RAILDATE 2023.04.28

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Thank you to this week's contributors.

The Weekly Poser: Where is this?

A European city this week. RCTS members attending last Saturday's Members' Day were wowed by a presentation of the modern railway scene at this city. Where is it?

Last week's Where is this?

We are looking at a Canadian city that is still today dominated by its railways, marshalling yards etc. Just two key bridges carry the nation's east-west traffic across the river. Where is it?

Answer: Winnipeg, Manitoba. Congratulations are due to the following for their correct answers: Richard Maund, Peter Tisdale, Paul Hopper.

Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba stretch far to the north and forced all east-west railway construction to be concentrated to their south. First the Canadian Pacific crossed the Red River at Winnipeg, to be followed by the Canadian Northern and Grand Trunk Pacific. Just two rail bridges now link the two halves of Canada (without entering the US) although a redundant swing-bridge still survives in the northern suburbs.

I'm currently reading The Making of a Great Canadian Railway by Frederick Ambrose Talbot, published in 1912. It is the stirring tale of constructing the Grand Trunk Railway, and it makes a fascinating read of how thickly wooded virgin territory was penetrated. Death from drowning in raging rivers, bear attacks, forest fires, accidents, frostbite, and starvation were accepted risks for the survey teams - and they still had to turn applicants away. Talbot was there; his words are laden with credibility and beautifully phrased.

Here are some maps from Timetable World. There are others available if you select the North America tab in Map Search, then select Canada.

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]

9-1-1 -:- The 118 respond to a massive train derailment, where they battle against the clock to save as many lives as possible

999 Faoi Oiliúint -:- Fiona adapts to life on the job with the National Ambulance Service Ireland, Peter begins his paramedic training with the Dublin Fire Brigade and Danielle trains to be a coxswain with Foyle Search and Rescue in Derry. In Irish

Abandoned Engineering -:- An abandoned railway station near a town in Spain that is home to just 500 people and a record-breaking Arctic facility that goes deep below the surface

Aces 'N' Eights (2008) -:- The people of a sleepy Texas frontier settlement are menaced by gunmen hired by a railroad company to drive them off their land. In the absence of a sheriff, the task of defending the townsfolk falls to two unlikely heroes - an elderly rancher and a retired gunslinger. Western, with Casper Van Dien, Ernest Borgnine, Bruce Boxleitner and Jeff Kobner

Alfred Hitchcock Presents -:- As two men wait at a train station a wailing siren periodically reminds them that a maniac has escaped from the local asylum

Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks -:- When Alvin and Eleanor train to be lifeguards, Theodore is passed over but later manages to save the day.

Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks -:- When Alvin sees every celebrity with their own personal bodyguard, he decides to train Theodore for the job

American Dad! -:- Frustrated with getting stuck in traffic, Stan proposes the town builds a bullet train - and is persuaded by Roger to run for Mayor

Antiques Road Trip -:- Natasha Raskin Sharp and Raj Bisram go antique shopping in Norfolk, where the items that take their fancy include an unusual gavel, a pair of polo horses and a vintage train set

Arctic Ice Railroad -:- Conductor JR and trainee Trevor must transport a massive load of timber from Calstock to Cochrane, navigating extreme weather to get the job done

Baby Daddy -:- Riley decides to travel by train to her family reunion in Florida, so Ben volunteers to tag along, seeing it as the perfect opportunity for them to rekindle their romance. When Tucker gets the chance to co-host a television show, he asks Bonnie for help with his audition tape. Comedy, starring Jean-Luc Bilodeau

Bakugan Legends -:- As the Awesome Brawlers train for the Battle Judgement, they learn of a new Core - the Nova Core! Dan and Drago use its mysterious new powers against an unexpected opponent.

Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild -:- Ben meets a scientist in Siberia, who gave up his urban life to work in the Russian Arctic on finding ways to reduce the impact of climate change on the permafrost. His project makes use of steam machines and monster trucks, but away from his environmental work, he is working on the idea of bringing the woolly mammoth back from extinction

Bissell Cleaning Solutions -:- A range of products from Bissell to keep your home spotlessly clean. From spring cleaning to steam cleaning we have it all here on Ideal World.

Blood & Treasure -:- Danny and Lexi follow a clue to the mountains of Spain in search of a lost train car that may have carried the sarcophagus of Cleopatra when it disappeared

Britain's Greatest Bridges -:- Engineer Rob Bell sets out on a journey to discover how six of Britain's most stunning bridges were designed and built. Completed in 1890, the Forth Rail Bridge now carries around 200 trains every day. The last of the great Victorian engineering triumphs, it has grown to symbolise Scotland as much as Edinburgh Castle, bagpipes or kilts. But, as Rob learns, this incredible engineering achievement was born from the tragedy of the 1879 Tay Bridge disaster, and 73 deaths were connected with its construction and immediate aftermath

Britain's Most Luxurious Train Journeys -:- A trip aboard Scotland's high-speed Midland Pullman train, which travels through the Perthshire town of Pitlochry, and the resort of Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park. Passengers include a couple celebrating their anniversary, a mother bidding farewell to her daughter, and a woman who shares her alopecia story

Britain's Most Luxurious Train Journeys -:- On the Statesman train, travelling to Snowdonia in north Wales, a retired train driver is surprised with a heritage steam railway ride from the historic mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Luxury train regulars Gary and Kim celebrate their first wedding anniversary with a return trip back to where they spent their first holiday together

Buster (1988) -:- Fact-based crime drama about the life of Buster Edwards, a member of the gang responsible for the Great Train Robbery. Going on the run after the notorious heist, he flees to Mexico with his family. However, his homesick wife struggles to adapt to her new life, leaving the outlaw with a difficult choice. Starring Phil Collins, Julie Walters, Sheila Hancock, Larry Lamb and Ralph Brown

Canal Boat Diaries -:- Narrowboater Robbie Cumming begins a fresh set of adventures along the waterways of the north of England and the Midlands. He is forced to make a running repair to his narrowboat the Naughty Lass while on the Tinsley lock flight in South Yorkshire. He then cruises beneath Conisbrough's magnificent viaduct and must wait for an unusual sliding railway bridge to open on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal

Caught on Camera -:- Documentary featuring real-life footage - from the funny to the dramatic - showing what can go wrong both on and off the train tracks. From shocking near-misses and devastating derailments to rush-hour rage and unique on-board entertainment, all captured on cameras and phones and told by the people who witnessed and survived them. Plus, psychologists and industry experts discuss train-related anxieties and situations that passengers could experience in and around the railways

Ci Da -:- Dafydd and Neli meet a family from Bala who train sheepdogs, Harri and Taylor review gadgets for dogs and Neli has an obedience lesson

Criminally Funny -:- The show that lifts the lid on the funnier side of crime, featuring robbers on horseback, goats on trains and police cars on the run. Joe Thomas narrates

Crooks in Cloisters (1964) -:- Six train robbers hide from the law in a deserted monastery off the Cornish coast, where disguising themselves as monks proves the perfect way of lying low while carrying on with various criminal activities. But the crooks have a hard task keeping up the pretence when two real monks visit the island - especially since one of the gang is a woman. Comedy, with Ronald Fraser, Barbara Windsor, Bernard Cribbins, Wilfrid Brambell and Davy Kaye

Demolition Down Under -:- In the Gold Coast, a team bring down an old petrol station to make way for a new railway station. Plus, a demo team make an unsavoury discovery

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

Dickinson's Real Deal -:- In Newcastle, Jo Brayshaw has her sights set on a wee dram, Michael Hogben gets so excited about a train set he pays way over the odds, and a Rolex watch gets the dealers buzzing

Dragonfly Squadron (1954) -:- Major Matthew Brady is assigned to train South Korean troops in preparation for combat, but the appearance of an American woman who he was once close to marrying proves to be a distraction. Drama, starring John Hodiak, Barbara Britton and Bruce Bennett

Find It, Fix It, Flog It -:- In Cockermouth, Cumbria, Simon O'Brien and Henry Cole meet blacksmith Jon, who spent many years working on fairgrounds. At the valuation, independent valuer Ronnie Archer-Morgan reckons there's rich pickings to be made from railway memorabilia

Fort Yuma (1955) -:- When an Apache chief is killed in a fight with a settler, his son goes on the warpath, launching an attack on a supply train headed for Fort Yuma. The only survivors - an embittered officer, a scout and a female missionary - realise the war party plan to kill everyone at the fort, and face a tortuous journey to raise the alarm. Western, starring Peter Graves and Joan Vohs

FourWheeler -:- Ian Johnson brings back the Suzuki Samurai for an old-fashioned engine swap. He upgrades it with a common rail VW diesel engine from a wrecked vehicle.

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 -:- 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

Fred Dibnah's World of Steam, Steel and Stone -:- The steeplejack's interest in industrial engineering, which was sparked by the building of canals, railways and bridges near his Bolton home. The documentary visits Hadrian's Wall, the canal tunnels in Dudley and Conway's suspension bridge

Gino's Italian Escape -:- Chef Gino D'Acampo tours his homeland by train, taking in some of some of the most scenic train journeys in Europe. He begins in the French Alpine town of Breil-sur-Roya, so he can travel into Italy in style. Once in his own country, he meets a doctor who does his rounds on horseback, and visits hazelnut groves where he prepares a chocolate cheesecake. In Turin, he fulfils a lifelong dream of racing on top of the world-famous Lingotto rooftop track and makes his final dish - fettuccine pasta with mascarpone and pork mince

GPs: Behind Closed Doors -:- Dr Ajay Singal is visited by Cyril, an 89-year-old who has a mischievous sense of humour and a loving family around him. Yet when it is time to sleep at night, he gets overwhelmed with anxiety and cannot settle. Can his GP get to the bottom of his problem? Paul comes in complaining of an excruciating pain in his throat, diabetic Paula worries about a sudden dip in her blood sugar levels and railway worker Darren shows Dr Qamar some unsightly lumps on his back

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his rail journey along the Upper Mississippi to Red Wing, Minnesota, and the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of Little House on the Prairie. Picking up the Empire Builder rail service he travels to Winona, where he finds out how, in the 19th century, the US Army Corps of Engineers made the Mississippi navigable and how the river is maintained today

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo makes his way from Chicago to Champaign, Illinois. On his travels he discovers the origins of the Sanitary and Ship Canal, joins the head chef at Palmer House Hotel to recreate the original chocolate brownie, and visits the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house that changed the face of American architecture

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo stops at Mattoon, Illinois, where he gets a taste of the early life that shaped President Abraham Lincoln, though struggles to split one rail compared with Lincoln's estimated 700 a day. The political pundit then heads to Kentucky, where a bloody conflict proved decisive in victory for Lincoln's Union. Aboard a paddle steamer on the lower Mississippi, Michael hears about the life of former river boat captain Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, and in Memphis, Tennessee, uncovers the story of a devastating epidemic. In the home of the Blues, Michael joins some Elvis fans at Graceland

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from Reno, Nevada to California's Napa County, taking to the skies over the Sierra Nevada mountain range and trying his hand at cowboy dressage

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels through Milwaukee, a city on the shore of Lake Michigan, where he learns about the history of the iconic American Harley Davidson motorcycle. When Michael reaches the city of Illinois, he discovers how the modern day skyline of Chicago has replaced a largely wooden city which was destroyed by a great fire many years ago

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels through Minneapolis and St Paul, where he learns how the power of the Mississippi helped Minneapolis become a great industrial centre. Later in St Paul, he explores the birthplace of F Scott Fitzgerald, and meets with a Native American expert to discover more about a dark chapter in American history

Great Asian Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey through south-east Asia, learning how coffee was first brought to Java for cultivation, visiting the headquarters of the Dutch East Indies Railway Company, and ending at Surabaya, a port bursting with local traditions, produce and culture

Great Asian Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo's 2,500-mile rail tour of south-east Asia reaches Malaysia. On the island of Penang, he traces the origins of the former British colony in Georgetown, rides one of the world's steepest funicular railways and is enchanted by exotic specimens at Malaysia's first butterfly sanctuary. Travelling on the nation's hi-tech railway network Michael visits its wettest town, Taiping, and learns how the discovery of tin made this land a prized possession for Britain. Next stop is the regal town of Kuala Kangsar, home to the Sultan of Perak and to one of Malaysia's most prestigious schools

Great Asian Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo's rail exploration of South-east Asia continues in Malaysia, along the way learning how rubber engineering ensures railway passengers enjoy a smooth ride

Great Asian Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels to Java's Central Province and the royal city of Yogyakarta, where he visits the Sultan's Palace and admires the ancient art of shadow puppetry. Moving north to Ambawara, Michael boards a scenic heritage line constructed by the Dutch with carriages dating from the time of his Bradshaw's guidebook

Great British Railway Journeys -:- In Plymouth, Michael Portillo finds out about the Royal Navy's fighting spirit and mixes his own blend of 'ruin'. Then, crossing into Cornwall, he learns about the last bridge to be built by renowned engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. By Tre, Pol and Pen, the ex-politician comes to know Cornishmen and how to prepare the perfect pasty. This leg of his journey ends in a small village, which in Victorian times became a hub of global communications

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael begins his latest journey in the sailing town of Lymington, where he makes a life-saving discovery. The route takes him through the Dorchester countryside, where he discovers how the introduction of the railway inspired Thomas Hardy. He tries his hand at carpet-making in Axminster and concludes his journey in Exmouth, where he learns about the work of forgotten Victorian landscape artist Francis Danby

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo arrives in Littlehampton, where he discovers how Victorian engineers defended the town's residents from cholera. He stops off at Gosport and experiences the lethal firepower unleashed on the French during in an arms race. In the New Forest, the presenter visits Florence Nightingale's family home, before finishing at Beaulieu, where he seizes the opportunity to drive the first motor car

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on a journey to Chichester, with the first leg beginning in Norwich. At the city's Norman castle he uncovers the Victorian public's gory fascination with crime and punishment and finds out how campaigners such as Elizabeth Fry worked to improve conditions for prisoners. Heading west to Thetford, he explores how the Victorian appetite for rabbits and their fur led to special train services to London, and ends in the Suffolk town of Brandon, where he tries his hand at flint-knapping

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the first leg of a journey from Southampton to Wolverhampton, beginning by being taught how to set a table aboard the luxury liner Queen Elizabeth. In the village of Netley he finds the remains of an extensive military hospital built by order of Queen Victoria, and ends his travels in Basingstoke, where he learns out about a pitched battle between townspeople and the Salvation Army

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo is in Brighton as he starts the final leg of his journey from Norwich to Chichester, learning about the history of the Royal Pavilion. At Bramber, he discovers that Victorian tourists flocked to the town in huge numbers to visit a museum of taxidermy, before heading into the South Downs for a taste of life in the fast lane at Goodwood

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo journeys from Stroud to Bath, investigating the Victorian origins of snooker, before ploughing a crooked furrow at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester. At his final destination in Bath, he takes tea with the ladies, and also discovers a scandalous novel written by an eccentric recluse, who was once the wealthiest man in England

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo sets out from Ashord in Kent on the first leg of a trip to Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, lending a hand at a state-of-the-art train maintenance plant that is home to High Speed 1 rolling stock. A visit to the home of a historic make-up brand reveals the foundations of the Victorian cosmetics industry, before he ends his journey at Knole House in Sevenoaks at Knole House, seat of the Sackville-West family

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo sets out from Birmingham on the first leg of a trip to Dartmoor, and a visit to the city's town hall reveals a magnificent organ and the location for a celebrated music festival. Travelling south to Kidderminster, he works in a Royal Mail sorting office and discovers more about great postal innovator Rowland Hill, before he ending his journey in Worcester, where he learns about the origins of the British Medical Association

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo starts the next leg of his journey to Chichester in Faversham, Kent, where he visits Shepherd Neame, which is one of the oldest breweries in Britain. He then heads to Dover to explore a sunken fortress known as the Western Heights, before crossing into Surrey where he blow-dries a hen in Dorking

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from Bristol to Glastonbury, entering the foul-smelling world of a Victorian tannery and hearing how a 19th-century entrepreneur made his fortune thanks to mountains of bird droppings, using his wealth to build churches and one of the most luxurious country houses in Britain. When he reaches his destination, Michael heads for the mystical Glastonbury Abbey, where Victorian tourists flocked to hear tales of King Arthur and the Holy Grail

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from East Grinstead to Guildford, with his trip including a visit to Leith Hill Place to explore the compositions of Ralph Vaughan Williams. He also dons a boiler suit and takes to the footplate of a locomotive on the Bluebell Railway, Britain's first passenger-carrying heritage line, and witnesses the power of dynamite first hand

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from Ipswich to Chelmsford, starting at an agricultural implements works with its own railway sidings. Continuing his journey south-west into Essex, Michael dredges for oysters off Mersea Island before taking the train to Witham, where he discovers a model farming establishment at Tiptree. His final destination is Chelmsford, home to the world's first purpose-built radio equipment factory, established by Guglielmo Marconi

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from Newhaven to Worthing, examining the nation's hidden defences, and taking in two magnificent engineering achievements - the Ouse Valley Viaduct and the Clayton Tunnel. High on top of a favourite Victorian beauty spot he learns how trains carried hordes of day-trippers to fly kites, and finds a novel way to pick tomatoes in Worthing

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from Redditch to Gloucester, beginning with a look back to Victorian times at a needle manufactory. He also learns how to make Gloucester cheese and joins the Gloucester Choral Society in a rendition of Jerusalem

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from Woking to Walton-on-Thames, uncovering the story of Britain's first purpose-built crematorium and visiting Brooklands, the birthplace of motor racing, along the way. As his journey draws to a close, he goes camping and finds out about the unlikely origins of a leisure pursuit that is going strong today

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels through Hampshire and Berkshire, as he continues his journey to Wolverhampton. His stop-off points include Stratfield Saye House, the stately home bequeathed by the nation to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, in 1817. He then heads to Aldershot Garrison, where he is put through his paces under military instruction. At St Michael's Abbey in Farnborough, Michael visits the tomb of French emperor Napoleon III and his family, before ending in Crowthorne, Berkshire, the home of Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital

Great British Railway Journeys -:- On the final leg of his journey from Southampton to the West Midlands, Michael Portillo visits the spa town of Cheltenham, where he gets behind the wheel of a very early locomotive carriage that ran on the road. In Tewkesbury, he joins a group re-enacting a battle from the Wars of the Roses, before he reaches his final destination of Wolverhampton, where he hears how Queen Victoria made an emotional visit that signalled the end of her exile from public life after mourning Prince Albert

Great British Railway Journeys -:- On the final leg of his journey, Michael Portillo rediscovers a once-famous poet in Nottingham and travels on a railway line resurrected by popular demand after falling victim to Beeching's cuts. He finds out how Doncaster rail workers shaped British political history, before reaching his final destination of Leeds, where he auditions at Britain's oldest continuously working music hall

Great British Railway Journeys -:- On the next leg of his journey, Michael Portillo heads along the Essex bank of the Thames before crossing the river into Kent. He begins in Barkingside, where Victorian philanthropist Thomas Barnardo made it his mission to transform the lives of destitute children. The former politician then tries his hand at loading a container onto a pocket wagon at Tilbury docks, and ends his trip in Rochester, where he encounters a host of familiar characters and explores a town that was an inspiration for many of Charles Dickens' works

Great British Railway Journeys -:- On the next stage of his journey to Leeds, Michael Portillo sets off in Leicester, where he finds out about the hunt for Richard III's remains. Michael works his passage on the Great Central Railway from Rothley to Loughborough, where he learns about a family that has been casting bells in the town since 1839

Great British Railway Journeys -:- On the next stage of his journey to Wolverhampton, Michael Portillo visits Lacock Abbey near Chippenham in Wiltshire to find out how the world's first photographic negative was made. He then heads to Bristol Zoo, examines an extraordinary piece of Victorian engineering at Severn Tunnel Junction and ends the leg in Gloucester, where he meets a stonemason at the city's cathedral

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Referring to his trusty Bradshaw's Guidebook, Michael Portillo stands trial at the Bloody Assizes in Taunton, Somerset, and feels the full force of the law. He also gets to grips with a miracle of Victorian engineering on the Somerset Levels at Westonzoyland, and on Dartmoor embarks on a mid-19th century treasure hunt still popular today

Great British Railway Journeys -:- The next part of Michael Portillo's journey from Southampton to Wolverhampton begins in Wokingham, Berkshire, where the former politician finds out how demand from a growing number of rail commuters fuelled the development of the modern printing press. He then learns about a Tudor businessman who manufactured cloth in enormous volumes in Newbury, and ends this leg of his trip in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. Here, a local manufacturer describes how his Victorian forebears were the first in Britain to be licensed to vulcanise rubber

Great Indian Railway Journeys -:- Guided by his Bradshaw's 1913 Handbook of Indian, Foreign and Colonial Travel, Michael Portillo travels across India

Great Indian Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo's Bradshaw's 1913 Handbook of Indian, Foreign and Colonial Travel leads him on railway journey through the modern south Indian states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He travels from the former princely state of Mysuru, aka Mysore, to the first stronghold of the East India Company in Chennai, formerly Madras

Great Railway Journeys -:- Avid trainspotter Michael Palin fulfils a boyhood dream as he travels from Euston in London to Kyle of Lochalsh in Scotland. Part of The Golden Age of Steam season

Greta (2018) -:- Waitress Frances McCullen gets more than she bargained for when she finds a handbag on a New York train and returns it to a grateful Greta Hideg. The bag's owner is a lonely widow who hides her dark and sinister plan for Frances behind maternal charm. Neil Jordan's thriller, starring Isabelle Huppert, Chloe Grace Moretz and Maika Monroe

Heartbeat -:- Mike plans to marry Jackie in secret, but the search for an armed train robber threatens to keep him from getting to the church on time. Meanwhile, Greengrass faces another kind of crisis _ his charismatic sister Isabelle turns up in Aidensfield, and proves to be more than a match for him. Judy Cornwell guest stars

Heartbeat -:- The Aidensfield bobbies investigate a series of arson attacks, but have trouble finding the evidence to convict their chief suspects _ until a further blaze claims a victim. Elsewhere, Maggie receives shocking news, and Greengrass fancies himself as the village's answer to Billy Butlin, opening a disused railway carriage as a holiday home. Guest starring Ralf Little and Coronation Street's Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs)

Himalaya with Michael Palin -:- The intrepid traveller embarks on a trip from the Khyber Pass to the Bay of Bengal, an arduous journey through Pakistan's mountains, India, Nepal, China and finally Bangladesh. The adventure begins on the Khyber steam railway, taking in Darra, where he browses for a unique firearm. He then heads toward Chitral to watch a freestyle polo grudge-match take place on the highest polo field in the world

Hitler's Bodyguard -:- Investigating the Nazi leader's armoured train, which was able to bring German railways to a halt

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

House Doctor -:- Ann Maurice offers advice to the owner of a three-bedroom house in the historic railway town of Darlington, Co Durham. Would-be pub landlord Paul Hooper is anxious to move on, but his uninviting property has been languishing on the market for six months

How Do They Do It? -:- A look at how one of the fastest bikes in the world was created, how pilots train to perform death-defying acrobatics, and how oil and gas is brought up from the bottom of the sea

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

Japan Railway Journal -:- 2022 marks 150 years of railway operations in Japan - see how Tokyo Station is now more than just a transportation hub and a place that continues to evolve as the gateway to Tokyo.

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.

Joanna Lumley's Japan -:- The actress heads to the island of Shikoku hoping to gain a better understanding of Japanese Buddhism. She then takes a bullet train to another island - Kyushu - where she finds the Henn Na Hotel, the world's first robot hotel. At Nagasaki, she visits Shiroyama Elementary school, one of the only buildings to survive the atomic bomb dropped on the city in 1945. Joanna then travels to Sakurajima, one of the country's most active volcanoes, before heading to the islands of Okinawa where one of the bloodiest battles of the Second World War was fought

Joanna Lumley's Trans-Siberian Adventure -:- The actress embarks on her third travelogue, having previously traced the Nile from its source and sampled the varied rural, historical and urban cultures of Greece. This time, she sets out to travel 6,400 miles making use of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which is considered the longest railway line in the world. Joanna's journey begins in Hong Kong, where she spent some of her childhood. She takes a bullet train to Beijing, where she meets a woman who claims to have known the last Chinese emperor's favourite concubine, and officially joins the Trans-Siberian track. From there, she travels to the Great Wall, and takes an overnight train into Mongolia via the Gobi desert

Joanna Lumley's Trans-Siberian Adventure -:- The actress reaches the midway point of her 6,000-mile journey from Hong Kong to Moscow via the Trans-Siberian Railway, taking in the varied sights of Mongolia. She spends time with native nomads, and visits a giant statue of Genghis Khan, as well as a gold mine. She also heads to the nation's capital, Ulan Bator, where she tracks down the famous Mongolian throat-singers, before catching a train bound for Russia. However, making a start on the Siberian leg of her trek proves more difficult than Joanna expects when she experiences a spot of bother at the border

Keeping Up Appearances -:- Hyacinth agrees to meet the Ladies' Luncheon Club's VIP at the railway station - but the assignment proves more difficult than imagined. Nigel Davenport guest stars

Killer in My Village -:- When a teenager disappears without trace at a Kent train station, painstaking forensic evidence is used to unmask her killer

Law & Order -:- The detectives investigate the case of a college professor pushed under a subway train - and the subsequent investigation leads to a man who had kidnapped his children and changed his identity 15 years earlier. Drama, starring Jerry Orbach

Lego Jurassic World: Double Trouble -:- Jurassic World is open for business, but with a few changes - a sibling rivalry has led to new management, but things get out of hand quickly when the new boss goes off the rails

Maximum Security -:- Dom Littlewood sees how a London rail station deals with a suspicious package, and sees how the police are working with the local community in Southend-on-Sea, Essex

Medical Detectives -:- A train crash in 1993 on Alabama's Bayou Canot bridge, which killed 47 people

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

Nate Is Late -:- Nate and Malika are offered a free ride on a ghost train which turns out to be a cover to train young monsters

NCIS: New Orleans -:- The team investigates a heist on a train carrying weapons, while Pride spies on the mayor. Featuring a guest appearance by Sheryl Crow

On Assignment -:- Rhys Williams investigates the deadly rail disaster in Greece in February, when an InterCity passenger train collided head-on with a freight train, killing 57 people. He meets victims, bereaved families and those in the industry who issued multiple warnings in the lead up to the disaster. Elsewhere in a Mexico City suburb, Rageh Omaar visits the altar of 'Santa Muerte' or Holy Death, a 21st century deity that accepts and nurtures the outcasts who feel neglected and rejected by mainstream religion

Paddington Station 24/7 -:- The staff step back in time when they venture down into tunnels under the station to carry out fire safety checks, and it is the start of a bank holiday getaway for thousands of commuters. Jennie, Great Western Railway's new customer ambassador, manages to seat a troupe of young cheerleaders all together, but faces a much bigger challenge when fire alarms go off during rush hour

Police Interceptors -:- In Huddersfield, officers are in pursuit of a van driver who smashed his van into a parked car before fleeing, while Bob and Dan pepper spray a suspect who is not keen on being handcuffed. Chris and Chris go after a stolen car whose driver gets too close to some railings, and the Operational Support Unit deal with a suspected heroin user carrying a number of bank cards and needles

Police Interceptors -:- Officers pursue a driver who flees the scene of a road accident in a decommissioned ambulance, eventually abandoning the vehicle on a railway line after crashing through level-crossing barriers. Elsewhere, Warren comes under attack from a gang of youths on a garage forecourt, Spenner nicks a runaway driver with the help of a wheelie bin, and Kev is faced with a flaming Mercedes in the middle of rush hour

Port Pàipeir -:- Curlybeard needs to find a job to pay the bills, while Matilda has to train to win the videogames championship

Rising -:- Top European brands love Japanese textiles, but its workshops are dying - Miyaura Shinya connects artisans and designers and has set up a course to train newcomers. Can he slow the industry's decline?

Road Train (2010) -:- Four friends driving through the Australian outback are run off the road by a lorry, which they later find has no driver. When they then witness a murder, they get on board the truck to escape, only to find the vehicle has a mind of its own and a sinister destination planned for them - as well as a terrifying cargo on board. Horror, with Bob Morley and Sophie Lowe

Robbery (1967) -:- A criminal hatches a plot to rob the overnight mail train from Glasgow, assembling a gang of thieves and breaking a currency expert out of jail. Although the gang gets away with millions, a simple mistake while dividing up the loot puts the police on their trail. Drama, inspired by the Great Train Robbery, starring Stanley Baker, Frank Finlay and James Booth

Salvage Dawgs -:- Black Dog Salvage saves architectural elements at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. Key items include railings, brick pavers, gothic lighting, and a safe from the 1940s. Mike and Courtney repurpose a mantle into a hanging wall piece

Salvage Dawgs -:- Mike and Robert remove a two-piece staircase from a farmhouse in Marion, Virginia. The duo also pick through a train yard. Back at the shop, Mike builds a bar from panel doors as a surprise for a customer's husband

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 -:- Drew Pritchard buy quirky items in Dorset. Twin sisters show their late father's legacy - vintage cars and steam train memorabilia. Plus, a visit to Luton's oldest hat makers

Salvage Hunters: The Restorers -:- The artisan restorers behind Drew Pritchard's antiques empire save an iconic Eames lounge chair. They also revive an unusual 90-year old oil lamp and a glamourous steam trunk

Scrap Kings -:- A giant brick tower is toppled next to a railway line. Meanwhile, one of Britain's veteran scrap kings ploughs his profits into racing cars

Seconds from Disaster -:- An investigation into the 1999 Paddington train crash that killed 31 people, asking who was to blame and whether the accident could have been avoided

Secret Scotland with Susan Calman -:- The comedian traverses the North Coast 500, a 500-mile trip around the northernmost parts of mainland Britain. Beginning in the village of Golspie, Susan travels round the coast to Dunrobin Castle. There, she sees the 189-room property's clock tower inspired by Big Ben, as well as its very own private train station. Further up the coast, Susan visits the Whaligoe steps, stunningly carved into the dramatic landscape, before getting a taste of the work of a real-life 'herring girl'. After stopping off at John O' Groats, the presenter heads to Dunnet Head for a spot of puffin-watching

Secrets of the Underground -:- A legendary train filled with stolen Nazi gold is said to be hidden in Poland. Rob and Stefan explore deep under the earth's surface to uncover the truth

Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa -:- The animal care staff train a new female Malayan tiger, tend to a sassy sandhill crane and rescue a manatee mother and calf

Send in the Dogs -:- The work of British Transport Police's canine units, which help monitor the safety of commuters on thousands of miles of railway and underground track. The programme follows a spaniel trained to search for drugs, as well as police dogs that help their human handlers control the crowds at football matches. Ken Stott narrates

Super 8 (2011) -:- A boy and his friends sneak out at night to film an amateur zombie movie, only to witness a train derailment. As people start disappearing from their town and the military descends in force, they come to realise a dangerous alien was being transported on the train and is now on the loose. Sci-fi thriller, starring Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning

The Architecture the Railways Built -:- Tim Dunn explores beautiful Hull Paragon station and finds out how Royal Leamington Spa got a wonderful art deco station

The Architecture the Railways Built -:- Tim Dunn explores the birthplace of British locomotive manufacturing - Leeds, starting at the Round Foundry

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 Big Snow of '82 -:- News archive, home movies and interviews with celebrities are combined to look back at the extreme weather that hit Britain in December and January 40 years ago. Stories covered include a deadly train crash caused by a blizzard, as well as the Penlee lifeboat disaster, daring motorway rescues and RAF helicopters delivering lifesaving parcels to stranded Highlanders

The Big Steam Adventure -:- The trio start the next leg of their journey at Peterborough station, which is home to the Nene Valley Railway, and Paul is thrilled to board a steam train designed by famous designer Oliver Bullet called 92 Squadron. Next, they head to the Grand Union Canal where they board a steam barge called The Adamant, before travelling north to York on the impressive steam loco the Duchess of Sutherland

The Bounty Hunter (1954) -:- A professional manhunter searches for three murderous train robbers who have taken cover in a backwoods town, but is unable to identify the killers among the community's residents. Meanwhile, the fugitives are aware of his arrival, and tensions begin to rise. Western, starring Randolph Scott, Dolores Dorn and Ernest Borgnine

The Cinema List: Esea British Talent -:- Discovering some of the very best British East and Southeast Asia actors in the business, from the MCU's Benedict Wong to Snake Eyes and Bullet train star Andrew Koji

The Footage Detectives -:- A nostalgic reminder of hop picking on holidays in Kent. Plus, the shortest railway in the west and memories of Woolworths

The Indestructibles -:- Thanks to back flips and rail rides, Tim and Gendle are in BMX bike heaven. With the clock ticking it is down to Joe and the build team to construct the ultimate BMX set-up

The Karate Kid (2010) -:- An American youngster goes to live in China with his mother, where he becomes an outsider and falls foul of the local bullies. He receives help from the kindly school caretaker, who turns out to be a kung fu master and offers to train the boy to defend himself. Martial arts drama, with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan

The Last Alaskans -:- As the end of winter approaches, the residents look toward to the future. Bob trains Ruger to be a hunting dog, while Ray prepares for a life without his daughters

The Repair Shop -:- In an episode recorded in autumn 2021 to mark the BBC's centenary, Jay Blades meets King Charles III, who was then the Prince of Wales, to explore their shared passion of preserving heritage craft skills. Jay, ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay, horologist Steve Fletcher, and furniture restorer Will Kirk are invited to Dumfries House in Scotland to meet Charles and learn about The Prince's Foundation's work to train the next generation of craftspeople

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

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) -:- Criminals hijack a crowded New York subway train and threaten to start shooting the passengers unless a $10million ransom is paid in one hour. However, the transport supervisor they issue their demands to begins to suspect the plot is part of an even grander scheme. Tony Scott's thriller remake, with Denzel Washington and John Travolta

The Yorkshire Auction House -:- A huge haul of silver leaves Angus Ashworth speechless and raises a staggering amount at auction, while later Angus helps Susan clear a huge collection of railway memorabilia

Til Death Do Us Part -:- The death of police officer Robert McElrath, whose body was found near a railroad trestle in California in early January 2011. His wife Joanna was later convicted of the killing

To End All Wars (2001) -:- Four PoWs learn to rely on one another for support while they are held captive by Japanese forces during the Second World War, and made to build a railway through the stifling Burmese jungle. Fact-based drama, starring Robert Carlyle, Kiefer Sutherland, Ciaran McMenamin and Mark Strong

Top Gear -:- The trio try to make train travel cheaper, faster and more interesting, replacing the locomotive with a specially modified car and the carriages with a series of caravans. Comedy star Rowan Atkinson gets behind the wheel of the Reasonably Priced Car and Jeremy Clarkson drives the Jaguar XKR-S and a Nissan GT-R round the track to compare both models

Train Cruise -:- Travel from Hiroshima through the pastoral areas of the Chugoku mountains - the towns along the way are alive with myths and legends from ancient times that carry messages for future generations.

Trains That Changed the World -:- How China has developed one of the world's fastest high speed rail networks, allowing 75 million people across the country to reach Shanghai within an hour

Trains That Changed the World -:- How the rise of train travel between cities led engineers to consider how to travel within them - leading to the development of the London Underground

Trains That Changed the World -:- The historical importance of freight trains, including four-mile-long vehicles transporting enough iron ore to build two Eiffel towers

Walker, Texas Ranger -:- A Mormon wagon train has to be defended from outlaws

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

Walks Around Britain -:- Series featuring inspirational walks between from around Britain. Andrew White walks on a disused railway in the Peak District and alongside the Caledonian Canal

Weatherman Walking: The Welsh Coast -:- Derek Brockway is in Pembrokeshire, admiring its majestic cliffs constantly pounded by roaring waves. He really feels what it's like to be exposed to the elements as the skies open and it pours down. However, the inclement weather fails to prevent his trek from Abereiddy to Whitesands from proceeding. En route, the presenter peeks at some seal pups, learns how to train a sheepdog and builds a stone wall. He also helps to create a unique sand circle

Whispering Smith (1948) -:- A government agent working on the railroad investigates a string of train robberies, and is stunned to discover one of the culprits is an old friend. The situation is complicated by the detective's feelings for the bandit's wife. Detective Western, starring Alan Ladd, Robert Preston and Brenda Marshall

Wild West Chronicles -:- Butch and Sundance are gone, so Bat Masterson asks Sundance's girlfriend to relive the events from one of the West's greatest train robberies

World's Most Evil Killers -:- The crimes of Angel Maturino Resendiz, known to some as the Railroad Killer, who is thought to have taken the lives of more than 23 victims before his execution in 2006

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- A journey through the mountains of the Italian Riviera in a restored vintage 1920s train, beginning at Cinque Terre national park, and concluding in the historic port city of Genoa. Along the way, the train stops at the elegant resort of Santa Margherita and the remote 10th-century abbey of San Fruttuoso

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- A look at Bavaria's rich history of steam travel, seeing world-beating miniature railways and visiting a whole host of interesting places on a journey to the heart of the Bavarian Alps, where a beer-brewing monk and a town made famous by the Winter Olympics await. Later, a trip to Germany's highest mountain Zugspitze - which offers amazing panoramic views right across Germany and Austria

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- Cameras focus on New Zealand's South Island, and the great Dunedin Railway's trains - the Inlander and the Seasider. The journey begins with a trip down the Taeiri Gorge towards Otago Harbour, and the area's capital, Dunedin. Bill Nighy narrates

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- Cameras focus on the island of Taiwan, and three extraordinary railways. The journey begins in the eastern port city of Hualien, from where we travel north along the rugged Pacific coast. The trek ends with a view of Taiwan's highest mountain peaks above a sea of clouds. Narrated by Bill Nighy

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- Cameras follow a train route from Bergen to Oslo, through the extraordinary mountains of southern Norway in winter. This super-fast train travels daily to the country's capital, and first stop is Dale - a place where Norway's most famous knitters design and craft the country's famous jumpers. The final stop is Sandvika, where Monet painted around 30 scenes. Narrated by Bill Nighy

You Have Been Warned -:- Turns the spotlight on inventors who build astonishing creations in their homes - including a precision drone-catcher that transforms into a vacuum-powered railway

SMALL PRINT

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