Railways: The Making of a Nation

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Liz McIvor

Ed Barlow

Andy Richards

Railways: The Making of a Nation: A Touch of Class

Documentaries

A Touch of Class

28/09/2016

BBC One - Railways: The Making of a Nation, A Touch of Class

How the trains gradually acted as a great catalyst in mixing the classes.

Documentary series about Britain's railways. This edition charts how, in the 1800s, the trains gradually acted as a great catalyst in mixing the classes.

Trains reflected class divisions with separate carriages for first, second and third class passengers. Yet, seen at the time, they were also bringing people physically closer together. In the early 1800s, Britain was clearly divided between upper, middle and working classes. On the railways they shared the same stations and arrived at the destination at the same time! 

The trains gradually acted as a great catalyst, mixing the country up as people were travelling to regions and places for the first time. Locations, accents, culture and fashions were all new. The nation's relationship with royalty also changed. Queen Victoria was now able to venture far and wide across her kingdom and visit more of her subjects. Over time, we developed a stronger sense of shared identity and culture.

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Factual: History

Factual: Travel

Liz McIvor explores how Britain's expanding rail network sparked a social revolution.

Historian Liz McIvor explores how Britain's expanding rail network was the spark to a social revolution, starting in the 1800s and continuing through to modern times.

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Railways: The Making of a Nation

A Touch of Class

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