Locomotion - Dan Snow's History of the Railways

Original version

BBC Four

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

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.

BBC Four HD

Locomotion: Dan Snow's History of Railways

BBC HD

BBC Two England

England

BBC Two Northern Ireland

BBC Two Scotland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Locomotion: Dan Snow's History of the Railways

Dan Snow

Helen Nixon

Eamon Hardy

Melanie Archer

Locomotion: Dan Snow's History of Railways: Episode 2

Documentaries

Episode 2

BBC Two - Locomotion: Dan Snow's History of Railways, Episode 2

Tracing the development of the railways from simple tracks to a truly national network.

Dan Snow traces the development of Britain's railways, from the beginnings of a true national network in the late 1830s through to the end of the 'railway mania' in 1847.

In the late 1830s, the railways arrived in London and linked the capital to Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. This was the start of a truly national network - and one of the greatest civil engineering projects in history.

The spread of the railways triggered a mania across Britain. Railway tycoons like Samuel Morton Peto and George Hudson made fortunes as the stock markets boomed around these new developments. Yet the bubble burst in 1847 and shares plummeted. Thousands of ordinary shareholders filled the bankruptcy courts. However as Dan Snow reveals, the legacy of the mania was an incredible rail network for 19th-century Britain and a revolution in the way people lived.

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Factual: Cars & Motors

Factual: History

Dan Snow examines the development of the railways.

Dan Snow examines the development of the railways from their beginnings as track-ways for coal carts in the early 18th century to the pivotal technology for modern Britain.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Locomotion: Dan Snow's History of Railways

Episode 2

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Four HD

About BBC Four