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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.