Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20151130 | 20151201 (R4) | A magnificent account of Britain's railways and how track and carriage united a nation. This series of readings includes an exploration of many aspects of the railway revolution, such as the challenges of 'railway time', the nuances of first, second and third class, the dificulties of lighting and heating, passenger comfort, what to eat when travelling and the history of refreshment stops and the commercial opportunities they brought - including the establishment of W.H.Smith and Son, who became the nation's first high street bookstore. Architecture and engineering are also covered, alongside the impact on social classes and gender. Passengers may have a love-hate relationship with our railways, but few of us know much about the journey taken to get to where we are now. Simon Bradley's The Railways is magisterial. It's both authoritative and absorbing. A first class journey.' Michael Palin Episode 1: The coming of the trains shunted our vocabulary onto new tracks, and also did some odd things to time. Reader: Stephen Tompkinson |
| 02 | 20151201 | 20151202 (R4) | A magnificent account of Britain's railways and how track and carriage united a nation. This series of readings includes an exploration of many aspects of the railway revolution, such as the challenges of 'railway time', the nuances of first, second and third class, the dificulties of lighting and heating, passenger comfort, what to eat when travelling and the history of refreshment stops and the commercial opportunities they brought - including the establishment of W.H.Smith and Son, who became the nation's first high street bookstore. Architecture and engineering are also covered, alongside the impact on social classes and gender. Passengers may have a love-hate relationship with our railways, but few of us know much about the journey taken to get to where we are now. Simon Bradley's The Railways is magisterial. It's both authoritative and absorbing. A first class journey.' Michael Palin Episode 2. The nuances of the classes - the difference a seat makes. Read by Stephen Tompkinson The sweep of change initiated by the railways also highlighted the nuances of the classes. |
| 03 | 20151202 | 20151203 (R4) | A magnificent account of Britain's railways and how track and carriage united a nation. This series of readings includes an exploration of many aspects of the railway revolution, such as the challenges of 'railway time', the nuances of first, second and third class, the dificulties of lighting and heating, passenger comfort, what to eat when travelling and the history of refreshment stops and the commercial opportunities they brought - including the establishment of W.H.Smith and Son, who became the nation's first high street bookstore. Architecture and engineering are also covered, alongside the impact on social classes and gender. Passengers may have a love-hate relationship with our railways, but few of us know much about the journey taken to get to where we are now. Simon Bradley's The Railways is magisterial. It's both authoritative and absorbing. A first class journey.' Michael Palin Episode 3. The great sweep of social and economic change initiated by the railways meant that not only could we now move faster, but things were different when we stopped. Read by Stephen Tompkinson The sweep of change meant that things were different off the trains too. |
| 04 | 20151203 | 20151204 (R4) | A magnificent account of Britain's railways and how track and carriage united a nation. This series of readings includes an exploration of many aspects of the railway revolution, such as the challenges of 'railway time', the nuances of first, second and third class, the dificulties of lighting and heating, passenger comfort, what to eat when travelling and the history of refreshment stops and the commercial opportunities they brought - including the establishment of W.H.Smith and Son, who became the nation's first high street bookstore. Architecture and engineering are also covered, alongside the impact on social classes and gender. Passengers may have a love-hate relationship with our railways, but few of us know much about the journey taken to get to where we are now. Simon Bradley's The Railways is magisterial. It's both authoritative and absorbing. A first class journey.' Michael Palin Episode 4. The railways altered the shape and character of the landscape, as well as giving us access to all corners of the country. Feats of engineering created bridges that have stood the test of time. Read by Stephen Tompkinson The great sweep of change also brought hitherto untold feats of engineering. |
| 05 LAST | 20151204 | 20151205 (R4) | A magnificent account of Britain's railways and how track and carriage united a nation. This series of readings includes an exploration of many aspects of the railway revolution, such as the challenges of 'railway time', the nuances of first, second and third class, the dificulties of lighting and heating, passenger comfort, what to eat when travelling and the history of refreshment stops and the commercial opportunities they brought - including the establishment of W.H.Smith and Son, who became the nation's first high street bookstore. Architecture and engineering are also covered, alongside the impact on social classes and gender. Passengers may have a love-hate relationship with our railways, but few of us know much about the journey taken to get to where we are now. Simon Bradley's The Railways is magisterial. It's both authoritative and absorbing. A first class journey.' Michael Palin Episode 5: The enduring appeal of the railways - enthusiasts are so much more than just trainspotters. And what do trainspotters do anyway? Read by Stephen Tompkinson The revolution of track and engine gave birth to a new species - the railway enthusiast. |