RAILDATE 2023.06.30

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Credits

Thank you to this week's contributors.

The Weekly Poser: Where is this?

Back in the UK this week, please identify the line AND the loco.

Last week's Where is this?

Sent in by a reader of Raildate, this 2-8-0 loco with a huge headlight hasn't steamed for a few years but looks to be in near-working order. Where is it?

Answer: Amman, Jordan. Congratulations are due to the following for their correct answers: No-one. [I didn't get it either when offered the images]

Raildate is grateful to Paul Hopper for supplying the image, taken on a visit in the spring. Like Paul, any Raildate reader is welcome to contribute.

The Hejaz railway was a casuality of the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in WW1. When Trans-Jordan and Saudi Arabia emerged from the wreckage of that empire, the railway route to the Muslim holy cities was (by 1920) largely abandoned. The Jordanian and Syrian portion of the line survived until recent years, but even it has been truncated south of the capital - now just linking phosphate mines to the port of Aqaba.

The famous Ten Arches Bridges in Amman (above) may look like it could be Roman, but was built in the late 19th century for the railway.

After some digging, I managed to find a clip online from 1996 of Alexei Sayle riding the Jordan railways: Great Railway Journeys - Syria to Jordon. It's 56 minutes long, but do watch it if you can. He was filmed in a train being pursued by Arab Revolt re-enactors on horseback. Later (at 40:40), the film covers the ancient track giving way under the heavy loco. The driver's face is a picture of despair as he sees his livelihood disappearing in an instant.

I read T.E.Lawrence's book Seven Pillars of Wisdom some years ago covering his role in fomenting the Arab Revolt. Such was his subsequent fame as Lawrence "of Arabia", that he took my name (as "T.E.Shaw") to gain some anonymity.

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]

70s Greatest Dance Hits -:- A look at 1970s floor-fillers, including Love Train by the O'Jays, and much loved tracks by Queen, Madness, ELO, Michael Jackson and Boney M

A League of Their Own US Road Trip -:- James Corden, Jamie Redknapp, Jack Whitehall and Andrew Flintoff go on another adventure across America, competing in a series of challenges as they travel from Los Angeles to New York. In the first episode, Jamie loses his temper when he's left injured following a hot-dog eating competition, and all four of them train with the Californian State Lifeguards

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

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

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 are tasked with transporting fuel to a remote community. Can they overcome intense blizzards to deliver this vital cargo?

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

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

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

Ben Elton: The Great Railway Disaster -:- The comedian argues that railway privatisation is a failed experiment, travelling through Manchester's Ordsall Chord, an £85 million feat of engineering which currently only runs one train in each direction per hour, and experiencing Britain's worst railway line, the Transpennine Express. Ben reveals the results of a Channel 4 survey which asked 2,000 adults about their experience of using the trains, questioning how problems on the railways have impacted people's everyday lives, changing the way they travel

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

Britain's Greatest Bridges -:- Rob Bell reveals the story behind the construction of the Forth Rail Bridge and how its incredible engineering achievement was born from tragedy and paid for in blood

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

Celebrity Gogglebox -:- Offerings including Countdown, Trevor McDonald's Indian Train Adventure, Titanic, First Dates and Serengeti come under the gaze of famous faces. The star critics are Jessie J, Jamal Edwards, Martin and Roman Kemp, Rylan Clark-Neal, Denise Van Outen, Oti Mabuse, Chris Eubank Sr, Chris Eubank Jr, Stanley Johnson, Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo, Laurence and Emilia Fox, Gyles Brandreth, Sheila Hancock, Emily Atack, Kate Robbins, Nick Grimshaw and Olly Alexander

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys -:- Chris sets out on a mission to cross three former Soviet republics entirely by rail in just one week, travelling through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and uncovering amazing stories and dark secrets from the region's past. He begins in Narva, Estonia, before heading to the capital Tallinn on the country's oldest railway, built by German nobles to connect the Russian imperial capital St Petersburg with Estonia's ports, then travelling through Latvia and Lithuania and heading to the Russian border on a revolutionary new line

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys -:- Chris Tarrant explores five countries that were part of Yugoslavia, which had an extensive state-run railway network before its break-up in the 1990s and the Balkan Wars of Independence that followed. From Slovenia, Chris heads east along an old Austro-Hungarian railway that was once used by the Orient Express, pays a visit to a very unusual railway-related battlefield in Bosnia and rides on one of the world's great mountain railways on his way to the Serbian capital Belgrade before finishing his journey in Montenegro

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys -:- Chris travels through the Middle East to explore what remains of the colonial railways, which were built there more than 100 years ago. In the Wadi Rum valley, Chris boards a steam train along one of the few bits of the Hejaz railway that remains in working use, following the route through Jordan, before crossing the border into Israel as he heads for Jerusalem, which is sacred to more than half of the world's population. Along the way, Chris visits the ancient city of Petra, as well as Haifa and Tel Aviva

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys -:- The broadcaster travels from the west of Morocco to the east, heading into the desert on a mission to find out whether a railway line once crossed the Sahara all the way to Timbuktu in Mali. He begins in Marrakesh, taking in Casablanca and Fez before visiting a town that he is convinced has been named in his honour

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

Criminal Minds -:- The team investigates a string of murders in Philadelphia, and the search for the killer points toward the city's boxing scene. Meanwhile, Hotch makes a connection with an attractive runner as they train for a triathlon. Charles S Dutton (Roc), Shawn Hatosy (Southland) and Bellamy Young (Dirty Sexy Money) guest star

Criminals: Caught on Camera -:- Journalist Nick Wallis joins police forces around the nation to discover how CCTV is helping to bring criminals using weapons to justice. A CCTV operator's instincts lead him to keep an eye on a man acting suspiciously on a train station platform and who then takes a knife out of his pocket and threatens a woman coming towards him. There is also footage of a raid on a west London jewellery shop, with the gang spraying bleach in the eyes of security guards and smashing down the doors with pickaxes while the terrified staff cower inside

Dead Reckoning (1947) -:- A veteran paratrooper is drawn into a web of murder, gambling and blackmail by the former girlfriend of an comrade, who went missing from a train while the men were on their way to awarded medals in a ceremony in Washington. Film noir murder mystery, starring Humphrey Bogart, Lizabeth Scott, William Prince and Morris Carnovsky

Departure -:- Kendra Malley is called to the US to investigate a mysterious, high-speed train crash in rural Michigan. Starring Archie Panjabi

Destroyed in Seconds -:- A race car loses control at 150mph, a biplane crashes into a crowded lake, trains slam into trucks, and a wall falls on a worker. Presented by Ron Pitts

Dickinson's Real Deal -:- Audrey from Liverpool hopes to raise a small fortune on her toy train set. David Dickinson gives advice on whether to accept the offer made by dealer Mike Melody or risk the uncertainty of the auction room

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

Endeavour -:- As plans to build a new police station lead Morse to question his place in the force, he investigates the case of Tommy Cork, a boy from a broken home who has disappeared. Meanwhile, the body of disreputable journalist Eric Patterson has been found on railway tracks in mysterious circumstances. He was last seen embroiled in an argument with a council official about a company preparing to redevelop the site of Blenheim Vale, a disused correctional facility for boys. When a petty criminal with a connection to Blenheim absconds from an open prison, it sets off a chain reaction of events that threaten to expose horrors of the past. Did missing Tommy witness something that cost him his life?

Escape to the Country -:- Sonali Shah offers advice to a couple who are looking for a property in West Sussex on a budget of £625,000, and also stops off at a heritage steam railway

Extreme Engineering -:- Danny Forster examines the $18billion Gotthard Base Tunnel project - a 35-mile passage through the Swiss Alps that will be the world's biggest rail tunnel on its completion in 2017

Father Brown -:- Lady Felicia is horrified to find an injured man stuck in a tree on her estate, apparently thrown there from a passing train on an overhead viaduct. When Sid is implicated as the guilty party, Father Brown is left to clear his name - but only if he is truly innocent. Mystery drama, starring Mark Williams

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 -:- Henry Cole and Simon O'Brien head to a private railway, where Simon converts a lantern to a stylish table and Henry turns a fire extinguisher into a steampunk lamp

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

Four in a Bed -:- The B&B owners meet up for a final showdown, as Justin gives Tina and Kay a platform for their feedback about noisy trains and seeks to know more about Raqeeb's problems with his shower. Tina and Kay want to clear up Raqeeb and Raj's cleanliness comments before discussing what really happened at breakfast. After dramatic discoveries and frank exchanges, the payments are revealed and the winner is announced

Four in a Bed -:- The second visit of the week is to The Railway Inn near Hull in East Yorkshire, where young couple Lydia Perkins and Luke Mainprize feel the pressure at breakfast time

Game of Thrones -:- Bran trains with the Three-Eyed Raven, while in the north of Westeros at Castle Black, the Night's Watch stands behind Alliser Thorne. Fantasy drama, starring Isaac Hempstead-Wright and Owen Teale

Gino's Italian Escape -:- Chef Gino D'Acampo returns to explore more of his native country, this time heading off the beaten track to meet people keeping age-old traditions alive, as well as showcasing the scenery and culture of these lesser-known parts of Italy. He begins in the central state of Abruzzo, learning about chitarra pasta, before heading along the historic Trabocchi coastline to meet a fisherman whose family use a traditional wooden machine for their livelihoods and then travelling into the mountains to meet Mauro, a farmer who also trains the local breed of sheepdog

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

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Continuing his trek from Philadelphia to Jamestown, Michael Portillo arrives in the nation's capital, Washington, DC, centre of political power in the world's most powerful country. Steered by his Appleton's Guide of 1879, he admires its fine public buildings, including the largest library in the world, and discovers how the capital was built from scratch after a political compromise between north and south. After this, he travels on to Mount Vernon, exploring a former slave market and visiting an archaeological dig along the way

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- In Lawrence, Kansas, Michael Portillo joins the Jayhawks basketball team in the famous Allen Field house stadium with energetic encouragement from their cheerleaders, before travelling through Tornado Alley to Topeka to meet one of the first storm chasers in America. Driving out on the Great Plains, Michael learns about the Tallgrass Prairie and comes face to face with a herd of wild buffalo

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo arrives at a milestone on his American journey as he reaches the boundary between the northern and southern states, known as the Mason-Dixon line. Beginning in Wilmington, North Carolina, he uncovers the history of gunpowder production in Delaware, before heading to Baltimore, where he discovers how the first American steam engine owed a lot to British technology. On the city's east coast, Michael visits the star-shaped Fort McHenry, and learns how the Star-Spangled Banner national anthem was born

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo arrives in Manassas, Virginia, scene of two crucial battles during the American Civil War. In Fredericksburg, he tries bottling bourbon corn whiskey and learns how it became the nation's spirit. In Richmond, the ex-politician enjoys a tour of the Virginia state Capitol building, where he hears of the dilemma faced by one of its most famous sons, General Robert E Lee, before donning his dancing shoes for a Cotillion ball. Michael ends his journey in Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his American rail journey west to Jefferson City, Missouri, following the tracks of European settlers in the 19th century. In St Louis he ascends America's monument to the Wild West, the Gateway Arch, the tallest free-standing monument in the US. On the banks of the Missouri River, the political commentator is invited aboard a replica of the original keel boat used for an historic expedition. In Washington, Missouri, Michael tries to craft a corn cob pipe, and in Jefferson City he finds an huge fortified building that served as the gaol for the entire Wild West

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo continues his journey westwards across the United States, discovering the hidden pleasures of 19th-century railroad workers in Sedalia and learning more about the birthplace of ragtime. He then travels to Paola, Kansas, where he auctions livestock and dines on spare ribs, before reaching his destination in St Joseph, Missouri

Great British Railway Journeys -:- At RAF Lakenheath, Michael Portillo discovers a slice of America dropped into the British countryside. In the market town of Brandon on the border between Norfolk and Suffolk, he visits Quorn Foods to find how a seemingly modern meat substitute emerged out of a post-war food crisis. Michael ends his journey in Cambridge, where he studied during the 1970s

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 his journey in Kirkby-in-Furness, Cumbria, where he learns about the village's famous blue slates. He then heads to Barrow to examine the secret world of nuclear submarines and finishes his trip in Lancaster, where he discovers why executions at the castle drew so many spectators in Victorian times

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo begins his journey to the Isle of Man from Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, and examines the cross-border history of the town. Plus, he hears the story of the Pitman Painters of Ashington and learns about the perils of working on the rails in Victorian times

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo begins the latest leg on the seafront at Felixstowe, where in January 1953 the town was engulfed in the worst flooding to hit England in the 20th century. In Norwich, he admires the Norman Cathedral, then traces the history of the postcode

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 the final leg of his journey, meeting a survivor of the Coventry Blitz and exploring how the city has been rebuilt since the 1940 bombardment. Reaching Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, he stops overnight at Hartwell House and visits the area's last pure-breed duck farmer, before heading to Watford in Hertfordshire to learn about Operation Pied Piper

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo discovers micro-mines hidden in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, and finds out why the Victorians were so enamoured with Tintern Abbey in the Wye Valley along the border between England and Wales. Plus, he investigates the railway engineering behind the Newport Transporter Bridge

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo discovers the importance of Cardiff's Victorian coal heritage to the city's development. He also finds out why Barry Island has been attached to the mainland since the 19th century, and takes a steam ride through the Brecon Beacons National Park

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on another journey around the nation with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook to discover how the railways have affected people and find out what remains of Bradshaw's Britain. He begins by exploring Brighton's Victorian aquarium, the underground quarries of Godstone, Surrey, and the wonders of the Crystal Palace in suburban south-east London

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the next leg of his journey, learning about the London Necropolis Railway, a funeral service that transported coffins from Waterloo to Surrey's Brookwood Cemetery from 1854 to 1941. He also discovers how London's West End became a popular shopping destination in the 19th century and examines the changing fortunes of the city's docks

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the second leg of his journey from Berwick-upon-Tweed to the Isle of Man, beginning in the Northumberland village of Bardon Mill. He follows in the footsteps of Victorian archaeologists at Hadrian's Wall, discovers how the introduction of ticket machines transformed 19th-century train travel and learns about the impact of railways on the west Cumbrian town of Wigton

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the second leg of his journey from Buxton to London, stopping at Cromford, Derbyshire, where Bradshaw's railway guide reports Richard Arkwright built his original cotton mill. He also visits Derby to take a walk through Britain's first public park, and heads for Burton-on-Trent for a tour of Burton Bridges Breweries

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo ends his journey through the west of England and south Wales by exploring the connection between the Victorian railway and Port Talbot's steelworks. He then follows the trail of 19th-century waterfall hunters in Neath, and reveals Milford Haven's whaling past

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 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 goes fishing at Ely in Cambridgeshire with the last remaining eel trapper on the Fens, and visits the Denver Sluice, one of the great triumphs of 19th-century engineering. In the Norfolk town of King's Lynn, he uncovers an ambitious plan to reclaim the Wash in Victorian times

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 heads to Cumbria, where he visits the Sellafield site that reprocesses fuel from nuclear reactors, drinks a Victorian brew made from the waters of Cockermouth and explores a Japanese-inspired garden created in the 19th century

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 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 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 London, where he continues to discover what remains of George Bradshaw's Britain. Arriving at St Pancras, he learns about the station's troubled history and £800million makeover, before travelling along the world's first underground line from King's Cross to Farringdon. The trip comes to an end at the Houses of Parliament, where he climbs the clock tower and meets the men responsible for keeping Big Ben working

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 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 Buxton to London continues in Walsall, where he visits a leather business that still supplies the Queen with saddlery. He then explores how the centre of Birmingham has changed since Bradshaw's times, and is taught how to cook a curry by the owner of a leading Indian restaurant. Finally, he heads to the village of Bournville, where he learns how the railway transformed the fortunes of the Cadbury brothers

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from London's Docklands to the Barbican, examining the story of the arrival at Tilbury in 1948 of the Empire Windrush, which brought more than a thousand passengers from the Caribbean to work in Britain. In Limehouse, Michael reflects on the Labour Party's landslide victory at the post-war general election of 1945 and hears what drove new prime minister Clement Attlee to strive for social change

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo ventures deep underground onto London's newest railway - the Elizabeth Line - enjoying a smooth ride from Paddington to Tottenham Court Road. Emerging into the sunshine in Bedford Square, Michael recalls the choking smogs which plagued the capital during the 1950s. He learns how smoke-free zones were introduced to tackle the problem and, high above the capital at the top of the BT Tower, discovers how the capital's air quality is monitored today

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo visits several of London's most famous locations, beginning on the South Bank, where the 1951 Festival of Britain drew more than eight and a half million visitors to admire fantastical buildings designed to inspire and celebrate the best of British in art, science and industry. After a spin on the London Eye, built to celebrate the millennium, Michael takes the London Underground to Chelsea to find out about Elizabeth David, one of the most influential cookery writers of the 20th century, and also heads to Covent Garden and Regent's Park

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo visits the Worcestershire village of Hartlebury, which was once home to a bishop who captured Queen Victoria's attention, on the second leg of his journey from Oxford to the south Wales coast. He also investigates the secrets of Worcestershire sauce and learns why the Malvern Hills were popular with 19th-century health enthusiasts

Great British Railway Journeys -:- The third leg of Michael Portillo's journey from Brighton to Cromer begins in the London borough of Enfield, where he visits the Royal Small Arms Factory, the largest machine shop in Europe in the Victorian era. He then discovers the influence of trains on horse racing in Newmarket, and heads to Cambridge to find out why it could be considered the birthplace of football

Great British Ships -:- Rob Bell explores the extraordinary tea clipper Cutty Sark, a ship that endured drunken captains and murderous crews, inspired a whiskey and survived the coming of the steam age. Rob clambers aboard to experience first-hand the beauty and superior design of the ship. He delves into her tragic past - the vagabond years of 'tramping', mistreatment by her captains and desertion by her crews

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 from the Swiss Alps to the shores of Lake Geneva. Along the way, he is caught up in a war zone with the Red Cross and rescued from an 'avalanche' by a St Bernard puppy. He takes to the skies in a vintage bi-plane to retrace the epic journey of the pioneering pilot who was first to fly over the Alps, and tries his hand at watchmaking, James Bond style

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo braves the freezing temperatures of the Baltic Sea and finds peace paddling a canoe on the Lakes of Finland. On his journey from the Latvian capital Riga to Tampere in Finland, he encounters medieval knights in Tallinn, grills sausages in Helsinki and samples cloudberry liqueur in a hot tub. He later arrives in Estonia, where in the setting of a ruined 13th-century cathedral he learns how the Baltic countries demonstrated their desire for independence from the Soviet Union with a 'singing revolution'

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo concludes his journey in the Netherlands, where he travels from Rotterdam to Utrecht, including a visit to the world's largest flower auction in Haarlem, a trip to Delft to learn how the city came to specialise in pottery and an exploration of the government buildings in The Hague

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo leaves Europe behind to take in the sights, smells and tastes of North Africa as he travels from the Mediterranean port of Tangier to the Berber city of Marrakech. At Asilah, the political commentator lends a hand with the construction of Morocco's new £3billion high-speed railway line to Casablanca, where he calls in to the most famous gin joint in the world

Great Continental Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from the Italian Riviera to the Austrian Alps, starting in Genoa, where he learns how an Edwardian Briton introduced football to the port. He takes the train as it clings to the cliffs along the Riviera Di Levanti to reach the picturesque and remote villages of the Cinque Terre, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before ending his journey in the famous Brenner Pass, the scene of a ground-breaking engineering project to build one of the world's longest rail tunnels

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

Gregg Wallace's Big Weekend Away -:- The MasterChef presenter visits Italian capital Rome, which boasts inexpensive cuisine and an unrivalled history that stretches back thousands of years. After checking out some its best sights on the back of a scooter and going inside the famous Trevi Fountain, Gregg heads to a restaurant popular with the locals to discover how, in the Eternal City, the best food is often the cheapest. He also learns the secrets of the local ice-cream, gelato, and tries some classic Roman breakfast sweet treats. He even gets the chance to train as a gladiator

Hello! NHK World-Japan -:- This new show introduces the various programmes and activities of NHK World-Japan - in this first episode, an edition of 'Japan Railway Journal' presents the attractiveness of local railways in Japan.

Homicide Hunter -:- Lieutenant Joe Kenda investigates when a decapitated body is discovered on some train tracks and a young girl's body is found in a basement

How It's Made -:- The development processed behind the creation of carbon fibre, railcar movers and hood ornaments. Plus, the techniques used in antique frame restoration

How It's Made -:- The manufacturing processes behind the creation of stile and rail doors, steam cleaners, hand-held pizzas and power brushes

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 to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) -:- Young Viking Hiccup has successfully persuaded his people to live in peace with dragons, but now faces a new threat from a warlord who is capturing the flying lizards to build an army. As Hiccup tries to keep the peace, he is reunited with his long-lost mother. Animated adventure sequel, with the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler and Cate Blanchett

Inside the Steam Train Museum -:- Engineer Brian has the task of repainting an engine ahead of the upcoming steampunk event where bizarre costumes and unusual activities descend upon the museum for a day of 'Victorian retro-futurism'. Meanwhile, office manager Julie learns to operate a steam engine for the first time

Inside the Steam Train Museum -:- The gallopers roundabout receives some much-needed attention as the roof is replaced and the organ repaired before the start of the open season. Volunteer Mark takes his miniature traction engine out on a road run. The live steam model railway group work on their layout and run their model trains at Bressingham

I Survived a Crime -:- A man regrets confronting a group of young adults about smoking on a train when he is nearly beaten to death. A driver finds himself in trouble during a traffic jam

Jalebi () -:- A woman boards an overnight train and gets placed in a compartment with her former lover and his wife.

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 -:- JR East is working to reduce travel times by increasing the speed of the Tohoku Shinkansen - see the latest developments of the ALFA-X and the environmental measures taken to reduce noise.

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

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

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

Murder on the Orient Express (2017) -:- An American businessman travelling on the Orient Express from Istanbul to Paris tries to hire Hercule Poirot to be his bodyguard as he has had death threats made against him. The sleuth refuses, but wakes up the following morning to learn the man has been stabbed to death while the train was held up by heavy snow - and there is no shortage of suspects among the passengers. Agatha Christie mystery, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, with Daisy Ridley, Derek Jacobi and Johnny Depp

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

Murdoch Mysteries -:- The detective investigates the death of a man who collapsed in front of the station house, when clues suggest he was poisoned possibly in relation to his work marking out a route for the new Northern Ontario railway. Meanwhile, Inspector Brackenreid enters a painting in an amateur exhibition. Drama, starring Yannick Bisson and Thomas Craig

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 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.

Night Train to Lisbon (2013) -:- An academic impulsively pursues a woman he met by chance, leading to him abandoning his job to follow her to Lisbon. On the journey, he reads a book belonging to her, and is inspired by the philosopher who wrote it. He sets out to track down everyone who knew the author to discover the story of his life. Drama based on Pascal Mercier's novel, starring Jeremy Irons and Melanie Laurent

Oli Wyn -:- The steam train crew prepares the tracks as the Vale of Rheidol's steam train makes plans to venture out on its first journey following the winter

Once Upon a Texas Train (1987) -:- Ageing outlaw Willie Nelson plunges straight back into a life of crime just hours after being released from prison - and uses the proceeds to reunite his equally long-in-the-tooth cohorts for an ambitious robbery. However, old enemy Richard Widmark is determined to stop the wrinkly renegades, leading them into a tense final showdown. Entertaining light-hearted Western, written and directed by cowboy movie veteran Burt Kennedy. Angie Dickinson, Stuart Whitman and Shaun Cassidy co-star

One Born Every Minute -:- The stories of two strong women offering their daughters plenty of support during labour after unplanned pregnancies. Twenty-three-year-old Sam went off the rails as a teenager, running away from home and ending up sleeping rough, before meeting her partner Biaggio, and the couple are grateful to have Sam's mum by their side. Claire, 20, always knew she wanted her mother to be there in the delivery room, but deciding whether boyfriend Clint should be present wasn't as easy

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

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

Poppy Cat -:- Alma is missing one rare item in her pressed flower collection. Poppy suggests a train ride to Yodel Mountain, where they find the Alpine Honeyblossom

Railroad Alaska -:- A snowstorm and faulty equipment threatens the freight crew's journey as they race to deliver a heavy load, while in the woods, Jim and Nancy meet an off-grid couple

Railroad Alaska -:- A train struggles to reach the highest point on the railroad north to make a crucial delivery, while off the grid, things get steamy as JT and Marvin build a traditional bath

Railroad Alaska -:- Spring brings new challenges for the off-gridders as they scramble to repair their cabins, while the freight team prepares its most dangerous load of the year

Railroad Australia -:- A super-sized freight train makes its way through the desert wilderness on a 1,900-mile journey to its destination. Plus, Leigh and Wil prove their worth against a crocodile

Railroad Australia -:- Documentary shedding light on the work of railway staff responsible for transporting train passengers through the blistering heat of the vast Australian wilderness

Railroad Australia -:- Engineers working a Fortescue track have just four hours to fix a faulty line, and if they fail, it could cost their heavyweight iron ore company millions

Railroad Australia -:- Sugar cane driver Ray races to get to the mill before his cargo deteriorates. Plus, drivers Mick and Simon battle to descend the mighty Blue Mountain range in a huge freight train

Railroad Australia -:- This edition follows the Ghan train as it takes its 288 passengers across the continent. Plus, there is trouble on the tracks as a vital rail line is in urgent need of repair

Rich House, Poor House -:- The Fox family from Bradford swap houses, budgets and lives with the James family from the Home Counties. Jamie lives in a rented house with her husband Lee and three children, but with few opportunities, she can only work part-time in a local café and Lee has just qualified as a lorry driver. Jessen James has made millions in business and now trains and mentors businesspeople in sales, marketing and mindset. During the week Jessen and his family have to live off a budget just three per cent the size of their normal disposable income

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

Rocky V (1990) -:- The heavyweight champion is forced into retirement due to brain damage inflicted in the ring, and finds his fortune has been lost on the stock market by his accountant. Returning to his working-class roots, he trains an up-and-coming fighter, only to see his protege turn against him. Drama sequel, starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire and real-life boxer Tommy Morrison

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

Salvage Hunters -:- Drew Pritchard 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 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

Secrets of the Railways -:- An exploration of the Harz Mountain Railway in Germany - Europe's longest rail network - which still uses steam locomotives and has a murky, hidden past

Secrets of the Railways -:- Documentary looking at railroads constructed during history's most turbulent periods, now associated with some of mankind's ugliest deeds. Beginning with the Trans-Pyrenees Railway

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

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators -:- An energy tycoon hires Frank and Lu to keep an eye on his daughters, one of whom is going off the rails and the other is about to get married - but things quickly get out of hand

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

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

The Big Bang Theory -:- Leonard and Penny ask Howard and Bernadette for advice when they argue about money. Meanwhile, Sheldon and Raj try to find out whether they could survive a dark matter research expedition in a salt mine by attempting to simulate the conditions in a steam tunnel beneath the university. Comedy, starring Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco

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 Flying Scotsman: Pride of Britain -:- Engineer Rob Bell charts the story of the world's most famous steam locomotive. Why, almost a century old, does she still attract huge crowds wherever she goes?

The Great Model Railway Challenge -:- In an extended edition, four finalists have three days to create miniature railway layouts that must amaze, confound and delight, before the winner is announced. Judges Steve Flint and Kathy Millat cast an expert eye over designs that include an homage to Hamburg's Miniatur Wunderland, an eco research centre, and an Austin Powers-themed layout

The Great Model Railway Challenge -:- Three more teams of the UK's most talented railway modellers compete for a place in the semi-finals. A combo dubbed Who's Counting Rivets hopes to impress the judges with a layout featuring gadgets galore, pyrotechnics and a multitude of mini-animations. Retired traditionalists the Three Millers plan to re-enact a dramatic railway scene from 1950s Holland, while the Titfield Thunderbolts attempt to stage an action adventure in the jungle involving a plane crash and a volcano. Presented by James Richardson and Tim Shaw

The Incident (1967) -:- Two crooks take a New York subway train hostage, while the passengers are too wrapped up in their own problems to fight back. Crime thriller, starring Tony Musante and Martin Sheen

The Last Detective -:- Mod stands in the local election and soon clashes with councillor Marjorie Balsam, who proves to have more than her fair share of sleaze to hide. Meanwhile, Dangerous is called out to settle a routine dispute over a leylandii hedge that escalates when the taunts turn racist and human remains start turning up in one householder's vegetable patch. An apparent suicide on the railway tracks and reports of schoolgirls surreptitiously visiting the local pharmacist ensure that the oddball detective has a full and satisfying Bank Holiday shift. Lynda Bellingham guest stars

The Last Journey (1936) -:- A train driver is plunged into despair when he is forced into retirement and learns his wife is having an affair. As he prepares for his final day at work, he plans to kill himself by crashing the train, endangering the lives of all his passengers. However, a psychiatrist on board resolves to talk some sense into him before it's too late. Drama, starring Julien Mitchell and Godfrey Tearle

The Middle -:- The Hecks learn that Aunt Edie has passed away and board a train with the body to take her to her final resting place. Meanwhile, Axl starts to believe that he was responsible for her death. American comedy, starring Charlie McDermott

The Nile with Bettany Hughes -:- Bettany visits the west bank of the Nile opposite Luxor where, for 500 years, the Ancient Egyptians buried their pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings, among them the boy-king Tutankhamun. However, the historian crosses the local hills to the Workers' Village, where generations of skilled royal tomb-builders lived. As it turns out, they also dumped masses of domestic rubbish, which is now giving some insight into the highs, lows and preoccupations of ancient Egyptians. Bettany then heads south on the Nile's oldest steam ship SS Sudan, which inspired Agatha Christie to write Death on the Nile

The Railway Man (2013) -:- A traumatised former prisoner of war gets married, but continues to suffer nightmares about his experiences. He is unable to talk to his wife about his time in captivity, so she tracks down a fellow hostage to learn the truth - and discovers the cruel Japanese officer he is fixated on is still alive. Fact-based drama, starring Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman and Stellan Skarsgard

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 new locomotive not only saved the railway network, but reshaped the country

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 Real Marigold Hotel -:- Bob, Susan and Selina want to see more of rural Rajasthan and head into the hills to go horse riding and camping. Stanley the adventurer relives his youth on the back of a motorcycle, and Syd and Stephanie explore their inner selves through meditation. Later, a sleeper train takes the group to Navratri, one of India's biggest annual festivals. After attempting to learn a Gujarati folk dance, they get kitted out in traditional costumes and join thousands of worshippers for a night of celebrations for the powerful Hindu warrior goddess Durga

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

The Stream -:- On The Stream: US rail safety questions linger after a freight train derailment blights a community.

The Train at Platform 5 -:- The social history of Kings Cross rail workers with stories from coal-shovelling firemen on 1950s steam trains to Wilston Jackson, the UK's first Black train driver

The Train Robbers (1973) -:- A thief's grieving widow persuades a gunslinger to help her find a cache of her husband's stolen gold and return it to the rightful owners. However, a group of Mexican bandits and a mysterious stranger are also after the loot. Western, starring John Wayne, Ann-Margret, Rod Taylor and Ben Johnson

The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard -:- The annual Gala Festival is staged, showcasing steam engines from up and down the country. As part of the events, the North York Moors Railway has agreed to swap its precious 100-year-old Q6 engine, the last example in the world, with an engine from the Severn Valley heritage railway. However, there is a problem as the Q6 is undergoing a two-year overhaul and is not ready. A crack has been found in the engine box, and there is no specialist steam copper welder available at short notice to fix it. If the Q6 cannot be sent to the Severn Valley, the entire festival may be ruined

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

This Country -:- Kerry and Kurtan visit the local train station to welcome Reverend Seaton home from a trip to Bristol. In the vicar's absence, the cousins have been handling lots of village administration for him, with Kerry mucking in by looking after the parish chickens and Kurtan manning the phone as the point of contact in case of emergencies. Bafta-winning spoof documentary exploring modern life in a Cotswold village, written by and starring siblings Daisy May and Charlie Cooper, with Paul Chahidi

Timeshift -:- Looking at the surprising story of the diesel engine - a 19th-century invention that is the hidden powerhouse behind the globalised world and is now indispensable. Car enthusiast Mark Evans gets hands on with Rudolf Diesel's original creation, including vintage submarines, tractors, locomotive trains and container ships

Top Gear -:- Jeremy Clarkson tries to prove the Nissan GT-R is faster than the celebrated Bullet Train in a race across Japan with Richard Hammond and James May. Toyota's idea of personal transport for the future is tested out and additional glamour is provided by the Alfa Romeo 8C, which takes to the Top Gear track. Newsreaders Fiona Bruce and Kate Silverton are the Stars in a Reasonably Priced Car

Train Cruise -:- The Hisatsu Orange Railway connects Kumamoto and Kagoshima, where waves crest bountiful fishing grounds and a variety of citrus trees dot the area - meet the residents who eke a living from the seas.

Train Cruise -:- Travel the Tazawako and Akita Nairiku Lines deep into Akita Prefecture in Japan's north and meet local residents living in harmony with nature, white-hot springs, and lustrous handicrafts.

UFC: The Ultimate Fighter -:- This documentary series follows MMA fighters as they train and compete against each other for a contract with the UFC

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

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

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

Wild Wind (1985) -:- During the Second World War, a special Allied unit is formed to destroy a Nazi armoured train that has been terrorising the Yugoslavian countryside. Adventure, starring Jay North, George Montgomery and Dusan Janicijevic

Wonders of the World I Can't See -:- Chris McCausland is joined by comedian and presenter Tom Allen in Rome, where they eat ice cream before it melts, zip around the city on a rickety Vespa, train to be gladiators, learn to sing opera and make pasta from scratch. And will Tom's one-of-a-kind commentary do the Colosseum justice for Chris?

World's Greatest Train Journeys from Above -:- Aerial footage of railway journeys, exploring spectacular scenery and engineering, and meeting the people who live and work alongside them. In the opening episode, the Glacier Express is filmed from above, winding along alpine peaks to connect St Moritz and Zermatt. Engineers battle deep snow drifts, harness the latest tech to protect the line from landslides, and set explosives to guard against deadly avalanches

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

SMALL PRINT

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