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Great British Railway Journeys

Documentaries

Factual: History

Factual: Travel

Documentary series in which Michael Portillo travels the country by train.

All aboard! Armed with his trusty Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo explores the UK the railways made. Uncover hidden gems and fascinating communities from across the nation.

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Great British Railway Journeys: Series 5

Michael Portillo

Alison Kreps

John Comerford

Great British Railway Journeys: Series 5: Episode 14: Chippenham to Gloucester

Episode 14

Episode 14: Chippenham to Gloucester

Series 5

Chippenham to Gloucester

BBC Two - Great British Railway Journeys, Series 5, Chippenham to Gloucester

Michael Portillo finds out why Gloucester station became known for lost luggage.

Michael Portillo's journey to Wolverhampton continues. He visits Clifton Zoo in Bristol and finds out why Gloucester station became known for lost luggage.

Michael Portillo continues his journey from Southampton to Wolverhampton beginning in Chippenham, where at Lacock Abbey he discovers how the world's first photographic negative was made and learns how to make a print. He travels on to Bristol to visit the Victorian Clifton Zoo, where he finds tigers and polar bears before him also arrived by train. 

Next stop is Severn Tunnel junction in Wales, where he explores an extraordinary piece of Victorian engineering with its own pump house pumping out millions of gallons a day to keep it dry. Michael then heads for Gloucester to find out why the station became infamous for lost luggage. At the city's cathedral, Michael meets a stonemason who bravely invites him to chip away.

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Michael Portillo finds out how railways have impacted on the places they link.

Michael Portillo takes train journeys across Britiain, finding out how railways were used and the impact they have had on the places they link, from the Victorian age of George Bradshaw to now.

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Great British Railway Journeys

Series 5

Episode 14: Chippenham to Gloucester

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