RAILDATE 2023.07.07

Your free weekly guide to what's happening, what's new and what's on.

To subscribe to the email, please send a blank email to: raildate+subscribe@groups.io

Raildate is a collaboration between the editor and a number of contributors. Please think about supplying links that you spot. The contact email address is: raildate.co.uk@gmail.com

The latest Raildate is always at https://latest.raildate.co.uk

There are sections on:

UK Rail News

East Midlands

Isle of Man

London

Midlands

North East

North West

Scotland

South

South East

Wales

Yorkshire

National

International Rail News

Austria

Canada

Germany

Israel

Slovenia

USA

Other Transport Modes

Bus

Marine

Road

Credits

Thank you to this week's contributors.

The Weekly Poser: Where is this?

This standard qauge loco was already approaching its centenary when photographed by A Wells on a plinth in 1952. It was subsequently restored to steam, but was retired in 1975. Please identify the loco and its location (then).

Last week's Where is this?

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

Answer: Line: Fairbourne Miniature Railway, Wales; Loco: Sherpa. Congratulations are due to the following for their correct answers: Richard Maund, Dave Winter, Paul Hopper, John Gilby, Gordon Sutton, Dave Goodyear, Peter Tisdale

The line is the Fairbourne Railway on the Welsh coast near Barmouth. The locomotive is 'Sherpa', originally built by Milner Engineering of Wrexham in 1978 as a half-size model of a Darjeeling and Himalayan B Class, and named 'France'. It worked on the short-lived (one year) Reseau Guerledan railway in Brittany before being repatriated in 1979. [Words by Dave Goodyear]

TELEVISION

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

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

24 Hours in A&E -:- A 56-year-old woman is rushed to St George's with an open ankle fracture after falling in her garden, and a man suffering chest pains looks back on his career on the railway, which was cut short by a leg amputation. An 84-year-old man collapses at home following a bout of dizziness, and his children reflect on the challenges of watching his health decline in recent years

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

Abandoned Engineering -:- An eerie, empty country village which hides a sad secret, a mysterious tower battered by the elements and a disused railway deep beneath the streets of a city

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

Alfred Hitchcock Presents -:- After the radio warns that a patient escaped from a mental institution, a cowboy boards a train near the sanatorium and calms a rattled family with tall tales of the Old West

All the King's Men (1949) -:- A small-town senator wins popular support by railing against the corruption of the political establishment and vowing to defend the interests of ordinary working people. However, once in office, he succumbs to greed as readily as those he once so virulently condemned. Political drama, starring Broderick Crawford, Joanne Dru, John Ireland and Mercedes McCambridge

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

Amazing Railway Adventures with Nick Knowles -:- From Lao Cai on the Chinese border, via the misty mountains around Sa Pa, Nick Knowles heads south on a sleeper train to bustling Hanoi during his exploration of Vietnam. From there he travels on to the port at Haiphong, gateway to beautiful Ha Long Bay

Amazing Railway Adventures with Nick Knowles -:- The presenter embarks on a railway journey across the extraordinary landscapes of Peru to magical Machu Picchu. Starting at Puno on Lake Titicaca, Nick's journey takes him to the highest point on this railway line (and the fourth highest train station in the world) at La Reya

Amazing Railway Adventures with Nick Knowles -:- The presenter experiences the wonders of the world, by train. First, he heads to Mexico, where he travels on a route from the Pacific coastline at Sinaloa through the incredible Copper Canyon to Creel in Chihuahua. Before boarding his train, Nick visits Topolobampo, a coastal port, where freight trains carrying goods to and from container ships join the railway line through the Copper Canyon. Boarding the passenger train next morning, Nick's first stop is the old Spanish fort town of El Fuerte, which claims to be the inspiration for that legendary hero of multiple Hollywood films, Zorro

Amazing Railway Adventures with Nick Knowles -:- The presenter explores Malaysia via three train journeys. First is a short hop to the Batu Caves with their rainbow-painted steps. Then Nick boards the jungle train from Mentakab to Gua Musang, taking in an elephant sanctuary. Finally, he enjoys a high-speed trip from arty Ipoh to cosmopolitan Penang

Amazing Railway Adventures with Nick Knowles -:- The presenter explores Norway, including the Viking capital of Trondheim. Via tree-lined fjords and snow-capped mountain scenery, Nick travels north through pretty Mosjoen with its brightly painted wooden waterfront houses to the coastal city of Bodo

Amazing Railway Adventures with Nick Knowles -:- The presenter's Alaskan journey begins at dawn in snowy Anchorage, and takes him due north to the USA's coldest city, Fairbanks. Nick takes in the mighty Matanuska Glacier on the way, and also visits the largest year-round ice museum in the world at Chena Hot Springs

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

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

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

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

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

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

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid -:- Documentary about the 1890s Wild West duo who robbed trains and banks and soon became national news, focusing on who Robert Leroy Parker and Harry Alonzo Longabaugh actually were

Caught Red Handed -:- How a pickpocket prowling railway stations preying on women carrying backpacks and bags was hunted down. Plus, the thieves thwarted from taking a parcel from someone's doorstep

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

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

Criminals: Caught on Camera -:- Met Police helicopter India 99 is called to help rescue a woman who jumped into the Thames near the Palace of Westminster, as well as her two daughters, who leapt in after her. Elsewhere, the helicopter team coordinates a risky game of cat-and-mouse as police chase a group of graffiti artists across live train tracks in a patch of industrial wasteland in Battersea. The episode also looks at the case of the Hounslow Slasher, a man who in 2012 randomly attacked lone women while they were travelling home at night. Nick Wallis presents

Deadliest Catch -:- Saga and Cornelia Marie battle colossal waves of the supermoon storm. Plus, on the Summer Bay, a deckhand goes over the rail into the icy Bering Sea

Destroyed in Seconds -:- Footage of a dragboat racer ejecting while travelling at 165mph, a 100-ton train crashing into a bus, and a skydiver cartwheeling out of control. Ron Pitts presents a documentary series investigating the natural disasters and accidents that have caused excessive damage, from tornados to plane crashes

Doctor Thorne -:- Julian Fellowes' three-part adaptation of Anthony Trollope's historical novel, starring Tom Hollander as a doctor who is forced to tell his niece the secrets of her past when she is barred from attending her best friend's wedding. The truth threatens her own plans to marry the heir to a country estate, and the mother of her intended plots to push her son in the direction of an American heiress. Meanwhile, the doctor also advises a railway tycoon who is drinking himself into an early grave. With Alison Brie, Ian McShane and Rebecca Front

Doctor Thorne -:- Sir Roger falls seriously ill. Dr Thorne does his best to ease the old man's pain, but feels certain that he will die soon. The railway entrepreneur's son Louis comes to see him in his last days, and to the doctor's horror, takes an immediate liking to Mary. Meanwhile, Miss Dunstable urges Frank to follow his heart despite increasing pressure from Lady Arabella to put his family's future ahead of his feelings in matters of marriage. Adaptation of Anthony Trollope's novel, starring Tom Hollander and Ian McShane

Droichid Na hÉireann -:- Lochlann Ó Mearáin visits one of Europe's oldest surviving suspension bridges in Offaly, before sailing along the River Shannon to view the Athlone Railway Bridge. He then walks across the Joe Dolan Memorial Bridge and marvels at the Boyne Viaduct. In Irish

Drunk History -:- Emma Bunton and Blake Harrison forge a unique bond in Kerry Howard's tale of Beatrix Potter, while Joe Lycett's take on the Great Train Robbery stars Simon Bird and Joel Fry

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

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 final day of the competition sees the B&B owners meet for the last time to find out what they've been paid and settle some scores. The Ship Inn is up first, with managers James Tindall and Jessica Walton wanting to let off steam about the surprise comments that made their visit a heated affair

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

Gino's Italian Escape -:- For the next leg of his journey, Gino D'Acampo boards an old steam train run by ex-railroad men and volunteers which takes him through the beautiful Tuscan countryside. His first stop is the town of Asciano, where locals try to compete with Siena's famous Palio horse race - only here they ride donkeys. Then it's on to the Chianti region where he visits a vineyard where they don't only make wine, but they also bathe in it too, an ancient tradition dating back to Roman times. After a luxurious wine bath, Gino cooks up a dish fit for any Emperor - farfalle pasta with funghi and spinach

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

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

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

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

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo 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 reaches Colorado, where he follows in the footsteps of 19th-century east coast men who came to experience the cowboy life. At Bent's Old Fort, he is transported back to the Mexican American War of 1848 and finds himself inspecting the troops, before heading out into the spectacular gorge of the Arkansas River aboard the historic narrow gauge Royal Gorge Railroad

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

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

Great American Railroad Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels through New Mexico, watching rehearsals at the Santa Fe Opera House and learning about a Lancashire railroad caterer who made his fortune. He then sets off from Albuquerque to pick up Arizona's Grand Canyon Railway as heads off to witness one of the greatest sights on Earth

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 -:- Michael Portillo concludes his journey from Newcastle to the Leicestershire town of Melton Mowbray. Along the way he learns the secrets of Stilton cheese, discovers how trains transformed the traditional British pursuit of fox-hunting and tries to make a pork pie

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 through Kent. He starts in Canterbury, where he finds out how the city's cathedral was saved from the Second World War air raids, then goes whelk fishing in Whitstable and explores the origins of a seaside swim in Margate

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo crosses the Irish Sea to explore the history of Ireland's railways, including the construction of a line along the treacherous east coast near Dublin. Ahead of visiting Northern Ireland later in the week, he also examines 19th-century crime and punishment in a Victorian jail, and discovers how the lions of Dublin Zoo changed the fortunes of the railways

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 what remains of Bradshaw's Britain. He begins by travelling from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, to Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, finding out about the remarkable craftsmen behind the Victorian furniture trade, discovering how George Bradshaw helped save Britain's canal heritage and seeing Shakespeare through the eyes of a 19th-century rail tourist

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the next leg of his journey from London Bridge to Hastings, exploring the lives of Victorian hop-pickers along the way. He also examines the history of Maidstone's paper industry, and discovers the role railways played in transforming cricket into a national sport

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo embarks on the next leg of his journey, travelling from London Bridge through Kent and around the scenic south coast to Hastings. He begins by visiting the Royal Observatory to learn how Greenwich Mean Time standardised time on the railways, goes through the world's first underwater tunnel at Rotherhithe and explores the historic dockyards at Chatham

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 ends his journey across northern England by setting sail from Heysham, Lancashire, to visit the Isle of Man, where he learns about the horse-drawn trams of Douglas, reveals the 19th-century secrets of the Laxey Waterwheel and explores the Victorian history of the Snaefell mountain railway

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo ends his journey across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland by walking across the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge in Co Antrim. He then follows in the footsteps of the Victorians at Giant's Causeway, and explores the history of Londonderry

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo explores the Britain of his youth, starting at Preston's Fulwood Barracks and heading to Bury Bolton Street Station in Greater Manchester

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 explores the rich history of Belfast's Victorian docks, learns about a 150-year-old spade-making tradition and takes a walk along coastal paths of Whitehead, Co Antrim

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo explores the Victorians' fascination with antiquity as he continues his tour of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. He visits the cromlech stones of Dundalk, Co Louth, and an observatory in Co Armagh, and travels on the steam railway in Downpatrick, Co Down

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo learns about a successful 19th-century recycling industry in the textile town of Batley in West Yorkshire. He also discovers how the railways boosted the county's rhubarb trade and meets the great-great-granddaughter of George Bradshaw

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo learns how the railways helped to make Birmingham the pen-making capital of the world, hears the chilling tale of one of 19th-century Britain's most notorious murderers and samples delicacies concocted in a Victorian kitchen at Shugborough Hall, Staffordshire

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo's railway journey reaches Greater Manchester, where he celebrates new beginnings for the nation in the years after the Second World War. At Trafford General Hospital, he investigates the birth of the National Health Service. A retired physiotherapist recalls her part in the historic event of July 5, 1948. Coronation Star tells Michael about the first episode of the soap, broadcast live in 1960. And at the city's Science and Industry Museum, the presenter encounters a replica of the Baby, which was created in 1948 - the first machine in the world to run a stored program and the forerunner of all modern computers

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo takes a Turkish bath in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and explores the Victorian industrial village of Saltaire in West Yorkshire. He also meets alpacas, whose fleeces made a fortune in the age of George Bradshaw, as he journeys from Newcastle to Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire

Great British Railway Journeys -:- Michael Portillo travels from the Co Meath town of Enfield to the east coast port of Drogheda in Co Louth. He explores the railway network within the Bog of Allen, learns about the Victorian secrets of the Boyne Viaduct, and ventures into underground zinc mines

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

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

Great Indian Railway Journeys -:- On a journey from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh to Kolkata in West Bengal, Michael Portillo charts a course through India's history from the days of The East India Company to the dawn of independence. In Lucknow, he tastes the famous kebabs, stops off at Bodh Gaya, where he meditates on its Buddhist heritage, and In Kolkata, he glimpses colonial Calcutta in the grand Great Eastern Hotel

Have I Got a Bit More News for You -:- Richard Ayoade hosts an extended episode with panellists rail union leader Mick Lynch and actress and comedian Roisin Conaty joining team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop

Heir Hunters -:- The probate researchers look for the relatives of a possible spy who encountered some remarkable people in his life, and an heir to the estate of a woman whose family earned a living working on the railways. Plus, details of more cases in which beneficiaries still need to be found

How It's Made -:- The manufacture of golf clubs, waffles, train wheels, and custom wires and cables

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

Iolo's Anglesey -:- Iolo Williams explores the wildlife of Anglesey. Wales' largest island is renowned for its coastal beauty, but it also has fantastic marshland and heathland with spectacular wildlife. In this episode, Iolo observes breeding marsh harriers - majestic birds of prey that have only recently started to nest in Wales. He also finds stoats, grey seals and lizards. Iolo also visits Puffin Island to find the only breeding site in Wales for eider ducks. On a disused railway line, he finds breeding adders

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 -:- Hisatsu Orange Railway operates with support from the entire prefecture, including municipalities not serviced by the railway - see how they continue to function as a regional means of transportation.

Kicking and Screaming (2005) -:- An easy-going vitamin salesman volunteers to coach his son's failing little league football team in a bid to prove himself to his own competitive father, who trains a rival squad. But when bullying tactics and caffeine-fuelled aggression start to take over, he realises he shares the old man's ruthless qualities. Comedy, with Will Ferrell, Robert Duvall, Kate Walsh and Mike Ditka

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

Lost Car Rescue -:- Reality series following an ambitious team of classic car hunters as they delve deep into Canada's northern wilderness to recover rare vehicles rumoured to be hiding in the bush. In this episode, tension grows among the team as they try to fill their trailer with pre-war vehicles from railway ghost towns.

M*A*S*H -:- Hawkeye's desperate quest to get replacement boots sets in motion a train of deals, favours and backhanders all dependent on Klinger being sectioned and sent home - which Frank will not allow. Comedy, starring Alan Alda and Jamie Farr

Massacre Canyon (1954) -:- A group of soldiers undertake the treacherous mission of escorting a wagon train carrying rifles through dangerous Apache territory. Western, starring Philip Carey and Audrey Totter

Mighty Mike -:- There's a new sheriff in town when Mike attempts to stop the raccoons from using Tom's train set to ship their loot back to their den.

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

Muhammad Ali -:- Ken Burns' documentary about the sporting legend and activist, born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1942. The first instalment looks at his rise in the world of amateur boxing to win gold at the 1960 Olympic Games, after which he turned professional and moved to Miami to train with Angelo Dundee, sharpening his boxing skills and honing his genius for self-promotion

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 Murder Mysteries -:- The German police's attempts to catch a depraved and psychotic killer, who struck fear into women travelling on Berlin's S-Bahn train network during the Second World War

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

Overland Pacific (1954) -:- An investigator tries to find the reason behind constant attacks on the railroad. Western, starring Jock Mahoney, Peggie Castle and Adele Jergens

Paw Patrol -:- When a carnival train gets stuck in a tunnel, it results in a mountainside funhouse-style wild ride

Peppa Pig -:- Madame Gazelle takes Peppa and her friends on a train ride, where they must tick off what they see on their activity sheets

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 hunt for two suspects allegedly armed with a gun after a tram-stop robbery in Bulwell. Dan Machin and Jim Campin spot a pair who fit the description, but the suspects vanish over a railway footbridge, unaware that on the other side of the tracks firearms cops Lenny and Paul are closing in. Plus, Jim and Ben respond to a report of teenagers on the rampage in the market town of Arnold

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

Railroad Alaska -:- Homesteaders living in the wilderness team up to track down an abandoned cabin that was washed down-stream and trapped in ice. Plus, a freight crew dodges intruders

Railroad Alaska -:- The documentary exploring the work of staff manning a 500-mile long Alaskan railroad returns as a rogue gunman threatens a military hardware delivery

Railroad Alaska -:- Veteran off-gridder Jim James attempts to reach the hospital by train after an accident, but a series of obstacles places him in jeopardy

Railroad Australia -:- A steam joyride turns ugly as a magnificent steam train is vandalised. Plus, there is more drama in the outback as a 2,000-tonne freight train is in danger

Railroad Australia -:- A traffic jam splits a town in half, causing trouble for veteran driver Bernie Baker. Plus, trainee Allie Hume is working hard to pass her final drivers' exams

Railroad Australia -:- Bernie's coal truck odyssey goes horribly wrong. Two veteran locomotives risk destruction in a race for glory, and a mega-train faces the steepest grades in 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 -:- Legendary train driver Bernie Baker needs all the diesel-muscle he can muster when he takes five Streamliner locos on a 2,500km odyssey across the searing Outback. The work of rail staff operating routes through the Australian wilderness

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

Railroad Australia -:- Timetables are tight as a major rail line is closed for repairs, and delays lead to major repercussions. Plus, train spotters hunt for the locomotive known as The Great White Shark

Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey -:- The chef continues his exploration of the Far East's most diverse food cultures, travelling to Thailand where he meets one of his heroes, David Thompson, who has devoted himself to understanding Thai cuisine. He also takes a train to Phuket to learn the art of hot and sour tom yum goong, and visits Melaka to explore the Nyonya-style cooking

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

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

Salvage Hunters -:- In Sheffield, Drew Pritchard finds a stunning collection of antique cutler's stools. Later, he heads to Leeds where he finds some rare streetlights at a heritage railway and museum

Salvage Hunters -:- Modern day treasure hunter Drew Pritchard visits a heritage railway in Minehead, Somerset, where he finds a fantastic selection of pieces. The highlight of the trip is a ride in the cab of a vintage steam train

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

Salvage Hunters: The Restorers -:- Metal worker Ted is challenged to repurpose a rusty railway signal light. Alex restores a headless carousel animal, while Craig fixes up a lounge chair.

Scrapheap Challenge -:- Robert Llewellyn hosts as vintage railway buffs the Steaming Scots compete against firemen the Extinguishers to build and race giant motorised skateboards. Their contraptions must be capable of carrying four adults and use weight transfer alone to negotiate a treacherous slalom course

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

Scrap Kings -:- An office block next to a railway line is demolished. Meanwhile, the turbine hall of Rugeley power station is blown up and there is a problem with a rickshaw

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

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

Steam Days -:- Miles Kington looks at freight trains - the workhorses of Britain's railways - and the pattern of their usage before motorways. He examines the role of the British Rail Standard Class 9F steam locomotive, one of the most powerful to run on British railways, and hitches a lift in the cab of 92203 Black Prince. First shown in 1986

The Avengers -:- Mrs Peel poses as a nurse and infiltrates a home for retired railwaymen run by corrupt staff who are using a radar-jamming system to disrupt the country's defences. Diana Rigg stars

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

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) -:- A British colonel in a Japanese PoW camp is ordered to build a railway bridge over a river, forging a vital communications link. At first he refuses to obey, but eventually agrees to take the project on - and becomes so obsessed with the task that he creates a dilemma for an American soldier sent to destroy the structure. David Lean's Oscar-winning Second World War drama, starring Alec Guinness, William Holden and Jack Hawkins

The Day I Should Have Died -:- Pam Warren was engulfed by a fireball in a rail disaster that left hundreds dead or injured. She suffered burns and wore a mask over her face after a string of operations

The Flash -:- Barry continues to train Jesse and when new metahuman Mirror Master appears on the scene, he lets her tag along. Superhero adventure, starring Grant Gustin

Then & Now -:- In the 1860s, Charles Pearson had the idea to link up some of the capital's mainline stations with a new underground railway - the birth of the so-called Tube. As well as recalling its construction, this programme also recounts the tale of a bus that played a vital part in the First World War. The B-Type - a common sight on the streets of the capital before the war - worked as troop carriers on the front line in France. Also recalled is Hannah Dadds, who in 1978 became a trailblazer for women as she stepped into the cab of a District Line train to become the first ever female Tube driver on London Transport

The Old Grey Whistle Test -:- The first of two concerts recorded at The New London Theatre, featuring some of the group's early hits - The Way We Were, Come Back and Finish What You Started and Midnight Train to Georgia

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

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 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 Wrecking Crew (1968) -:- A secret agent sets out to recover gold bullion stolen from a hijacked train being taken across America by cunning thieves. Fourth and final film in the Matt Helm comedy spy series, with Dean Martin, Sharon Tate, Elke Sommer, Nancy Kwan and Tina Louise

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

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

Train 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.

Train of Events (1949) -:- Four stories linked by a train crash. Tales include a troubled driver making his final run before a hoped-for promotion and a second-rate actor who murders his wife in a fit of jealousy. Comedy drama anthology, starring Jack Warner, Peter Finch, Susan Shaw, Joan Dowling, Lawrence Payne and John Clements

Train to Busan (2016) -:- Hedge-fund manager Seok-woo sets off on a train journey with his small daughter, but as their train is about to leave the station a very sick passenger stumbles aboard - affected by a chemical spill that turns creatures and people into zombies. The virus spreads fast from carriage to carriage, and Seok-woo must join with other unaffected passengers and fight to save his own life and that of his child. South Korean horror, starring Yoo Gong and Yu-mi Jung. In Korean and Hawaiian

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

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 Greatest Train Journeys from Above -:- The Ghan, Australia's most luxurious train, crosses an entire continent from Adelaide on the southern coast to the tropical landscape of Darwin in the north. On its two-day journey, it faces intense heat, the risk of collisions with wild animals and the threat of increasingly extreme weather events. An army of engineers must work around the clock to maintain The Ghan and its 3,000 km of track

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 Top 5 -:- Five of the world's most impressive trains are pitted against one another in a variety of key categories

Young Sheldon -:- The youngster gets a summer job at the local train museum. Missy embarks on a new stage of womanhood and Georgie discovers Mary's guilty pleasure. Iain Armitage stars

Yr Ysgol -:- The gang from Llanrug and Sant Curig play with all sorts of vehicles, and Emily goes on a steam train

SMALL PRINT

We welcome links to publicly available online news items and videos from anywhere in the world.  Despite its name, Raildate covers all transport modes, including also bus, tram, air, and marine.  

Raildate may be freely distributed without permission as long as no changes whatsoever are made to the original document distributed by the Editor.

The main Raildate website https://raildate.co.uk includes a history of Raildate by the founding editor Howard Sprenger and archived editions from 1996 to the present.

Facebook members are encouraged to join the Raildate group.

©  Matthew Shaw 2023