Great British Railway Journeys

Original version

BBC Two Northern Ireland

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.

BBC Scotland

BBC Four

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

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

A BBC TV channel for Scotland which will broadcast every evening and will show drama, factual, comedy and news programmes made in Scotland

BBC Scotland HD

BBC Four HD

Michael Portillo

Alison Kreps

Joseph Cunningham

FremantleMedia

Great British Railway Journeys: Series 9: Episode 13: Sheffield to Nantwich

Series 9

Episode 13

Episode 13: Sheffield to Nantwich

Sheffield to Nantwich

BBC Two - Great British Railway Journeys, Series 9, Sheffield to Nantwich

Michael Portillo discovers an enormous, beautifully preserved 20th-century steam engine.

Michael Portillo is in the steel city of Sheffield, where he discovers an enormous and beautifully preserved early 20th-century steam engine.

With his Edwardian railway guidebook tucked under his arm, Michael Portillo is in the steel city of Sheffield, where he discovers an enormous and beautifully preserved early 20th-century steam engine. At 400 tonnes and packing 12,000 horsepower, it produced armour plate for the most feared warship of the Royal Navy.

Heading south into Nottinghamshire, Michael reaches what was once the most successful coalfield in Europe. He follows his Bradshaw's guide to the former pit village of Eastwood, where he finds the birthplace of a man then called Bert, better known today as DH Lawrence. The author of Women in Love and Lady Chatterley's Lover opened the eyes of Edwardian society to the life of the working class and challenged their attitudes towards sexuality.

Michael changes gear at Langley Mill, where at the turn of the 20th century a forward-thinking entrepreneur founded a bicycle company which is still at the cutting edge of cycling today. Michael finishes with a dip in the briny at Nantwich.

Great British Railway Journeys: Series 9

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.

Michael Portillo embarks on a series of railway journeys through Edwardian Britain.

Michael Portillo fast tracks to the early 20th century to embark on a series of railway journeys through Edwardian Britain.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Great British Railway Journeys

Series 9

Episode 13: Sheffield to Nantwich

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Two Northern Ireland

About BBC Two