RAILDATE 2023.06.02

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Credits

Thank you to this week's contributors.

The Weekly Poser: Where is this?

A marine subject this week. The ship is a "first" of its kind, built 1959, now a museum. Where is it?

Last week's Where is this?

A classic heritage scene. Where is it?

Answer: Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Congratulations are due to the following for their correct answers: Paul Hopper, Peter Tisdale, Richard Maund, Dave Winter, and John Grimley.

The Severn Valley Railway is one of the "premiership" heritage railways, now connecting Bridgnorth and Kidderminster and passing through scenic countryside. It can be disconcerting to see rhinos from your carriage seat, but that's West Midlands Safari Park.

I remember the early days in the 1970s when the line only reach Hampton Loade. Finances were precarious because the government was unwilling to fund a rail crossing for the proposed Bridgnorth bypass. The flamboyant local MP Sir Gerald Nabarro may have been a help or a hindrance, but his influence at the time on the SVR was undeniable. I bought his book Severn Valley Steam to help the cause. Nabarro's other claim-to-fame was for starting the dubious craze for personalised numberplates by owning NAB1, NAB2, and NAB3 and getting the law changed to allow transfers.

TELEVISION

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

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3:10 to Yuma (2007) -:- A rancher seizes the chance to settle his debts and earn his son's respect by agreeing to escort a notorious outlaw to the town of Contention, where a train will take the prisoner to jail. But the journey takes a dangerous turn when the criminal tries to manipulate the rancher into letting him go - while his henchmen lie in wait. Western remake, starring Russell Crowe, Christian Bale and Gretchen Mol

Aankhen (2002) -:- When Vijay Singh Rajput is unceremoniously stripped of his duties as a bank manger, he decides to seek revenge by robbing the bank. He trains three blind men to do the job for him

Abandoned Engineering -:- A volcanic island just off Taiwan containing chilling ruins from its darkest era, and a miniature railway that lies forgotten in the woods of Arkansas

Ambulance -:- It's a busy weekend for the medics as thousands of visitors flood into the city for the Grand National weekend - and first up is a visitor falling down some steps at the train station. Mo and Tony are called to a baby that has fallen from its pram, and soon realise the mother is under the influence of alcohol, while Anthony and Mandy are dispatched to a nursing home where a patient is confused state fainting. Paramedics and sisters Danielle and Stacey treat the first casualty at the racecourse - a jockey who has broken his ankle falling from his horse, meaning he will have to miss the big race the following day

Ancient Egypt by Train with Alice Roberts -:- The historian takes a train journey across the world's oldest and greatest civilisation, starting at the very end of the Ancient Egyptian empire in Alexandria, before heading south to Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. Alice goes deep underground in search of Cleopatra, discovers how the Romans and the Greeks reacted to the treasures of Ancient Egypt and, on a visit to the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, she learns how a slave became a sultan and built his own fairy-tale caste

Antiques Road Trip -:- Philip Serrell and Stephanie Connell embark on the last leg of their journey. Steph tries her hand at playing the bagpipes in Hexham, Northumberland, while Phil finds out how coal mining led to the development of Britain's rail network. The duo then meet at the final auction in Darlington, Co Durham

Arctic Ice Railroad -:- The extreme conditions threaten to derail precious cargo. The dedicated and skilled team control the massive freight train, but they face plenty of disruption

Arctic Ice Railroad -:- The Polar Bear Express battles extreme weather to reach the town of Moosonee. Among its passengers is a blind American Cocker Spaniel named Maggie

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.

Bargain Hunt -:- Eric Knowles presents from Ardingly in West Sussex as two pairs go in search of potentially profitable items at an antiques fair. Experts Jonathan Pratt and Ochuko Ojiri are on hand to help the red and blue teams. Eric also finds out all about the history of luxury Pullman railway carriages

Bernard -:- Bernard and Zack must train if they want to become good rugby players, and try to not end up injured

Bobo -:- Animated series. Bobo takes his first train ride, but gets scared when the train drives through dark tunnels.

Britain's Most Evil Killers -:- A profile of John Duffy and David Mulcahy, who terrorised the south of England in the 1980s with a string of attacks on women and children near railway stations

Britain's Scenic Railways -:- The documentary celebrates the 50th anniversary of classic movie The Railway Children with a steam train ride through the Yorkshire moors and recalls the winter storms that washed away the south Devon railway

Buck and the Preacher (1972) -:- A wagon train guide leads a party of freed slaves to a new settlement after the Civil War, but they come under attack from a band of racist Southern outlaws. The wagonmaster must form an uneasy alliance with a conman posing as a preacher to protect the homesteaders. Comedy Western, directed by and starring Sidney Poitier. With Harry Belafonte and Ruby Dee

Cat Ballou (1965) -:- A schoolteacher returns to her home town to find a ruthless railroad developer is trying to snatch her family's land. When her father is murdered by a hitman for refusing to sell his ranch, she resolves to defend the property, enlisting the aid of two small-time crooks and a drunken gunslinger with an equally inebriated horse. Musical comedy Western, starring Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin, with music by Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye

Caught Red Handed -:- A woman catches a carer stealing her money on camera, then encounters the same deceit a few weeks later with a different employee. Plus, Network Rail share footage of people endangering their lives on the train tracks, and reveal their efforts to stop those involved. Presented by Dominic Littlewood

Caught Red Handed -:- Dominic Littlewood reveals how police used ingenious methods to track down a robber who had attacked and injured a train enthusiast. Plus, the mechanic who used his technical know-how to bring crimes at a garage to a sudden stop

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip -:- Dr Ranj Singh and Dr Zoe Williams go looking for antiques in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, aided by experts Stephanie Connell and Tim Medhurst. Ranj visits a Blackpool dance hall and Zoe joins the crew of a steam train before attending an auction in Harrogate, where they hope to make a profit on their purchases

Chloe's Closet -:- Chloe and Jet have some problem solving to do in order to help Little Train to make his deliveries on time

Clean Sweep -:- The investigation continues to build steam in both countries, while Shelly continues to juggle her parenting and other responsibilities. Crime thriller, starring Charlene McKenna

Coastal Path -:- Paul Rose continues his journey by exploring the soft and rolling coastline of south Devon, taking a snorkelling trip around Burgh Island and hitching a ride on the Dartmouth to Paignton steam train

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

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

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

David Jason: Planes, Trains and Automobiles -:- The actor ends his journey by learning to drive a stunt car, sampling Hollywood luxury in an executive jet, cruising in a 1950s hot rod and taking an aerial tour

Derelict Rescue -:- From crumbling railway stations to abandoned RAF bases, enthusiastic families across the UK are turning neglected relics into a unique place to live

Derelict Rescue -:- From crumbling railway stations to abandoned RAF bases, enthusiastic families across the UK are turning neglected relics into a unique place to live.

Diesel Brothers -:- The crew race to finish the monster school bus with a 40-foot drive train and 66-inch tyres. Redbeard discovers the Mello Yello race car from Days of Thunder

Direct Talk -:- Italian 100m sprinter Lamont Marcell Jacobs took gold in the Tokyo Olympics - how did the relatively unknown athlete train his mind and body to be crowned the fastest man in the world?

Family Guy -:- Peter reads an erotic novel and decides he can write a better one. However, Carter is sued for releasing the book on tape, and loses all his money, prompting his wife to run away with media mogul Ted Turner. Meanwhile, Stewie decides to train for the Olympics

Fred Dibnah's Industrial Age -:- The former steeplejack sets out on an enthusiastic tour of Britain's industrial heritage, exploring the early use of wind and water power and visiting some steam engines still in use today. On his travels Fred meets a man who has built a windmill in his back garden and hunts for examples of early beam engines that are still functioning today

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 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 -:- 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 -:- Documentary offering an insight into the Bolton steeplejack's love of restoring engines and chimneys, highlighting one of his greatest triumphs - the steam traction engine he painstakingly repaired over 27 years. His great appreciation for volunteers who dedicated their lives to preserving the past is also explored

Fred Dibnah's World of Steam, Steel and Stone -:- Documentary offering an insight into the steeplejack's love of steam-powered engines and machinery. After spending a large part of his life studying their construction and history, he passed on this knowledge in his programmes and highlighted the importance of steam power in Britain's past

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 -:- 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

Gino's Italian Escape -:- Gino D'Acampo visits the jewel of the Italian Riviera - the Cinque Terre - five towns that are only accessible by boat or train. He begins in the smallest town, Corniglia, where he meets an opera-singing florist, before hopping on the train to Manarola and the dry-stone wallers responsible for keeping the towns from crumbling into the sea. As he heads toward the end, he also heading to Vernazza, Gino meets wine producers who scale 1,000m above sea level to tend to their vines

Gino's Italian Escape -:- The chef leaves Verona on one of Italy's super-fast trains and heads to Lake Garda, the biggest of the Italian lakes. Here he meets a team of rowers training for their annual regatta. After trying his hand at rowing, Gino cooks up a hearty sausage and bean casserole, before jumping on the train and heading to the city of Bolzano. There he creates a deconstructed apple crumble

Gogglebox -:- Some of the most memorable TV moments from March 2018, including Sport Relief, Top Gear, Bodyguard, Come Home and Great Indian Railway Journeys, get a grilling from the armchair critics

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo follows America's iconic River Hudson, beginning at New York City's Penn Station, where he rides on the national rail carrier service, Amtrak. At Tarrytown, he hears a famous American ghost story, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and on the east bank of the Hudson he stops at Garrison, where he hears about the greatest turncoat in American history. In Poughkeepsie, the presenter visits a university built just for women, before arriving in New York's state capital, Albany, where he samples Albany Ale and meets the State Senator

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels across New York state, discovering how General Electric also leads the way in rail technology and examining the story behind George Eastman's Kodak company. He then visits Buffalo and discovers the history behind its grain industry, followed by a trip to witness the awesome power and drama of Niagara Falls

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Following the route of the old Caledonian Railway Company, Michael Portillo discovers the 'Riviera of the Highlands'. With a daily direct train service to Kings Cross, Gleneagles remains a top destination and is also headquarters for the British School of Falconry. Berry Town, aka Blairgowrie, is Michael's next stop. At the home of the Scottish raspberry industry, which once sent fruit to London daily on board a raspberry special service from Cooper Angus station, Michael learns how to pick this most delicate of berries. The last stop on this leg is the city of Dundee, where he visits publisher DC Thomson

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo begins the final leg in Egham, Surrey, where a historic steam fair offers the original 'white-knuckle' ride. Across town lies the Royal Holloway College, now part of the University of London, where the ex-politician discovers the institution's philanthropic roots. Moving into Berkshire, Portillo drops in at a factory manufacturing a famous sleep-inducing beverage with historic roots. Michael's journey ends at Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, where he learns that rowing in an eight is a challenging business

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey along the Irish mail route beginning in Chester, where he takes a tour of Roman remains, and then visits a secret Second World War chemical plant at Rhydymwyn, Flintshire. After spending the night in Llandudno, he heads to the Conwy estuary for a spot of mussel fishing

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey along the route of the historic Irish mail service from Ledbury to Holyhead, stopping off in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, to visit the world's first iron bridge. He also explores Wrexham's Chirk Castle, and tries his hand at making traditional Cheshire cheese

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey from Ledbury to Holyhead, taking the train to the summit of Wales' highest peak, Mount Snowdon. He then examines the revival of Anglesey's sea salt industry, before discovering how the railways transformed the port of Holyhead

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey from Newcastle to Melton Mowbray, stopping at historic Durham Cathedral. He also explores one of the first locomotives in Darlington, and takes a gothic Dracula-inspired tour of Whitby. Finally, he boards a steam train to travel across the North Yorkshire Moors

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

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the final leg of his journey following the route of the North Country Continental service. Along the way he meets volunteers on the Mid-Suffolk Light railway and is permitted to drive 'The Middy'. In Leiston, Michael uncovers the world's first purpose-built assembly line, while in Ipswich the work of a young Victorian engineering prodigy impresses the ex-politician. At his destination of Harwich the presenter discovers how the port became a gateway to the continent, only to be superseded by a new deep-water port further inland

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the next leg of his journey, travelling from Newcastle upon Tyne to Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, along some of the earliest railways in England. He visits the first locomotive factory in the world, opened by George Stephenson, searches for the lost pit village of Marsden in South Shields, and is entertained by a comic troupe of rapping sword-dancers in Chester-le-Street, Co Durham

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo enjoys a ukulele lesson in Haddington, East Lothian, birthplace of the Victorian self-improvement guru Samuel Smiles. In Musselburgh, he gets a taste of life as a fishwife, before exploring Edinburgh where a popular 19th-century mode of transport is making a comeback. Michael also visits the Royal College of Surgeons, where he discovers the macabre history of body snatchers and murderers and heads onwards to the University of Edinburgh Medical School, to learn how students use sophisticated technology to study anatomy

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo explores a Swiss garden in Bedfordshire, drives a 'locomobile', and at Rothampsted, he discovers the Victorian origins of the fertiliser industry

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo explores the Britain of the 1930s as he sets out on another adventure. Beginning just outside Newcastle in Jarrow, Michael uncovers the desperation that led 200 men to march 300 miles to Westminster in order to petition the government for work. The first leg of his journey ends Spennymoor, Co Durham, where he meets the son of a miner who became one of the most famous 20th-century artists of the region

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo explores the Conwy Valley in north Wales, stopping in Betws-y-Coed to find out about Britain's first artists' colony. He also visits the Victorian slate capital Blaenau Ffestiniog and takes a steam train to Porthmadog harbour

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

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo heads from Warwick to Rye in East Sussex. In the orchards of East Malling, Kent, Michael discovers how the Edwardians' serious attitude towards cultivation bears fruit even now. In Folkestone, he hears how the town coped with an influx of more than 100,000 refugees fleeing the German invasion in 1914. In the High Weald, Michael heads for Tenterden Town and the light railway that opened in 1900. His final stop is the medieval Cinque Port of Rye, where he tours the home and garden of author Henry James

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo is in Northumbria en route to the Highlands, heading to Kielder Forest to discover what lay behind a national initiative to plant one of the largest manmade woodlands in Europe. Crossing the border to Scotland, Michael arrives in the weaving town of Hawick to visit Lovat Mill, where, in the 1930s, tweed was big business, and also goes to the movies, sitting in the front stalls at the Dominion cinema in Morningside

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo journeys from Darlington to Dunbar, following the route taken by George Stephenson's steam engine on its 1825 journey, and visiting Lewis Carroll's childhood home

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

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo journeys from Newark-on-Trent to Stockton-on-Tees, and a scandalous novel written in Thirsk leads him to a wildlife centre, where he feeds a hungry hedgehog

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo journeys from Piccadilly Circus to Gravesend, visiting an exotic West End store that was popular among Victorian women and hearing how a Russian ballet company took London by storm in 1909. He also discovers the origins of netball and gymslips at North Kent College and meets the pilots of the Port of London Authority, founded in the early 20th century

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo picks up his rail journey from Warwick to Rye. In Reading, he traces the origins of education for workers, and in Cliveden explores a great Italianate mansion

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo reaches the capital on his rail journey from Warwick to Rye in East Sussex. In Ealing, he is transformed for the silver screen by expert hair and make-up, before travelling to Fulham, where he heads underground to explore London's new super sewer. Then, Michael visits the London School of Economics and Political Science in central London, before finally arriving in Kensington

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo sets off from Dereham in Norfolk on the final leg of his journey to the seaside town of Cromer. Along the way he gets the opportunity to drive a heritage diesel train, discovers why Norfolk black turkeys appeared on the Victorian Christmas menu, and samples classic Cromer crab

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo sets off on the first leg of a journey from the Midlands to Rye in East Sussex, beginning by travelling from Warwick to Radley in Oxfordshire

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo sets out on the first leg of a trip from London to Edinburgh aboard the Flying Scotsman, beginning at King's Cross as he heads for York

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo sets out to follow the route of the historic Irish mail service from Ledbury in Herefordshire to Holyhead on Anglesey. He begins by tasting the Victorian drink perry, meeting a pedigree Hereford bull and visiting the world's first iron-framed building in Shrewsbury, Shropshire

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo's journey from the Irish Sea to the North Sea continues by tram from Manchester. At the imposing town hall of the world's first industrial city, he comes face to face with the Victorian scientist who invented modern atomic theory. The latest stage ends at Silkstone Common, where he tracks down the forge where a Victorian metallurgist created wrought iron axles strong enough for railway rolling stock

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo starts his latest tour as Hampton Court Palace, where he is treated to a private tour of the Great Vine - the world's longest grapevine - before moving on to stately Claremont House, where tragic circumstances led directly to the birth of the Victorian era. He then moves up the line to Wimbledon and the site of a historic duelling event before ending his journey in Teddington, where he hears the story of a reformer whose work revolutionised the care for those with living disabilities

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from Blackpool to Manchester, along the way unveiling a monument to 87 railwaymen of the London and North Western Railway who died in the Great War

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from Gainsborough to Ely, along the way learning about a Victorian machine that changed shopping for ever and the poet Alfred Tennyson

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael starts his journey in Chapeltown, Sheffield, following what was once known as the North Country Continental service, and finishing in the engineering centre of Doncaster

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

Great Coastal Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his railway journey along the Atlantic and Irish Sea coasts of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This time, he makes his way from the vast beaches of the Carlingford Peninsula towards Drogheda and Newgrange, before arriving in capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin, where he visits Dublin Castle and Dublin docks

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 has reached Lincolnshire, where his coastal railway journey from Middlesbrough ends. In Grimsby Town, he investigates a new stage in the town's history - as a maintenance base for some of the largest wind farms in the world. In neighbouring Cleethorpes, Michael rides on the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, pulled by a miniature steam locomotive. Later, Michael makes for a curious and wild stretch of coastline at Humberston

Great Coastal Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo heads to Northern Ireland's spectacular Causeway coast to begin a new journey, which takes him along the north and east coasts through Ulster and Leinster. He begins in Co Derry on the windswept shores of Loch Foyle, where the largest accumulation of coastal sands in Ireland has formed a system of dunes visible from space. He also learns how scientists are monitoring the site and hears how their work has been picked up by fellow scientists in the United States to help research the surface of Mars

Great Coastal Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo is in Bangor, County Down, en route to the Northern Irish capital of Belfast. Along the way he enjoys live music on a boat, stops off at the imposing parliament building at Stormont and explores the regenerated Titanic Quarter on the Maritime Mile

Great Coastal Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo is in the glens of Antrim, where he is transfixed by tales of fairies and legends of the sea. At the entrance to Belfast Lough in Whitehead he discovers a museum which tells the story of Ireland's railway heritage. He also sees if he has what it takes to join the local rowing club. At the medieval Carrickfergus Castle, Michael learns of the town's important role in the history of Ireland, when William of Orange landed at its harbour and went on to fight the Battle of the Boyne, which is commemorated by Unionists to this day

Great Coastal Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from the capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin, on the DART suburban railway to the harbour town of Dun Laoghaire. He joins the crew of the RV Malice to survey what lies beneath the waves in Dublin Bay. Back on dry land, the DART takes Michael to his next stop, Sandycove, where James Joyce, one of Ireland's greatest writers, found inspiration

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

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- In Vienna, Michael Portillo encounters a pre-Cold War spy and learns about the concert that caused a riot in 1913. He then travels the Habsburg imperial line across the Semmering Pass, a line blasted through the Alps. In Graz, the former politician ventures underground at the Lurgrotte Caves to find out about a famous rescue operation of the past, then in Slovenia discovers how an earthquake in Ljubljana prompted its citizens to assert their national identity in architecture and art. Arriving in the Italian port of Trieste, Michael savours the imported coffee that fuelled a cafe culture

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo experiences first-hand Italy's 'need for speed' in a state-of-the-art Maserati sports car, and discovers how the leaning tower of Pisa was rescued from near collapse. In Carrara, he finds out how the marble used by Michelangelo is still being quarried and is invited to chip away at a contemporary sculpture. Moving on to Bologna, the former politician embarks on a doomed search for spaghetti bolognese before being taught how to prepare a tagliatelle al ragu. Finally, he lets the wind rush through his hair on a high-speed boat trip across Lake Garda

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

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo 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 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

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

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

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

How to Train Your Dragon (2010) -:- A clumsy Viking boy longs to become a mighty dragon slayer and protect his village from the fearsome flying lizards, but his father thinks he is not up to the task. However, when he sets out to prove his worth, he ends up befriending a dragon, and realises his people may have misjudged the creatures. Animated fantasy, with the voices of Jay Baruchel and Gerard Butler

In Concert: Gordon Lightfoot -:- A concert by the Canadian singer-songwriter, accompanied by Red Shea and Richard Haynes. The trio perform songs including Summer Side of Life, Saturday Clothes, That's What You Get for Loving Me, If I Could Read Your Mind and Steel Rail Blues

Japan Railway Journal -:- Discover the secrets of Japan's railways, from the newest technologies and systems in use to travel tips and must-see places.

Japan Railway Journal -:- Ichibata Electric Railway in Shimane Prefecture is a vital means of transportation in the region - see how they've been working with the local government and residents to recover from the pandemic.

King of the Wild Stallions (1959) -:- Rancher Martha Morse faces losing her home to a cruel landowner, but her devoted stable hand has a plan to save the day by claiming the reward offered for capturing an infamous wild horse. However, nobody knows that Martha's unsuspecting son has already befriended the animal and is trying to train it. Western, starring Diane Brewster and George Montgomery

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

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

Mach à Seo! -:- Ramsay MacMahon brushes up on his German in the port city of Hamburg. He takes a boat tour of the industrial area of the city, visits the world’s largest model railway, stays overnight on a barge, has a go at hip-hop dancing and visits the Reeperbahn district where The Beatles played hundreds of gigs

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

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

Million Pound Pawn -:- In Sheffield, Dan visits retired couple Gloria and Mick, who are looking for a buyer for an 18th-century railway carriage that they have painstakingly restored. With a price tag of over two million pounds, Dan has to hope that his little black book of contacts can help him get the deal across the line

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing -:- Paul and Bob venture from London Euston to the Scottish Highlands, taking a sleeper train overnight to their destination. They wake in the stunning vista of the North West Scotland, where the pine forests and snow topped mountains almost take their breath away

Murder By the Sea -:- Percy Mapleton was looking for a way to a fast fortune, and identified Brighton bond trader Isaac Gold as his target, but a robbery on a moving train turned into tragedy

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

Mystery Junction (1951) -:- A well-known crime writer is on a train journey when a man is found murdered. Crime drama, starring Sydney Tafler, Martin Benson and Barbara Murray

My Strange Addiction -:- Featuring a woman who regularly eats detergent, and a man who is so obsessed with strongman competitions that he trains for up to six hours a day

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

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.

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

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

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

Nazi Weird War Two -:- The search for a missing train that is rumoured to have left Germany during the last days of the war, carrying a shipment of gold looted from the countries occupied by the Nazis

Neven's Greenway Food Trails -:- Neven Maguire visits some of Ireland's most spectacular off-road routes for walkers and cyclists, and meets more of teh country's best food producers and chefs. In the first edition he heads to he Great Western Greenway in Co Mayo, a 42km cycling and walking trail that follows the route of the old Westport to Achill Railway line, passing through places with views of Clew Bay, the Nephin Mountains and Croagh Patrick

Night Passage (1957) -:- The black sheep of a family falls in with a gang of outlaws plotting to rob a train operated by his strait-laced brother, but reckons without his sibling's determination to track him down and set him back on the straight and narrow. Western, starring James Stewart, Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea and Brandon de Wilde

On Assignment -:- Rageh Omaar reports on the controversy surrounding one of the world's largest construction projects for a state-of-the-art train system in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Elsewhere, US correspondent Dan Rivers heads to Tennessee where a new law has put drag queens on the frontline of America's culture wars, and Rachel Townsend is in Southwest France where a home for Alzheimer's patients is offering a revolutionary approach to later life care

Oscar & Ealasaid -:- A new train that goes directly to the ocean has just opened in town. Célestine would love to go there with Ernest, but the ticket is very expensive

Paddington Station 24/7 -:- Staff prepare for a VIP visitor, who turns out to be Prince Harry, while a buckled rail is threatening to disrupt the timetable at Route Control in Swindon, while a failed freight train requires a rescue locomotive as delays and cancellations stack up at Paddington

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

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

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

Ray Donovan -:- Terry takes Damon to New York to train for a fight, and Ray's therapy is at odds with the high-stakes power struggle between Sam and her opponents

Rob & Romesh Vs -:- Comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan team up again to take on more challenges, beginning by entering the world of strongman competitions. On their journey they head to Iceland to train with former champion Magnus Ver Magnusson, all with the aim of competing at the Arnold Sports Festival to find out which of the two is the strongest

Runaway Train (1985) -:- A hardened criminal and his accomplice escape from a high-security prison in Alaska and stow away on board a freight train, unaware it is driverless and speeding out of control. Action adventure, starring Jon Voight, Eric Roberts, Rebecca De Mornay and Kyle T Heffner. Based on a screenplay by Japanese director Akira Kurosawa

Salvage Hunters -:- In Monmouthshire at the UK's largest stockist of antique railwayana, modern day treasure hunter Drew Pritchard spots some amazing wagon signage. In Gloucestershire he finds a stunning Victorian card table

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

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

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

See No Evil -:- James Enright is stabbed to death outside a train station. Despite cell phone footage of the attack, police struggle to identify his killer, until they uncover CCTV footage

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

Susan Calman's Grand Day Out -:- The comedian climbs the dramatic and spectacular peaks of north Wales. She she stops off at the must-see tourist spot of the Tu Hwnt Ir Bont Tearoom, said to be the most photographed in Wales and famed for its Welsh rarebit. Moving on to Mount Snowdon, Susan climbs the magnificent peak in style, using the mountain railway

Tales of the Unexpected -:- A man is haunted by an unhappy childhood and taunted by school bullies - and a stranger on a train could be responsible for his misery. Drama, starring John Mills and Anthony Steel

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 Big Bang Theory -:- Leonard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj discover actress Summer Glau is on their train while travelling to San Francisco. Desperate to discuss the Terminator TV series with her, the friends devise a number of plans to engage her in conversation. With Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar

The Cotswolds with Pam Ayres -:- The poet heads to north Gloucestershire and the village of Toddington. She's there to hop aboard one of the locomotives of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. After a chat with fireman Clive on the footplate, Pam heads to her own carriage to enjoy the 28-mile journey and discover how the railway line was restored and revived by some seriously dedicated steam-buffs

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 Flock (2007) -:- A paranoid federal agent placed in charge of monitoring sex offenders is forced to take early retirement when he becomes violent with the men he is supposed to be keeping an eye on. His final duty before leaving is to train his successor, who he instead recruits into helping him with his obsessive quest to find a missing girl. Crime thriller, starring Richard Gere and Claire Danes

The Flying Scot (1957) -:- A small-time crook assembles a gang to rob a train carrying withdrawn banknotes from Scotland to London to be destroyed. Crime drama, starring Lee Patterson and Kay Callard

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 Middle -:- When Brick demonstrates his talent in a school spelling bee, Mike decides to train him for a regional competition. However, as the family members prepare to embark on a road trip to Chicago for the event, they realise they have forgotten Sue's birthday

The Railways That Built Britain with Chris Tarrant -:- Chris examines the devastating impact of the Beeching report, which led to half the country's stations and almost a third of the lines being closed. He also looks at how the railways were reinvented for the modern age, and how a sleek new locomotive not only saved the railway network, but reshaped the country

The Railways That Built Britain with Chris Tarrant -:- The broadcaster examines how trains transformed the nation and shaped modern Britain. He begins in the cab of Puffing Billy, the world's oldest-surviving steam locomotive, which was built in 1813 and designed to move coal along a five-mile stretch of track from a Northumberland mine to the docks. Chris also tells the story of Henry Booth, who not only championed George Stephenson's famous Rocket, but also helped finance it, and talks about the work of the navvies who dug the tunnels and laid the tracks

The Railways That Built Britain with Chris Tarrant -:- The broadcaster examines the role of the railways during the two global conflicts of the 20th century, keeping vital supply lines open and transporting troops to and from the front. In the First World War, railway works were converted into munitions factories and women were employed for these dangerous jobs and their heroic efforts helped win them the vote, while in the Second World War, they were vital in organising the evacuation of a million children and offered underground shelters from air raids

The Virginian (2014) -:- A boy is left an orphan following the murder of his parents, but is taken in by a cattle baron. The rancher trains the youngster to fight and teaches him to enforce a strong moral code, but as he grows to adulthood, he begins to realise his mentor has taken him in to serve a hidden agenda. Western, starring Trace Adkins, Ron Perlman and Victoria Pratt

The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard -:- General manager Chris calls a crisis meeting, believing the only chance the railway has of making it through the busy summer season is if an overhaul of Repton - a 1934 Schools-class engine - is completed. This engine has been undergoing restoration for the past five years, but now it is going to be all-hands-on-deck to try and get it back on the rails quickly. Meanwhile, Kieran discovers that a portion of track at one station is subsiding and cannot carry a load. The only option seems to be to shorten the Pullman dining train

The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard -:- The start of the Easter timetable at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway finds marketing manager Laura devising a stunt to get some much-needed publicity. As the Tour de Yorkshire cycling race winds through the county, she plans to put one of their steam engines along the route to get the line some TV coverage. However, Piglet is tasked to fix an engine that Laura wants to be on display. Meanwhile, general manager Chris reveals how some of the bridges are in desperate need of repair - a £5million project that the already cash-strapped railway will struggle to cover

Tomos a'i Ffrindau -:- When the trains must deliver in pairs, Thomas is disappointed to be paired with Diesel instead of his best friend Percy

Train Cruise -:- Spring arrives late in eastern Hokkaido - travel from Obihiro through Japan's food base and along the Pacific Ocean to Nemuro. Taste local delicacies, drive a train, and explore the vast marshlands...

Unbreakable (2000) -:- A security guard escapes from the carnage of a train crash miraculously unscathed. He is baffled by what has happened to him - until he is contacted by a frail comic-book dealer, who appears to hold the key to the mystery. Drama from director M Night Shyamalan, with Bruce Willis, Samuel L Jackson, Robin Wright and Spencer Treat Clark

Undercover Boss Australia -:- Tony Braxton-Smith, CEO of Australia's Great Southern Rail, embarks on a secret mission to experience the day-to-day tasks of his employees. Going undercover on board one of his trains, the executive is asked to clean on-board toilets, serve first-class passengers and unload luggage. He is also given a chance to meet some of the inspirational people he employs

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 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

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

Walks Around Britain -:- Andrew White walks along part of an old railway line on the Isle of Man, and travels between the Sun and Pluto pubs in North 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

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

World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys -:- A six-hour journey through Yorkshire to Northumbria and the Borders onboard the Tornado, enjoying some of the best food and luxury service that trains can offer. While in Northumbria there is the chance to discover local traditions such as Craster's famous smokery and kippers, and step back in time to delve into the wonders that lie beneath the sand at Bamburgh

SMALL PRINT

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