RAILDATE 2023.05.19

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The Weekly Poser: Where is this?

I shall be rail-touring in Germany, Poland, and Czechia over the next three weeks, departing tomorrow evening. The poser this week is to identify the locations of as many Kindertransport statues as possible. Pictured, there are three in the UK, two in Germany, and one each in Netherlands, Poland and Czechia. Which cities/countries for each? If you know some but not all, send your answers in anyway. I’ll credit everyone with at least two correct.

Last week's Where is this?

Back in the UK this week: Just a week ago, I was underneath a railway bridge that has been widened considerably on both sides. Located somewhere in the Midlands, the tracks above are in full use. Where is it?

Answer: Shrewsbury. Congratulations are due to the following for their correct answers: Richard Maund.

I was walking the towpath underneath. Being so close up, a composite of two images was required.

The station platforms were extended over the river Severn 1899-1903. The famous manual signal box in the triangle followed in 1904. In this map, the viaduct is shown but the track layout hasn't yet been altered. There are now three through platforms, four bays (two out of use), and two through tracks.

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]

24 Hours in A&E -:- Train driver Andy, 48, is rushed in after falling 12ft from a tree while cutting branches and landing on his feet, badly fracturing both ankles, and doctors are concerned the impact may have caused life-changing damage to critical nerves and blood vessels in his feet and legs. Angela, 59, has come to St George's as her heart has been beating at over 150bpm for eight hours, risking stroke and other complications. Cardiologist Dr Arun's attempts to bring down her pulse using a powerful drug aren't successful, so he decides to electrically shock her heart to reset it

Accused -:- Two friends enlist in the Army and are posted to Afghanistan, where champion amateur boxer Peter struggles with the pressure and fails to return fire during an attack by the Taliban, endangering the lives of his comrades. Having witnessed the event, his lance corporal begins to systematically victimise him, and the bullying reaches extreme levels when the young man's sidekick Frankie is ordered to humiliate him, setting off a train of events that leads to the law courts. Mackenzie Crook stars in the second of Jimmy McGovern's legal dramas, with Ben Batt and Benjamin Smith

Agatha Christie's Marple -:- The sleuth investigates her friend Elspeth McGillicuddy's claim to have witnessed a murder being committed on a passing train during a rail journey, but everyone is stumped by the lack of a body. Mystery, starring Geraldine McEwan, Pam Ferris, Niamh Cusack, John Hannah, Amanda Holden, Griff Rhys Jones, David Warner, Jenny Agutter and Rob Brydon

Air Crash Investigation -:- Investigators make a shocking discovery that threatens Russia's aviation system when a plane crashes onto the trans-Siberian railway, leaving all 88 people on board dead

Alexander Armstrong in Sri Lanka -:- The presenter embarks on the second leg of his Sri Lankan adventure, beginning with a train journey to the mountain town of Haputale, where he learns about the British tea tycoon Sir Thomas Lipton and visits a family of modern day tea growers. In the water surrounded city of Kandy, Alexander is introduced to Sri Lanka's ancient traditional medicine, Ayurveda, before visiting a rural jungle retreat where he finds himself at the mercy of Dr DeSilva who treats him to an array of traditional Ayurvedic treatments. Later, Alexander heads south towards Udawalawe National Park to the baby Elephant Transit Home, a rehabilitation centre for young orphaned elephants, and finds out more about how humans and elephants co-exist on the island

Ambulance: Code Red -:- Midlands Air Ambulance and the critical care team are sent to save a tree surgeon who has impaled himself after falling 12 feet onto metal railings, possibly paralysing himself. Elsewhere, a motorcyclist is thrown from his bike and has to crawl across three lanes of traffic

Arctic Ice Railroad -:- Conductor Jay and engineer Mike embark on a crucial cargo run from Hearst to Cochrane. Along the way, they must pick up a 2,500-tonne load of newsprint

Arctic Ice Railroad -:- The Polar Bear Express is often the only way to reach the frozen town of Moosonee. A group of explorers board this train for its hazardous journey

Arena -:- In 1979, Bob Dylan released Slow Train Coming, an album of strictly devotional songs and declared he had found God in Christianity. For the following two years, accompanied by the finest musicians and gospel singers, he toured with a repertoire solely of songs expressing his new-found faith.This is a film of one of those performances, enhanced by a series of sermons between the songs, all specially written for the film and preached by Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon. The result is Bob Dylan's gospel service combining the 'then' of the gig with the 'now' of the message of The Preacher

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.

Blero yn Mynd i Ocido -:- Maer Oci names Ocido's new train after his mother, Gloria

Bob the Builder -:- Scoop takes Pilchard to the zoo and tries to train her like a dog, but when she refuses to follow commands, she ends up trapped in the bears' enclosure

Britain and the Sea -:- David Dimbleby investigates the importance of the sea to trade and to the individual livelihoods of coastal communities. He sails along the west coast of Scotland, starting at Craobh Haven and along the Crinan Canal, a waterway designed by East Lothian engineer John Rennie to take 120 miles off the journey from the west coast to Glasgow and safely avoid the turbulent waters around the Mull of Kintyre. He also climbs aboard the last working sea-going Clyde puffer, where he earns his keep shovelling coal in the steam room, and reflects on the role played by the river in both trade and shipbuilding

Bullet Train Down (2022) -:- On its maiden run, the world's fastest bullet train is rigged with a bomb that will explode if it dips below 200 mph. Action thriller, starring Lesley Grant

Centenary Express -:- Highlights of a gastronomic journey from Yorkshire to London on board a special steam-hauled train made up of vintage restaurant cars, to celebrate 100 years of train catering

Coastal Railways with Julie Walters -:- The actress travels from Newcastle to Edinburgh by high speed train. Along the way, she stops off at the coastal town of Alnmouth, discovers where the phrase Keep Calm and Carry On originated, visits the world's biggest gannet colony, and goes out to sea with a lobster breeder. When she reaches her destination, she discovers the connection between the railway and the famous Balmoral Hotel

Coastal Railways with Julie Walters -:- The actress travels on the famous Great Western Railway to Cornwall. She recalls childhood holidays when she stops at Torquay before heading to a supposedly haunted castle at Kingswear. She also uncovers tales of smuggling and joins members of the RNLI on a practice run before visiting an unusual cake shop in Penzance

Cranford -:- Change is on the way to the sleepy market town of Cranford as the railway pushes out from Manchester, but many of the female residents are more excited about the arrival of the handsome new doctor, Frank Harrison. Adapted by Heidi Thomas, with an all-star cast including Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins, who was awarded a Bafta for her role as the authoritative Miss Deborah Jenkyns

Cranford -:- The town's residents prepare for Lady Ludlow's garden party, but the occasion is marred by rumours the railway line will come right into Cranford, leaving Deborah feeling betrayed. Dr Harrison's plans to become better acquainted with Sophy are thwarted by Caroline Tomkinson and Clara Smith, Mr Carter takes pity on an illiterate 10-year-old and Miss Matty is shaken to see a face from her past. Starring Judi Dench, Michael Gambon and Eileen Atkins

Daisy & Ollie -:- The children want to know what a marathon is, so Daddy gets them to train and fundraise for a fun run

Davy's Toughest Team -:- Davy Fitzgerald trains a group of people for a challenge

Desmond's -:- Porkpie mounts a protest against the Channel Tunnel rail link, while Gloria prepares herself for her exam results. Norman Beaton stars

Doctors -:- Karen's new exercise regime causes a stir at the Mill, while Scarlett's plan to do a runner is placed in jeopardy when a call is received from the landlady. Fearing that her widowed mother is going off the rails, a woman turns to Jimmi for help, though he is left to wonder what is actually going on

Dragons: Rescue Riders -:- After saving Chief Duggard from a shipwreck, two 10-year-olds and their dragons are invited to stay in the Viking village of Huttsgalor. Animated spin-off from How to Train Your Dragon

Easy Japanese -:- Does this train go to Ikebukuro? Find out how to ask if public transportation goes to your destination; use the name of the place plus 'ni ikimasu ka'

Eggheads -:- Jeremy Vine hosts as Strangers on a Train try their luck against the Eggheads to win the rolling prize fund

Family Footsteps -:- With Gavin Andrews as their guide the Quail-Walker family travel further back in time. Teenagers Noah and Fionn hop on a steam train to find out about a family connection to the railways while Grandad Desmond discovers a shocking family secret. In London, Fionn and Noah play cello and viola with a composer cousin they've never met and find out about their family links to The Sound of Music and Frank Sinatra

Father Brown -:- Lady Felicia and Mrs McCarthy are taken hostage when a midnight train robbery goes awry. Crime drama based on the stories by GK Chesterton, starring Sorcha Cusack and Nancy Carroll

Father Brown -:- The sleuth must stop a much-loved institution from going off the rails when the local stationmaster is murdered. Mark Williams stars

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

Fred Dibnah's Age of Steam -:- An examination of the major advances made with the invention of the steam turbine, which is still used today to generate electricity in coal-fired and nuclear power stations. Fred also discovers how the country's steam heritage is preserved by museums and societies throughout the country

Fred Dibnah's Age of Steam -:- The development of the steamship, from the earliest paddle boats and the first iron-hulled vessels to modern sport screw propellers and ships powered by steam turbines, such as the Royal Yacht Britannia

Fred Dibnah's Made in Britain -:- Fred meets fellow traction engine enthusiasts in Staffordshire and visits an old friend who is restoring a triple expansion engine at Bratch Pumping Station. He also takes a tour of the trains on the Severn Valley railway and learns about the history of mining in the Black Country at the Living Museum

Fred Dibnah's Made in Britain -:- Fred travels to the Lake District, which was once one of Britain's biggest sources of iron ore. He also takes a trip across a lake in a steamboat, examines how the rail industry made use of local metals, and finally enjoys a pint with former steelworkers in a local pub

Fred Dibnah's Made in Britain -:- Fred watches a traditional chain-maker at work and visits a copper mine, before discovering how the metal sheets produced would be transformed through a spinning process. He also takes a trip to the Ffestiniog railway, built to transport slate, where he rides on the footplate of a 19th-century train and sees the world's oldest working steam engine

Fred Dibnah's Made in Britain -:- The former steeplejack investigates traditional craftsmanship in Yorkshire and Derbyshire, including glass-cutting, making rivets using the traditional hot forge method, and ornate carving. He also catches up with some old friends in the process of restoring a showman's engine and watches workers at the Midland Railway Centre as they repair damaged trains

Frontline Fightback -:- An incident in which a train driver suffered facial injuries after a brick was hurled at his cab, shattering the window. The train was travelling at 70mph, but the driver managed to bring it safely to a standstill, despite his injuries. Rav Wilding reports on how attacks like this have prompted one train company to start installing on-board technology, aimed at making journeys safer for passengers and staff

Gino's Italian Escape -:- Gino D'Acampo begins this week in the Italian food capital of Bologna, where he picks up a snack for his journey - the Bolognese classic panino with mortadella. He then boards the train and heads towards the rice growing region of Mantova, where he helps out in the paddies and makes a chocolate rice pudding. He then visits Verona, home of one of the country's oldest art schools. Here he models for the students in their life-drawing class before serving up meatballs in tomato sauce for the young artists

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

Grand Tours of Scotland -:- Paul Murton boards the Jacobite steam train to make one of the world's most famous railways journeys, with his route starting at the foot of Ben Nevis in Fort William and continuing along to Mallaig and onwards to the Isle of Skye. For centuries, outsiders had seldom visited the beautiful landscape of the west coast, but then the power of steam changed everything and within a century, a network of railways spread across the entire country, connecting the industrial cities of the south to the mountains and glens of the north

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 great American trek, following his copy of Appleton's General Guide east from Manhattan to Long Island, and visits Brooklyn to hear the story of the construction of the world's first suspension bridge. Below ground, he investigates New York City's inaugural subway, and the dangers faced by the 'sandhogs' who built it. Progressing along the Long Island Railroad to Queens, Michael takes in an ambitious engineering project and a model town built by an Irish immigrant who became one of America's richest men. Later, he heads to the island's Gold Coast, where he relives the fun of 'the roaring twenties' at Oheka Castle, and concludes this leg of his trip at the Montauk lighthouse on Long Island's eastern-most tip

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 examines the history of the American rail network, using Appleton's General Guide to the United States and Canada of 1879 to plot his course. He begins on Manhattan Island and travels from Grand Central Terminal to the site of Ground Zero

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo explores British Columbia, discovering how two superpowers nearly came to war over a pig and joining the Royal Canadian Navy to firefight on board the frigate HMCS Regina. He also explores the rich British heritage and colonial past of Victoria - the provincial capital of British Columbia - discovers the origins of the Hudson's Bay Company, helps to carve a 36- foot totem pole and learns how to head off a charging bear

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 American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo strikes west across Manitoba into the province of Saskatchewan. High above the Prairie at Riding Mountain, he discovers how a middle-class British boy from Hastings transformed himself into an influential indigenous naturalist called Grey Owl. Deep in the Prairie, he finds a network of railways that once served the wheat farmers of Saskatchewan, and learns how communities grew up around the grain elevators used to load the crops on to rail wagons

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Armed with his Edwardian Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo conducts important research in an historic tea room, built by an Edwardian immigrant to the city of York. In Leeds he discovers the city's textile heritage, and also investigates Bradford's musical heritage

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Beginning in the heart of academia in Oxford, Michael Portillo visits the Bodleian library to see some Victorian treasures, including Mary Shelley's Frankenstein manuscript and a pocket-sized edition of Bradshaw's Companion. At Bicester, he investigates two new rail projects, finds out about Victorian philanthropy in Bedford and finishes in Luton, where he explores the dark arts of the hat-maker

Great British Railway Journeys -:- In Dorset, Michael Portillo visits Brownsea Island, where Robert Baden Powell began the scout movement in the early 20th century. Joining a group of present scouts, the presenter learns to build a bivouac and finds out what it is about scouting that still appeals to boys - and girls - today. In the New Forest, Michael searches out some unsung heroes of the First World War - the ponies who became war horses - and hears their story from a commoner who runs a stable and riding school. Then in Bournemouth, the one-time MP investigates a very British institution - the beach hut

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 Croydon, where he hears the story of a mixed-race composer who was once celebrated but is now forgotten. At Three Bridges station, he is delighted to find a recently built depot and its fleet of new Class 700 trains - and is given the great honour of washing one down. In Lewes, he makes a beeline for Charleston, the home of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, and in Shoreham-by-Sea, Michael discovers how magnificent Edwardians in flying machines took off from the oldest licensed airport in the country

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 arrives in Newport, Gwent, where he learns about the heroism of a young boy who was awarded the Albert Medal, before visiting a cinema dating from 1912 in Clevedon

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey through the Lake District, where he discovers a magical world of talking rabbits, ducks, hedgehogs and mice, who have entertained children for more than 100 years. At the village home of author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, he learns about her legacy and her fears about the railways. Michael presses on to Brantwood, home of the Victorian art critic, John Ruskin, and finishes with a brief encounter at Carnforth

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on a new railway journey along the south coast of England. Beginning in the port of Dover, he takes a plunge into the English Channel, inspired by the example set by a brave 19th-century sea captain. A miniature steam train one third the size of a conventional locomotive conveys him from Romney Marsh to Dungeness, and in Eastbourne, he learns how the 7th Duke of Devonshire managed to market the town's attractions to the refined upper-crust of Victorian London. The first leg of his trip concludes in eccentric style at the Glyndebourne opera festival on the South Downs

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on another journey around the country to discover how the railways have affected people and communities, and the legacy they left. The first leg of a journey through north-west England begins in Carlisle, where investigates the Victorian appetite for the custard cream, before braving a perilous descent into the only operational slate mine in England and discovering a miniature railway

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the first leg of a journey from East Yorkshire to Caernarfon, beginning by travelling from the city of Hull to the North Yorkshire market town of Malton

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the first leg of a journey from the coalfields of South Wales to the southernmost tip of Cornwall, travelling from Whitland, Carmarthenshire, to Swansea

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the first leg of a journey to London from Buxton, Derbyshire, where he discovers how railways inspired a building craze and boosted tourism. In the Peak District, he joins a team of volunteers repairing damage done to ancient peat landscapes during the Industrial Revolution, and near the quarries of Stanton Moor he learns how trains transported Derbyshire's famous sandstone all over 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 explores an Edwardian utopia in Letchworth, where he meets a fourth generation citizen who introduces him to the town's community spirit. He then heads towards London, and discovers a favoured haunt of King Edward VII, before sampling the monarch's favourite tipple, the King's Ginger

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo heads to Chichester, West Sussex, where he encounters an Edwardian motoring duo patronised by King Edward VII. After a grand tour of their factory, he is treated to some rest and relaxation in one of their finest vehicles. Arriving in the resort of Southsea, Hampshire, Michael heads for the King's Theatre, where he treads the boards in a community production of Lads in the Village. Crossing the Solent, the presenter boards the Island Line to travel along the pier in a 1930s London Underground carriage, then hops on to the Isle of Wight heritage line bound for Wootton

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 reads the riot act in Preston, and discovers four mill workers were shot dead at a protest in 1842. In Darwen, he traces developments in interior design from wallpaper to paint, before exploring the Victorian industrial landscape of Salford in the paintings on LS Lowry. He finishes his leg of the journey on Kersal Moor, where he discovers the poetry of Edwin Waugh and twists his tongue around the Lancashire dialect

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo sets off from Oakham in Rutland, where he learns about a noble tradition dating back to the Middle Ages and decides to take part. Heading east to Stamford, Lincolnshire, he discovers why the town is such an attractive location for period dramas, while a ghoulish scene awaits in Peterborough when he visits a Victorian operating theatre where railwaymen were treated. Michael's last stop on his journey is Christ's College at Cambridge University, where he finds out about the student days of Charles Darwin

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo spends the night in a converted post office railway carriage before continuing his journey from Swindon to Penzance, heading for Par, where he meets miner Ivor Bowditch to explore the largest clay mine in the world. In Mevagissey he discovers how the methods for pilchard fishing have changed over the years, and on a visit to the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Michael learns about the 1,000-acre estate's history

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 Taunton and Newton Abbot. Along the way he joins in with a fertility dance in Stogumber, visits a celebrated garden at Hestercombe to discover the fruits of an unusual partnership, and enjoys a trip aboard the longest heritage line in England

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 Pontyclun to Ebbw Vale in Wales. Along the way, he visits the Royal Mint in Llantrisant and Cardiff Arms Park, scene of the first Welsh victory over the All Blacks back in 1905. In Cardiff Bay, Michael discovers the departure point for one of the Edwardian era's most famous expeditions - Scott's ill-fated voyage to the Antarctic

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from St Helens to Knutsford, finding out about modern glass-making and how techniques invented in the Victorian era to construct buildings such as the Crystal Palace have evolved and are powering a new architectural revolution

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels to the steel city of Sheffield where he discovers an early 20th century steam engine which produced armour plates for a Royal Navy warship. Then, Michael heads south into Nottinghamshire and to the former pit village of Eastwood, before arriving in Nantwich, where he takes a dip in the briny

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo undertakes the last leg of his journey from Swindon to Penzance. He travels to Perran Sands, where he searches for the lost church of St Piran, a place believed to be one of the earliest Christian sites in England. In Redruth, he explores the remains of the Cornish tin industry, before heading to St Ives, where he spends the night in Treganna Castle. The former politician finishes his trip in Penzance, discovering how railways link remote communities to the rest of the country

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 last leg of his journey through north-west England, Michael Portillo makes a clean sweep in Ashley, Cheshire, where in Victorian times the new middle classes set up home in suburban villas with multiple chimneys swept by children. In Macclesfield, he finds the end of the Silk Route and tries his hand at screen printing. Then after stoking the fire on the steam-powered Churnet Valley Railway, the former politician alights at Froghall, Staffordshire, heading for Alton Towers to trace the 19th-century origins of the theme park

Great British Railway Journeys -:- On the trail of an historic achievement made at the dawn of the Edwardian era, Michael Portillo investigates the first radio signal to be sent across the Atlantic. Then, in Plymouth, he uncovers what happened to surviving crew members of the most famous ocean liner in history, the Titanic. Later, at Fowey, the former politician rediscovers a lost literary figure known as Q, who immortalised the town in his novels

Great Coastal Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo begins this leg of his journey at Liverpool's historic waterfront, where he visits the International Slavery Museum at Royal Albert Dock, before heading underground to discover one of the most important and secret rooms of the Second World War, the Royal Navy's Western Approaches Headquarters. His next stop is Crosby on the Merseyside coastline in Sefton, before making his way north to Blackpool, the last stop on this leg of his journey

Great Coastal Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey across the vast and beautiful Morecambe Bay, where he joins one of the town's last shrimpers to find out how potted shrimp is made, From there, Michael makes his way to Arnside on the Furness Line, where he discovers a magnificently quirky 17th century garden, and across the Arnside viaduct, he reaches Cartmel and its 12th century priory and a Michelin-starred restaurant

Great Coastal Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the last leg of his railway journey around the north-west coast of England, visiting the childhood home of William Wordsworth in Cockermouth, Cumbria, and ending in Maryport, where the Solway Firth marks the border between England and Scotland

Great Coastal Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo returns to travel by train to more places around the British Isles, beginning by heading to the self-governing Isle of Man - a paradise for rail lovers. His first stop on the Manx Electric Railway is the capital of Douglas, where he reveals the island's parliament the Tynwald is older than Westminster, before the Isle of Man Steam Railway takes him down the east coast to Castletown, from where he heads to the Norse Castle Rusheword

Great Coastal Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels though Cumbria, setting sail in a small craft on Lake Windermere with a lifelong devotee of Arthur Ransome's children's books Swallows and Amazons. At Barrow-in-Furness, Michael investigates the mountains of scrap left behind as iron ore was turned into ships, trains and railway tracks, and discovers researchers are exploring how slagbanks could contribute to reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Armed with his 1913 railway guide, Michael Portillo travels through Italy from Turin to Venice. Along the way, he recreates a scene from the Michael Caine film The Italian Job on a Fiat test track and takes a trip in a seaplane to investigate the early 20th-century British love affair with Lake Como. In Verona, he visits the house used to attract Edwardian tourists to the alleged setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and finds a microcosm of pre-First World War Europe at the Venice Biennale art exhibition

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo explores Scandinavia, braving one of the world's oldest rollercoasters in Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens. He then crosses the Oresund Bridge linking Denmark to Sweden, retracing the journey of a train that carried a revolutionary Russian passenger on an epic voyage, before test-driving a vintage Volvo in Gothenburg. Crossing into Norway, Michael discovers how in 1913 the nation expressed its distinctively modern identity in plays, paintings and polar exploration

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo once again ventures onto the European rail network to retrace journeys featured in George Bradshaw's 1913 publication Continental Guide. He begins in Spain, where he visits the scene of an assassination attempt at a royal wedding in Madrid, before dancing with an unusual partner in Cordoba. He investigates the story behind Bizet's Carmen at a tobacco factory in Seville, learns about Winston Churchill's tense diplomatic mission to Algeciras and finishes with tales of British espionage in Gibraltar

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels through Bohemia and Bavaria, beginning by exploring the art nouveau architecture of Czech Republic capital Prague. He then samples the sulphurous spa waters and wallows in peat and mud in Marianske Lazne, formerly known as Marienbad, before test driving a state-of-the-art passenger train made at the Skoda factory in Pilsen. Crossing the border into Germany, Michael encounters a fire-breathing dragon in Furth-im-Wald, and learns about an early 20th-century pioneer who laid the foundations for Munich's pre-eminence in science and technology

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels through Germany, learning about an Edwardian fitness craze in Dresden before heading to Leipzig on a historic line built by British engineers in 1839. He discovers model-railway making on the grandest of scales in Hamburg and ends his journey in Kiel, where he reveals how British yachtsmen spied on the German navy in the early 20th century

Heir Hunters -:- The probate researchers try to establish the value of a Lincolnshire railway man's estate by visiting his last known address, and uncover the story of his military service in Aden, Yemen. Meanwhile, another case is complicated by a family's numerous name changes. Plus, details of more unclaimed estates are divulged

Heir Hunters -:- The researchers investigate the case of a famous Blackpool accordion player, and reveal a tragic tale of separation involving two brothers who died on the same day in the same hospital after not seeing each other for many years. Plus, the team explores the history of Rolls-Royce and the Crewe railways, before sharing details of other unclaimed estates

How I Caught the Killer -:- After a badly decomposed body is found in a suitcase by a railway embankment in Exeter, police hunt for the killer with only CCTV evidence to go on

How It's Made -:- The manufacture of garden steam locomotives, hovercraft and folding bicycles, and the craftsmanship behind miniature furniture

How the West Was Won (1962) -:- Three generations of a pioneering family experience many ordeals and adventures in their endeavour to build a new life for themselves on the American frontier in the 19th century. Over the years, the family experiences the key events of the nation's history, including the gold rush, the Civil War, and the building of the railroads. Western, starring James Stewart, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda, Debbie Reynolds, Lee J Cobb and Richard Widmark

How Trains Changed the World -:- How trains have seemingly changed the way people see the world - and each other, examining what it is that makes them so special

Impossible Engineering -:- The creation of Hudson Yards on Manhattan Island, New York, a construction project built over the tracks and railway sidings of Penn Station - literally in thin air

Jane McDonald: My Yorkshire -:- Jane takes in the delights of Oakworth, the station featured in classic film The Railway Children, and meets Christopher Witty, who played Jim in the movie. As Jane Eyre is one of her favourite novels, Jane visits Haworth to learn more about the Bronte sisters' lives and the inspirational landscape of West Yorkshire

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.

Last Passenger (2013) -:- A widowed doctor travelling by train with his son realises that the mysterious driver has cut the brakes and they are speeding toward a fatal collision. With the aid of four of his fellow passengers, they try to find a way to avert the disaster. Thriller, starring Dougray Scott, Kara Tointon and Lindsay Duncan

Law of the Panhandle (1950) -:- A US marshal is sent to deal with a gang of outlaws terrorising the inhabitants of a peaceful valley. However, after witnessing the murder of a courier carrying secret papers, he discovers the bandits' crimes are part of a scheme to control the land where a railway is due to be built. Western, starring Johnny Mack Brown and Jane Adams

Love at First Glance (2017) -:- Mary Landers' hopes of an imminent engagement are dashed when her boyfriend tells her he is looking for someone more adventurous than her. During a train ride home, Mary finds herself exchanging glances with a handsome stranger, who accidentally leaves his phone behind when disembarking. With her ex's words playing on her mind, Mary resolves to throw caution to the wind, and embarks on a mission to return the phone in person. Romantic drama, starring Amy Smart

Love Your Garden -:- Kent couple Lou and Andy Webb have two young children affected by a rare genetic condition that severely restricts their eyesight, meaning they only see in black and white and have to wear special goggles in sunlight. Alan Titchmarsh's challenge is to create a more child-friendly garden for their terraced home in Tonbridge, and his first task is to make a shady environment so the kids can spend time outside in the day. After that, he and the team come up with a bespoke lighting system for the evenings, acoustic fencing to cut down the noise from a nearby railway line, and an area for the parents

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

Money for Nothing -:- JJ Chalmers is patrolling the forecourt of Wallyford recycling centre in East Lothian, hoping to redirect some metal railings, a tired writing bureau and a collection of marbles

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing -:- Cameras follow old friends Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer as they continue on their angling trip round the UK. This time, Paul and Bob fish the river Wensum in Norfolk for roach, but as the pair struggle up and down the riverbanks, they begin to realise how age is starting to take its toll on their physicality. After staying overnight in a disused train station and visiting a local pub, the pair decide to challenge each other to a fishing competition the following day, where the winner gets a very special culinary treat

Nate Is Late -:- Nate and Malika meet Jin, a ninja who offers to train them. In order to become a master, he needs to prove he has students. Curious to see a real secret dojo, the kids agree.

Open House: The Great Sex Experiment -:- Another group of curious committed couples explore the possibility of opening up their relationships with sexually liberated residents. In this episode, builder Connor and full-time mother Kirstie are interested in bringing another man into their relationship and want to start the process by having a threesome. However, after connecting with resident Nathan, things go off the rails due to Connor's confidence issues. Meanwhile, married parents Chanice and Richardo, who are torn between a threesome or foursome, face an unexpected issue - finding a resident who is attracted to them

Peppa Pig -:- Grandpa Pig builds a train called Gertrude and takes George and Peppa for a ride

Railways: The Making of a Nation -:- Liz McIvor examines how the railways enabled people to live farther away from the places where they worked, visiting London and the south east of England, the nation's largest commuter zone

Railways: The Making of a Nation -:- Liz McIvor presents a documentary examining class divisions on trains, with separate carriages for first, second and third class passengers. Over time, trains acted as a catalyst, with people travelling to regions and places for the first time, as well as changing the nation's relationship with royalty and developing a stronger sense of shared identity and culture

Railways: The Making of a Nation -:- Liz McIvor presents a documentary examining excursion trains, which became popular from the 1840s onwards, with tourists taking day trips and holidays, and seeing parts of the country they had never seen before. Some trains were set up to satisfy the demand to witness public executions, whereas others transported people to horse racing and sporting events. Working-class northerners had access to the Lake District, however Lakeland resident William Wordsworth was initially unhappy about the new visitors

Railways: The Making of a Nation -:- Thanks to the advent of rail, moving produce around at speed suddenly became possible, allowing fresh meat, wet fish, dairy, fruit and vegetables to be widely available. With a new system of rapid transport it was now possible for London to enjoy food supplies from all corners of the nation. As Liz McIvor reveals, Victorian men and women developed a taste for one particular dish that would be popular with the masses for generations to come - fish and chips

Room 101 -:- Countdown presenter (and Apprentice sidekick) Nick Hewer squares off against his show's former maths whizz Carol Vorderman and comedian Rhod Gilbert, making the case with host Frank Skinner for their gripes and pet hates to be banished for ever. The trio's dislikes include train managers, camping, Facebook, golf, holidays and advertising slogans

Salvage Hunters -:- Drew Pritchard heads to Scotland to see a Victorian theatre in Aberdeen and the remote town of Rothes. Plus, sidekick Tee shows him how to do a deal at a steam railway in Devon

Salvage Hunters -:- Drew Pritchard hopes to find some unwanted treasures as he travels to a steam museum in Norfolk. In Hereford, he is given privileged access to a collection

Salvage Hunters -:- Drew Pritchard meets an Oxfordshire aristocrat who owns his own steam train, and picks up an American sign and a Victorian oil lamp

Salvage Hunters: The Restorers -:- Artisan restorers Alex Webster, Craig Hughes and Carl Bouverie-Brine work on renovating a fold-out mirror, a classic armchair and a large railway clock

Salvage Hunters: The Restorers -:- Master blacksmith Neville Morris works on a piece of railing that was once a Victorian club fender. Meanwhile, Martin restores a Second World War RAF hero's bomber jacket

Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? -:- When Scooby and the Gang are in Sicily they're chasing a fire monster! But they are surprised to meet up with none other than famous actor Steve Buscemi. His ancestors are from this area and he has a lot of cousins in town and was just visiting. But he's being plagued by fire monster attacks. Our gang teams up with Mr. Buscemi to get to the bottom of this fiery mystery. Let's hope Mr. Buscemi can train our gang to be proper fire fighters and mystery solvers before they all get burned.

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 causes behind the commuter train crash that killed more than 100 people in Amagasaki, Japan, in April 2005

Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa -:- As spring blooms, penguin chicks dive into penguin pre-school, a sloth prepares for a big debut, and a caretaker trains to be a venomous snake handler

Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa -:- Penguin mates prepare to become surrogate parents, a treasured white rhino trains for her next adventure, and a moray eel visits the vet

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

Sierra Passage (1950) -:- An orphan is adopted by the owner of a travelling Wild West show after his father is murdered. He grows up to be an expert marksman with a trick shooting act but remains obsessed with vengeance. When a train the performers are travelling on is held up by the killers, he vows to hunt them down. Western, starring Wayne Morris and Lola Albright

Storage Wars -:- Kenny's fear of sharks inspires a controversial wardrobe choice, Rene brings his bargain army along to try to intimidate the competition, while he gets his slice of the loot. Darrell won't take no for an answer, moving full steam ahead

Strike: Inside the Unions -:- Documentary about the wave of industrial action that engulfed the UK at the end of 2022, with access to union leaders including Mick Lynch of the RMT and Pat Cullen from the Royal College of Nursing. The opening edition charts the start of the strikes, with Lynch and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers at the forefront of the movement, with nurses withdrawing their labour for the first time in the Royal College of Nursing.union's 106-year history

Taskmaster -:- Greg Davies sets more tasks for comedians including Frank Skinner. He takes a boulder onto a train for a pleasant excursion. Then he, Roisin Conaty, Tim Key, Romesh Ranganathan and Josh Widdicombe try to make a Swedish man blush

Tata and Kuma -:- Madcap animated comedy. Pobi goes on a trip to a vampire meeting held every 1000 years and decides to train a successor to take care of his tomatoes when he's not home - the candidates are Tata and Kuma, regardless of what they want to do. After a brief training session with Pobi, the duo settle into their duties.

The Bidding Room -:- Five dealers bid against one another to buy intriguing items brought in by members of the public, including a selection of Hornby model railway equipment. Nigel Havers presents

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 Dales -:- Midwife Chris Warren visits an expectant mother in Masham, while drummer Mike Naylor of the Swale Valley Stompers invites his grand-daughter Charlotte to join the jazz band for a concert at the Harrogate Flower Show. Adrian Edmondson finds out whether the Wensleydale Railway volunteers have realised their dream of opening up the disused line between Leeming Bar and Northallerton

The Dales -:- Wensleydale Railway general manager Nigel Park and his team of volunteers put on an event to raise money to open up the old line between Leeming Bar and Northallerton, which would connect the Dales to the East Coast mainline. Adrian Edmondson spends a day with vet Amy Swales on her rounds in the Swaledale area, while the Wensleydale Young Farmers are given a lesson in the art of auctioneering by expert Maurice Scott

The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway -:- The concluding episode follows the aftermath of the shock news that the Elizabeth Line has been delayed by over a year, and will cost hundreds of millions of pounds more than planned. As the drama unfolds, engineers, technicians and train staff pull together to work on borrowed time, and must learn to operate the new trains and test out the new twin tunnels under London before it can open to the public

The Fred Dibnah Story -:- Fred gets his first taste of fame, but does not entirely welcome the limelight when it interrupts his work on the restoration of a wrecked steam tractor. The steeplejack is further annoyed when forced by his wife to take a holiday to Blackpool, but puts his time there to good use

The Fred Dibnah Story -:- In 17 years of marriage, Fred and his wife have never agreed about holiday destinations and now they've decided to go on separate jaunts. Alison takes the children to Greece, while the grizzled steeplejack takes advantage of the unaccustomed peace and quiet to visit a Stockport steam rally

The Fred Dibnah Story -:- The life of the Bolton steeplejack, explaining how his TV career began and exploring his passion for steam engines. The opening episode sees him working on the spectacular demolition that would set him on the road to fame

The Graham Norton Show -:- Graham presents his traditional end-of-year show, joined by guests Michael Sheen, appearing in Sky Cinema's Last Train to Christmas, Oscar-nominated Jessica Chastain, the star and producer of female spy film The 355. British actor Claire Foy talks about quirky biopic The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage chats about playing Cyrano de Bergerac in Joe Wright's new adaptation Cyrano, while The Good Fight's Cush Jumbo reflects on her role in Harlan Coben drama Stay Close. Top comic Joe Lycett lightens the mood, promoting his UK tour More, More, More. Plus, the Divine Comedy perform their classic Something for the Weekend and there are some final stories from the Big Red Chair to round off the year

The Greatest Auction -:- AJ Odudu hosts as collectors bid for a pinball machine signed by Elton John, a fork liberated from Saddam Hussein's palace and a prototype mid-century chair brought in by two sisters who have different feelings about it but are equally desperate to sell it. Plus a 1940s 'fly-o-plane' fairground attraction that was once used to train fighter pilots

The Guns of Fort Petticoat (1957) -:- A lieutenant deserts after his commanding officer launches an unprovoked attack on a Comanche village during the Civil War. Realising that there are no soldiers in his home town to protect it from reprisals, he returns to train the local women to defend themselves. Western, starring Audie Murphy, Kathryn Grant, Hope Emerson and Jeff Donnell

The March Hare (1956) -:- A penniless Irish baronet is forced to sell his land, but gets mistaken for the estate's groom and stays on to help train a colt for a prestigious race. Comedy, starring Peggy Cummins, Terence Morgan and Cyril Cusack

The Railway Children (1970) -:- Three Edwardian children are forced to leave their comfortable middle-class London home and move to the wilds of Yorkshire after their father is wrongfully imprisoned for treason. Family drama adapted from E Nesbit's story, starring Jenny Agutter, Sally Thomsett, Gary Warren, Dinah Sheridan, Bernard Cribbins, William Mervyn and Iain Cuthbertson

The Repair Shop -:- Jay Blades and the team restore a wooden desk, a scrapbook charting the fantastic story of the owner's grandmother, and a wind-up train that has not run in decades

The Repair Shop -:- Steve Fletcher is thrilled to find himself working on a remarkable, quirky train set designed and built by celebrated cartoonist and innovator Rowland Emmet, the man behind the inventions in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. A sailor's trinket box and a doll also receive some much-needed attention

The Saved and Remade Workshop -:- Leigh turns a toy train into an item that reflects its owner's love of rugby and frogs, and a 63-year-old teddy bear is given a new lease of life

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 Texas Rangers (1951) -:- Train robber Sam Bass assembles a gang of outlaws into a gang that proves more than a match for the Texas Rangers, so the major frees two men from prison and employs them to help find the bandits. Western, starring George Montgomery, Gale Storm, William Bishop and Noah Beery Jr

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

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 -:- How the steam train reached the height of its importance in Europe just as fresh innovations were being made in America, with groundbreaking trains like the Burlington Zephyr

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

Trains That Changed the World -:- The railroads ended slavery in the USA, but trains can be agents of oppression too. The British Empire built railways to rule the world, enabling it to control the empire

Trains That Changed the World -:- The stories behind the most important trains in history and their impact on the world, beginning with a look at the first locomotives during the Industrial Revolution

Victoria -:- The queen becomes pregnant, and declares that Albert will become head of state in the event of her death. The developments outrage members of the Tory party, who fear a German prince holding sway over the nation and make arrangements to disrupt his visit to the industrial north. The consort finds an unlikely ally in Sir Robert Peel, who seeks royal approval for the rapidly developing railway. At first, Victoria does not approve, but soon changes her mind when she experiences Peel's creation for herself

Wagons West (1952) -:- Jeff Curtis, a travelling wagon-master agrees to lead a pioneer train from Joplin, Missouri to the Oregon territories. When the train begins to encounter trouble with well-armed Native tribes, Jeff is forced to consider the prospect that one of the convoy's members is selling weapons to the enemy, and suspicion falls on the mean-spirited nephew of the train's captain. Western, starring Rod Cameron

Walking Britain's Lost Railways -:- Rob Bell discovers the now-abandoned lines that unlocked the wild coastline of north Devon. He begins by following the dramatic Barnstaple and Ilfracombe Railway, which once built, proved an instant success, eventually carrying the glamorous Atlantic Coast Express service, direct from London Waterloo. He crosses to the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, which traverses the wild terrain of Exmoor up to the cliff-top village of Lynton. Rob follows the adventurous, narrow-gauge route, discovering the extraordinary tale of the line's construction and the very short section that has been fully restored

Walking Britain's Lost Railways -:- Rob Bell explores the Waverley Route, which ran south from Edinburgh for 100 miles through the Scottish Borders to Carlisle, connecting with what is now known as the West Coast Main Line. After years of campaigning, the first stage of Rob's journey is aboard the new Borders Railway, the longest railway to open in over a century. It follows part of the old Waverley Route, making fine use of the 170-year-old, 23-arch Newbattle Viaduct. Rob also pays a visit to one of Hawick's surviving cashmere factories and discovers a First World War prisoner of war camp served by the railway

Walking Britain's Lost Railways -:- Rob Bell follows the Callander and Oban Railway, an epic 70-mile route from Scotland's Lowlands to its glorious west coast. Setting off from Callander, he recalls the 14 years of determination it took to build this railway and how, with the help of local hero Rob Roy, it changed Victorian perceptions of the Highlands. No longer a distant land of fearsome Clans, the mountains, lochs and valleys were now a romantic and accessible destination of choice. Spectacles on the line include Glen Ogle, Loch Tay and an impressive terminus still evident at Oban

Walking Britain's Lost Railways -:- Rob Bell follows traces the course of the Great Central Railway, the final great line of the Victorian era and the last main line built before the Channel Tunnel rail link more than a century later. Starting near Nottingham, Rob is taken aback by the scale of demolition and excavation needed to build this line through the city. Around Loughborough, Rob catches up with the major project that is now rebuilding bridges and 500 yards of track in order to link two heritage lines and restore a 20-mile section of the old route. He also visits Leicester Central station - once derelict but now set for a new life as a bowling alley

Walking Britain's Lost Railways -:- Rob Bell heads to Norfolk to follow a lost railway through some of the quietest - yet wealthiest - parts of the country. This railway was a curious latecomer when it was built in the 1880s and it threatened to rudely thrust the region into the industrial age. Rob explores an entire engineering town built from scratch, learns how Norfolk's agriculture was super-charged, and sees for himself where thousands of holidaying Midlanders arrived to sail the Norfolk Broads. The line put Norfolk on the frontline of the war so Rob takes to the skies to spot dozens of hastily constructed airfields

Walking Britain's Lost Railways -:- Rob Bell travels to Bangor in north Wales, where he explores a lost line that was built in 1801 to transport Welsh slate from the local quarry, which once was the largest in the world, and now provides the backdrop for the world's fastest zip line. He also follows the Victorian railway inland to Llanberis, where tourists still flock to ride a special train to the summit of Snowdon, and discovers why the heirs to the throne have been styled 'Prince of Wales' for seven centuries

Walking Britain's Lost Railways -:- Starting out from the Regency splendour of Cheltenham, Rob Bell crosses the Cotswolds, following the 46-mile route of the Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway. The line passes many quarries, all producing the famous Cotswold stone - some now abandoned and some still supplying stone to sites like Hampton Court. With numerous hills to negotiate, this railway was never an express route, but it did open up this landscape to visitors for the first time. From the late 1800s, tourists piled in by rail to explore picture postcard villages like Bourton-on-the-Water, establishing a new local 'industry'

Walking Britain's Lost Railways -:- Until it closed in 1966 the Deeside Railway followed the River Dee upstream from Aberdeen into what is now the Cairngorms National Park. As luck would have it, Queen Victoria purchased Balmoral just as the line was set to open, giving the route prestige. Rob Bell retraces the route, visiting a shooting estate, tossing a caber and finding an unmistakable Highland 'brand' that all owe their existence to this royal railway age. He also explores a quiet valley of cattle farming and timber sawmills, and, in truth, a simple railway that struggled for decades to justify its own existence, despite its royal veneer

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

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 -:- Derek Brockway kicks off the new series in Gwynedd with a 10-mile walk, that starts and ends in Penryndeudreath near Porthmadog and follows part of the Ffestiniog Railway line. He learns about the industrialist who changed the landscape and takes shelter from the rain in a farmhouse kitchen before exploring a Celtic rainforest. Meanwhile, Dr Jeni Millard visits a slate quarry now used to mature cheese and Onkar Singh Purewal discovers the story of the first recorded black person in north Wales

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

Will & Grace -:- Grace and her neighbor, James, give their relationship one more shot, but when James invites Grace to his job at the aquarium, she endangers his job and a species; Jack takes Will to an unexpected place to blow off steam -- church

Wynne's Welsh 70s -:- Celebrated tenor and Radio Wales presenter Wynne Evans explores the BBC Wales archives of 1973. Highlights include Dr Who at a local mine, the steam train up Yr Wyddfa and the opening of a new hotel for dogs. With music from Geraint Evans and comedy duo Ryan and Ronnie. Plus, Dave Edmonds demonstrates his recording techniques at Rockfield

SMALL PRINT

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