Great British Railway Journeys

Original version

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BBC History Channel

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.

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

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 BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Michael Portillo

Anthony Holland

Alison Kreps

John Comerford

Fremantle

Great British Railway Journeys: Series 14: Urmston to New Islington

Urmston to New Islington

Series 14

BBC Two - Great British Railway Journeys, Series 14, Urmston to New Islington

Michael celebrates new beginnings for the nation in the years after the Second World War.

Michael’s journey through north west England from Preston to Hebden Bridge reaches Greater Manchester, where Michael celebrates new beginnings for the nation in the years after the Second World War.

Michael Portillo’s railway journey through north west England from Preston to Hebden Bridge reaches Greater Manchester, where Michael celebrates new beginnings for the nation in the years after the Second World War.   

At Trafford General Hospital, he investigates the birth of the National Health Service. William Roache, star of the nation’s longest-running soap, Coronation Street, meets Michael to tell him about the first episode, broadcast in 1960.

At the city’s Science and Industry Museum, Michael encounters a fellow post-war 'Baby', a replica of the first computer in the world to run a stored programme and the forerunner of all modern computers. Close by at Manchester University, Michael is introduced to the latest supercomputer, a million times more powerful than Baby, the SpiNNaker machine.   

The tram takes Michael east to New Islington, where he admires a fresh new look for an old textile mill.

Great British Railway Journeys: Series 14

BBC Two

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Great British Railway Journeys

Series 14

Urmston to New Islington

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BBC History Channel