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Documentary series which ranges widely over Britain's social and cultural history.

Documentary series which ranges widely over Britain's social and cultural history, its narrative-led storytelling offering a richly immersive and varied window onto the past.

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Timeshift: Series 11

Sarah Lancashire

Julia Foot

Ben Southwell

Michael Poole

Timeshift: Series 11: Episode 8: The Golden Age of Trams: A Streetcar Named Desire

The Golden Age of Trams: A Streetcar Named Desire

Episode 8

Episode 8: The Golden Age of Trams: A Streetcar Named Desire

Series 11

BBC Four - Timeshift, Series 11, The Golden Age of Trams: A Streetcar Named Desire

How the tram liberated overcrowded cities and ushered in the age of the commuter.

Documentary exploring how the tram liberated overcrowded cities, mapping its journey from horse-drawn carriage on rails to steam and then electric power.

Move along the car! Timeshift takes a nostalgic trip on the tram car and explores how it liberated overcrowded cities and launched the era of the commuter. The film maps the tram's journey from early horse-drawn carriages on rails, through steam, and to electric power. 

Overhead wires hung over Britain's towns and cities for nearly 50 years from the beginning of the 20th century until they were phased out everywhere except Blackpool. Manchester, the last city to lose its trams was, however, among the first to reintroduce them as the solution to modern-day traffic problems. 

The film includes a specially recorded reading by Alan Bennett of his short story Leeds Trams, and contributions from Ken Dodd and Roy Hattersley.

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BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

Documentary series which ranges widely over Britain's social and cultural history

Documentary series which ranges widely over Britain's social and cultural history, its narrative-led storytelling offering a richly immersive and varied window onto the past

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Episode 8: The Golden Age of Trams: A Streetcar Named Desire

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