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Recently I have been watching Great British Railway Journeys on BBC iPlayer. Narrated by Michael Portillo this Fascinating series features Michael travelling round Britain in a series of four epic train journeys with a copy of George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guide book just to see how the railways have changed Britain, and what of Bradshaw’s Britain still remains. I’ve seen a few more episodes tonight

Preston to Morcambe
Michael’s second epic journey takes him north, from Preston to Scotland, on one of the first railways to cross the border. On this first leg, he explores the origins of the temperance movement in Preston, samples the attractions of Blackpool, a resort made by the railways, and takes a walk across Morecambe Bay with the official Keeper of
The sands.

Settle to Garsdale
Michael’s second epic journey takes him north, from Preston to Scotland, on one of the first railways to cross the border. On this second leg, he returns to the historic Settle-Carlisle line to find out what has happened to it since he helped save it in the 1980s. Along the way, he explores the magnificent Ribblehead viaduct, finds out about the navvies who helped to build it and catches a steam train along the line.

Windermere to Kendal
Michael’s second epic journey continues north to Scotland, on one of the first railways to cross the border. On this third leg, he takes a steamboat tour of Lake Windermere, visits Wordsworth’s home village of Grasmere and makes sausages with a local Herdwick sheep farmer.

I am currently hooked on this Fascinating series in which Michael Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country by train in a series of four epic journeys with George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guide book, to see how the railways changed Britain, and what of Bradshaw’s Britain remains.

It is currently available on BBCi Player and I am also hoping it will be available on DVD with an accompanying book at some point too.

Episodes I’ve seen so far are:

Liverpool to Eccles
His first journey takes him coast to coast, from Liverpool to Scarborough, beginning on the world’s first passenger railway line. On the first leg of his journey, Michael learns to speak Scouse in Liverpool, finds out about the first railway fatality and explores the origins of the Eccles cake.

Manchester to Bury
On the second leg of his journey Michael is in Manchester to find out more about George Bradshaw himself. He also gets fitted for a trilby in Denton and learns how the railways helped to create a national institution – fish and chips.

Todmorden to York
In the third program Michael travels back in time on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, finds out about the latest Roman discoveries in York and takes to the air in the Network Rail helicopter

Pontefract to Briddlington
In this program Michael searches for the last liquorice grower in Pontefract, discovers how the railways turned Hull into one of the largest white fish ports in the world and goes fishing for sea bass in Bridlington.

Filey to Scarborough
In this episode Michael goes bird-watching on the wild cliffs of Flamborough Head, learns to decipher traditional knitting patterns in Filey and meets one of the oldest residents of the Victorian seaside resort of Scarborough – a 4,000-year-old skeleton called Gristhorpe Man.