway and being taught the proper way to imbibe at the Glenburn Tea Estate. He then crosses the Bay of Bengal into Burma, trying his hand at pottery and learning about toddy palm wine, finishing at the ancient city of Bagan

Around the World by Train with Tony Robinson -:- The actor travels across Turkey, India and Burma, starting his journey in Istanbul, where he finds himself plunged into the middle of the madness of the spice markets. Then he heads to India, visiting one of Delhi's oldest markets, before taking a ride on the Himalayan Mountain Railway and being taught the proper way to imbibe at the Glenburn Tea Estate. He then crosses the Bay of Bengal into Burma, trying his hand at pottery and learning about toddy palm wine, finishing at the ancient city of Bagan

Bakugan: Geogan Rising -:- Benton Dusk is helping the AB train for the Judgement Battle with his new virtual reality simulator. As Lia and Fenneca battle their virtual opponent, the tech suddenly goes rogue!

Colossal Machines -:- Machines designed to operate in extremes of cold weather, including snow ploughs, all-terrain vehicles, ice breakers and trains running through icy regions

Destroyed in Seconds -:- Clips of a fire at a chemical plant, a racing driver trapped in a burning car, a pilot tipped from a hot air balloon during a show, a train derailment and a stunt jump gone awry

Destroyed in Seconds -:- Footage of a train accident that led to huge explosions, a wall collapsing on top of firefighters, planes colliding on an aircraft carrier, a race-car crash and a sinking pier

Destroyed in Seconds -:- Footage of train crash explosions, storm chasers who narrowly escape death, a window platform smashing into a building, cars and trucks colliding and a helicopter accident

Destroyed in Seconds -:- How a freight train smashed into an articulated lorry, the collapse of a four-storey building, a motorcycle crash, and the collision of a house and a bridge during floods

Diesel Train Ride in 1959 -:- A train ride through the English countryside, as seen through the forward windows of a diesel coach

Fred Dibnah's Railway Collection -:- Steeplejack and amateur historian Fred Dibnah examines historic railways and engineering projects undertaken by the likes of Stephenson and Hackworth

Fred Dibnah's Railway Collection -:- Steeplejack and amateur historian Fred Dibnah examines the work of the Stephenson family, and how it influenced the railways

Fred Dibnah's Railway Collection -:- Steeplejack and amateur historian Fred Dibnah explains how diesel-powered locomotives replaced steam trains, leading to the creation of the Railway Preservation Society

Fred Dibnah's Railway Collection -:- Steeplejack and amateur historian Fred Dibnah shares his passion for the railways by visiting workshops, museums and preservation lines devoted to their past. In the first episode, he looks at the early pioneers of the rail system

Fred Dibnah's Railway Collection -:- Steeplejack Fred Dibnah learns more about the work of one of his heroes, engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and his plans for a wide gauge railway system

Fred Dibnah's Railway Collection -:- Steeplejack Fred Dibnah visits the Ffestiniog Railway in Gwynedd, Wales, where he talks about restoration work and is taken for a ride down the track by the manager Paul Lewin

Fred Dibnah's Railway Collection -:- The steeplejack and amateur historian visits Ravenglass, Cumbria, where he has an opportunity to see an old mill working

Fred Dibnah's Railway Collection -:- The steeplejack explores the creation of the stream train and new speed records that were set in the 1920s

Fred Dibnah's Railway Collection -:- The steeplejack investigates how railways changed Britain and follows the growth in popularity of the locomotive. Plus, a visit to a rope haulage railway in Derbyshire

Great Australian Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his exploration of southeast Australia in Melbourne, Victoria, where he visits a home in the suburbs of Lilydale that once belonged to Dame Nellie Melba. Later, he travels through the rainforest of the Dandenong mountains across a spectacular trestle bridge, before reaching St Kilda, where he enjoys a special screening of a feature film that explores the exploits of the notorious outlaw, Ned Kelly

Great Australian Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo crosses the south east of Australia from Canberra, the seat of government, to the multi-ethnic heart of its second largest city, Melbourne. Floating above Canberra in a hot-air balloon, Michael sees how Australia's 'Bush Capital' was planned in the early 20th century and tours the nation's Parliament. He takes the high-speed train nearly 300 miles south west, to arrive in Melbourne at the head of Port Philip Bay on Australia's south-eastern coast

Great Australian Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels by rail through Queensland from Kuranda to Townsville, marvelling at the engineering expertise of a railway line built in the 1890s. He also visits a plantation where he learns how to harvest sugar cane and ventures into the hinterland, where he braves a crocodile safari

Great Australian Railway Journeys -:- Part one of two. Michael Portillo rides the transcontinental Indian Pacific Railway from the southern port city of Adelaide to Perth in the west. Along the way he hears the story of how an enterprising 19th-century Briton with a murky past began to grow vines. Michael enjoys the fruits of his labours and hears his story from his great great great granddaughter. Later, the presenter embraces the luxury of a previous age as he travels across Australia's notoriously remote and inhospitable Nullarbor Plain

Great Australian Railway Journeys -:- Part two of two. Michael Portillo concludes his journey from Adelaide to Perth, striking gold and playing cards in Kalgoorlie, and uncovering a dark chapter of the past in Perth

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Armed with his Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo reaches Birmingham and discovers how a radical reformer made his mark on the 'city of a thousand trades'. At Highbury Hall, he finds Joseph Chamberlain's mansion home and hears how he established a political dynasty including a prime minister and a foreign secretary. Next stop is Cradley Heath, once one of five chain-making towns in the West Midlands. At the centre of Britain's ceramic industry in Stoke-on-Trent, Michael visits Wedgwood, established by 'Queen's Potter' Josiah Wedgwood in 1759 and visited in 1913 by King George V and Queen Mary

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Armed with his early 20th century Bradshaw's Guide, Michael Portillo sets off on the first leg of a trip through Britain's industrial heartlands in the footsteps of George V, beginning by travelling from Warrington to Preston

Great British Railway Journeys -:- In Blackburn, Michael Portillo catches a rare glimpse of Edwardian life on celluloid and marvels at how factory workers and schoolchildren alike were drawn to seek fame on film. Continuing east to Nelson, Michael braves the enemy camp to have a pint of tea with the socialist working classes in Britain's last Clarion House

Great British Railway Journeys -:- In East Yorkshire, Michael Portillo goes bird-watching on the cliffs of Flamborough Head before travelling to Filey in North Yorkshire, where he learns to decipher traditional knitting patterns. He then continues his journey to the Victorian seaside resort of Scarborough, and views a 4,000-year-old skeleton called Gristhorpe Man

Great British Railway Journeys -:- In picturesque Snowdonia, Michael Portillo braves the fastest zip line in the world - stretching 1,500 feet across a vast slate quarry as he begins the last leg of his journey to Caernarfon. En route, he also visits the home of British mountaineering, Pen y Gwryd, to hear how an Edwardian journalist and poet created a climbing community, which grew to include men who would conquer Everest in the 1950s

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey following George Bradshaw's footsteps, as the third leg of his trip from Preston to Kirkcaldy sees him embarking on a two-day tour of the Lake District. He begins in Windermere, where he travels by steamboat to the north of the lake, and continues to Claife viewing station, where he learns about the water pollution caused by increasing levels of tourism. He spends the night in Grasmere, and the following day reaches Kendal, where he buys local delicacies and meets a farmer who explains the impact of railways on farming practices

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey from Northern Ireland across the water to Scotland. Leaving from the seaport of Larne, he reaches Stranraer and the Mull of Galloway, where in a lighthouse built by railway engineer Robert Stevenson he discovers a magnificent machine, installed at the turn of the 20th century

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey inspired by George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. He searches for the last liquorice grower in Pontefract, finds out how the railways transformed Hull into one of the largest white-fish ports in the world, and goes fishing for sea bass in Bridlington

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey, travelling on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey steam railway, finding out about Roman discoveries in York, and taking to the air in the Network Rail helicopter

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the second leg of his journey from Preston to Kirkcaldy, returning to the historic Settle-Carlisle line he helped save from dereliction when he was Minister of State for Transport in the 1980s. Here, engineer Tony Feshini describes what life was like for the people who originally built Ribblehead Viaduct, before Michael visits Dent, Cumbria, home to the highest railway station in England

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the second leg of his journey from Swindon to Penzance. Starting in Yatton, he travels along a line that was once used to transport fresh strawberries across the country, but was closed by Dr Beeching in the 1960s. He also visits the Gough Cave in Cheddar Gorge to view the remains of the 9,000-year-old Cheddar Man - the oldest complete skeleton in Britain

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo falls into line with the University of Glasgow's Officer Training Corps, where he joins students for drill. The political pundit then heads west along the Firth of Clyde to Helensburgh, where he discovers a pioneering group of artists known as the Glasgow Boys. The idyllic West Highland Line takes Michael deep into the Highlands to Inveraray and the ancestral home of the Clan Campbell and Dukes of Argyll. Michael's final stop is Connel Ferry, near Oban, where, on the Achnacloich Estate, he discovers a Highland calf whose breed has become an icon of the Highlands

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo journeys from Glasgow to Cumbrae, learning about a forgotten Scottish expedition to the Antarctic and how one woman led a protest against high rents in the city

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo journeys from Maltby to Hinckley, going whippet racing and trying to understand the appeal of Marmite, before a look around the Triumph motorcycle factory

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo leaves Glasgow and travels to Carluke in Lanarkshire's Clyde Valley, where he meets Tom Clelland, who is trying to revive his family's fruit-growing business. On his way to Edinburgh, he learns about the vast range of items left on trains, before spending the night in the city's famous Balmoral Hotel. His journey ends in Kirkcaldy, where he explores the paintings donated to the local gallery by his grandfather John Blyth

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo reaches Carlisle, where he meets a descendant of the Border Reivers, a group of ancient lawless clansmen mentioned in Victorian train enthusiast George Bradshaw's book. From there, he travels to Gretna Green to learn about the village's famous marriage trade, explores an old Ministry of Defence munitions site, and visits the centre of Glasgow, which is enjoying a revival in popularity

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo sets off on the first leg of a journey across Northern Ireland to Argyll and Bute, beginning by travelling from Newry to Portadown

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels along Brunel's Great Western Railway, learning how mass tourism started in Swindon, before visiting Bath to discover the history of the famous spa baths. His last stop is Bristol, where he tries his hand at blowing blue glass

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels between Liverpool and Wales. Along the way he discovers a childhood favourite - a miniature tank engine with three carriages in dark red - made by Frank Hornby, and learns the story of a Welsh countess who lived in Gwrych Castle. In Snowdonia, he also rides the waves with a Welsh surfing champion

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo visits Heaton Park in Manchester, where one of the first open air concerts was held in 1909, before travelling on to the town of Oldham. Michael then ventures to Edale in the Peak District, where he joins ramblers in walking country, and learns how a Sheffield socialist spearheaded a mass trespassing revolt to open up the countryside to working people

Great British Railway Journeys -:- On a journey from Belfast to Portrush, Michael Portillo investigates the work of author and Narnia creator CS Lewis, and visits the Royal Portrush Golf Club

Great British Railway Journeys -:- On his journey from Swindon to Penzance, Michael Portillo explores Torquay, where he meets meteorologist David Braine to find out whether the town is Britain's warmest spot. He then takes a trip on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, and spends the night at the Royal Castle Hotel in Dartmouth, where he learns about the town's naval past. After sailing up the River Dart he arrives in Totnes, and discovers the community's efforts to become more environmentally friendly

Great British Railway Journeys -:- On the first leg of his second journey, Michael Portillo heads to Kirkcaldy in Fife, finding out along the way how the mill town of Preston in Lancashire gave birth to the Temperance Movement. In Blackpool, he enjoys a performance in the Tower Ballroom and discovers the railways had a direct impact on the town's birth as a resort. After a stroll along the pier with local comedian Joey Blower, Michael visits Morecambe Bay

Great British Railway Journeys -:- The second leg of Michael Portillo's journey from Liverpool to Scarborough takes him from Manchester to Bury. Along the way, he finds out about the life of Victorian train enthusiast George Bradshaw, gets fitted for a trilby hat in Denton, and learns how railways helped contribute to the nation's love affair with fish and chips

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 embarks on a Greek odyssey from the Athens port of Piraeus, north to the city of Thessaloniki, exploring the Acropolis and sampling moussaka and baklava on the way. He also discovers the parlous state of Greek finances at the time of his 1913 Continental Railway Guide, and learns how an aristocratic English poet became a Greek national hero

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 travels through Germany, beginning his journey in Berlin - which at the beginning of the 20th Century was a powerhouse of science and technology. Led by his copy of Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide of 1913, he heads west via the Harz Mountains to the industrial Ruhr Valley to learn how imperial Germany was ready for war. He then goes south along the tourist trail of the castle-studded Rhine river and ends in the Rheingau to taste the wines of its vineyards

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 explore Poland. He begins in the capital Warsaw, where he takes to the floor to dance to one of Chopin's polonaises with high-school students rehearsing for their leavers' ball, before discovering how the former industrial city of Lodz supplied the vast Russian empire of the early 20th century. He then heads to Poznan and rides one of the few remaining steam-powered commuter trains, visits a factory in Wroclaw that manufactures car bodies for locomotives, and ends his journey in Krakow, where he takes a tour in an iconic vehicle of the communist era

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

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw railway guide, Michael Portillo takes the train down the spine of Italy as he travels from Rome to Sicily. He begins by weaving among the capital city's landmarks on the back of a 1950s Vespa, before boarding the train south to Naples, where he finds out about the first railway to be built in the country, and ventures into the crater of Mount Vesuvius. He takes a detour to the island of Capri, before finishing his journey in the ancient hilltop town of Taormina

Hornby: A Model World -:- Young designer Prad has just 30 days to reinvent the model railway starter kit, and musician Jools Holland reveals his incredible 45ft layout hidden away in his loft

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

Howl (2015) -:- A train leaves London on a dark and stormy night, only to come to a sudden halt in the middle of a forest when it collides with something on the tracks. The passengers must band together to survive the night when they discover a strange creature is lurking in the woods and is on the hunt for human prey. Horror, starring Ed Speleers and Holly Weston

Impossible Railways -:- Engineering breakthroughs that allow trains to go faster than ever, including technology that allows the navigation of the winding mountains of Spain at speed.

Impossible Railways -:- Engineering that has overcome some of the greatest mountain ranges to create innovative railways, including a tunnel in the Swiss Alps and a zig-zag railway in Ecuador.

Inside the Steam Train Museum -:- Cameras capture seasonal events at Bressingham Steam Museum. Staff member Phil struggles when driving a vintage fire engine covered in Christmas lights to the local market town's Christmas event. Chris and the 'track team' replace a long stretch of railway line in the woods. Manager Al has to take over the role of Father Christmas in the grotto and Brian cooks a roast chicken in a steam engine to help celebrate the end of the year

Inside the Steam Train Museum -:- Phil and Stuart go to huge efforts decorating the site with home-made pumpkin-scarecrows, graveyards and mummies in preparation for Halloween. Brian cooks breakfast on a shovel for the engine drivers and John tells ghost stories from the fairground. As the event gets under way, the museum's enthusiastic volunteers dress up in costume to scare the public on the ghost train, while retired minister David entertains the passengers on the journey

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.

Japan Railway Journal -:- Japan's railway news from July to December 2022 - see events celebrating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the railway, rural railways making a comeback, and say goodbye to some beloved trains.

Mega Shippers -:- In Oxford, 280 Minis must be loaded onto a train in just six hours. Bound for Southampton, they need to be loaded on ferries for export to China, Japan and the USA

Mega Shippers -:- Kieran struggles to get a 26-tonne train rolling for the first time in 60 years. Plus, Colin has 48 hours to load ten valuable racing yachts

Mighty Trains -:- South Africa's Rovos Rail, one of the most luxurious locomotives in the world. This family operated train manages to deal with extreme weather and problems such as stolen power lines

Nazi Megastructures -:- Extended episode exploring the use of trains in the Nazi regime, including Hitler's personal train, an unprecedented railway network, and concentration camp prisoner transports

Nazi Megastructures -:- How the Nazis' extensive rail network was put to its most dreadful purpose - transporting prisoners to the concentration camps for execution in vast numbers

Nazi Megastructures -:- The rail network of Nazi Germany, examining Hitler's personal train and how the railways were used as a weapon of war across Europe

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) -:- A stressed businessman just wants to make it home to spend Thanksgiving with his family. However, when his flight is forced to land miles from its destination, he finds himself sharing a disaster-strewn journey across America with an amiable but slobbish salesman. Comedy road movie, starring Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Kevin Bacon and Michael McKean

Railroad Alaska -:- Dan Mawhinney is in a race to airlift his stranded snow machine out of the frozen tundra, while Orville and Jackie James face their first winter alone in the wilderness

Railroad Alaska -:- Danny and Animal bring out a snowplough to clear the way for a freight train hauling vital diesel, while Mary and Clyde need a generator

Railroad Alaska -:- Hugh finds a faulty rail switch that threatens to stop medical supplies getting through to the homesteaders, while Bruce must remove a huge icicle before it hits a train

Railroad Alaska -:- The boys race to deliver military equipment to Anchorage when a car derails and threatens to shut down the line. Meanwhile, some off-gridders storm-proof their roof

Railroad Alaska -:- The documentary series following the construction crews, mechanics and train drivers battling to keep a 500-mile long railroad in Alaska open through extreme weather returns. The freight crew struggles to make a delivery to a salvage team stranded in the wilderness, and Jim James has a surprise for Nancy

Railroad Alaska -:- With the spring thaw comes floodwater that threatens to wash away a section of track, and Bruce races to repair it. Plus, hungry bears rouse from hibernation

Rails into Laramie (1954) -:- An army officer tries to keep the construction of a railway running while fighting corruption in a nearby town. Western, with John Payne, Dan Duryea and Lee Van Cleef

Railway Murders -:- In 1881 Percy Lefroy Mapleton, a talented young writer became fixated on a beautiful stage actress

Railway Murders -:- In 1910 the city of Newcastle was transfixed by a murder trial

Railway Murders -:- In May 1957 an elderly Polish Countess was travelling home from a party when she was attacked at Gloucester Road Tube station

Railway Murders -:- Investigating the most notorious murders ever to take place on the British railways. In 1864 wealthy banker Thomas Briggs was the first murder victim on a British railway

Railway Murders -:- The first time a railway police officer was murdered in the line of duty

Railway Murders -:- The story of Jimmy Alcott, a troubled young man who, in 1952, staked out a railway station and plotted a theft that would end in murder

The Architecture the Railways Built -:- Tim Dunn visits Ribblehead Viaduct in the Yorkshire Dales, talks to the man who saved it from closure and tours the breathtaking stations of the Hungerbergbahn in Innsbruck

The Big Bang Theory -:- Leonard and Howard attempt to distract Sheldon with a trip to a historic railway when he slows the progress of their work on the Air Force guidance system. Raj and Stuart look after baby Halley, while Penny and Amy take Bernadette out

The Flying Scotsman (1929) -:- A young crew member on the famous train must foil his bitter predecessor's attempt at sabotage. Silent thriller, starring Ray Milland and Pauline Johnson

The Train (2007) -:-

The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard -:- The three-day autumn Steam Gala takes place on the North York Moors Railway, and the organisers try to bag an amazing locomotive as this year's 'celebrity guest'. The event is RAF-themed, so engine shed boss Piglet heads to the Nene Valley in Cambridgeshire to check out a 92 Squadron engine, known in its day as a 'spam cam' due to its memorable design. Meanwhile, Kieran and signalman Alistair are tasked with creating a heritage freight train that is a popular feature of the gala

The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard -:- Under pressure to bring in extra revenue now that the somewhat challenging season is nearing its end, the North York Moors Railway team decides to put on a special 'curry train' night together with a massive bash for Halloween. Visitors and staff alike put in the effort to make it a night to remember, though proceedings are threatened when the lights in the carriages suddenly stop working. The Bishop of Wakefield comes to bless Eric Treacy, an engine that has been through a £500,000 overhaul taking over two years

The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard -:- War Weekend takes place on the North York Moors Railway, celebrating the part played by the railways during the Second World War, with around 30,000 visitors expected to attend. As it turns out, the biggest battle of the weekend is with the weather, as a storm blights the final preparations. Further complications arise when a tree falls on the line, leading to a full track inspection before any trains are allowed to run. Despite the setbacks, can the team pull off one of their biggest, most important and lucrative events of the year?

Train Truckers -:- Heavy haulage experts Ian Bagladi and Jamie Turnbull need to move a classical but abandoned 63-year-old, 70-tonne locomotive, through the English countryside

Train Truckers -:- Kevin Norris and Kieran Chisnall move three state-of-the-art trains, fresh in from Japan. They need to transport them from the North East port of Redcar to a factory in Doncaster

Train Truckers -:- The crew visits Germany to collect a multi-million-pound maintenance machine so large it will need to be loaded onto two trucks. Eric and Chris oversee a diesel-engine exchange

Train Truckers -:- Zak and Alex face a four-day mission to deliver a pair of classic steam locomotives for an Autumn Steam Gala at the Mid Hants Railway in Hampshire

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995) -:- A retired Navy veteran travelling by train is forced to leap into action when he realises terrorist hijackers are on board. Their leader, a vengeful former government operative with access to a powerful orbital weapon, is threatening to set off a chain of earthquakes if his demand for $1billion is not met. Action adventure sequel, with Steven Seagal, Eric Bogosian, Morris Chestnut, Brenda Bakke and Katherine Heigl

Unstoppable (2010) -:- A driverless train carrying a deadly cargo of toxic chemicals goes out of control. A veteran train operator and his rookie colleague set off in pursuit in their own locomotive, intending to bring it to a halt before it crashes and causes a major disaster. Action thriller, the final film from director Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson

Walking Victorian Britain -:- Onyeka Nubia ventures through London, where so much of what can be seen - from its masses of railways to its famous landmarks - has its origins in Victorian Britain

SMALL PRINT

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©  Matthew Shaw 2023