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Romford to the Blackwater Estuary

Michael’s exploration of Essex continues in Romford, where he visits a state-of-the-art rail operating centre. On the River Blackwater, he visits the Ross Revenge, home of Radio Caroline.

Michael’s exploration of Essex continues in Romford. He arrives on the London Overground’s Liberty Line to visit a state-of-the-art rail operating centre responsible for the whole of the East Anglian rail network. He discovers how signallers and operators control the movements of over 4,000 trains a day and learns how they respond to emergencies on the tracks.

At Upminster, he finds the gateway to the Chafford Gorges Nature Park, which for centuries was exploited for its natural resources. The former chalk quarries have been transformed into a rare habitat for orchids, and he hears how archaeologists have discovered Neanderthal stone tools in the chalky cliffs.

Michael takes a scenic rail journey through the marshy landscape of the Dengie Peninsula to arrive at a marina on the River Blackwater. He makes a choppy crossing to visit the Ross Revenge ship, home to Radio Caroline since the 1980s.

10 months left to watch

29 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Michael Portillo
Director Anthony Holland
Executive Producer John Comerford
Executive Producer Alison Kreps
Production Company Fremantle

Broadcast

Steam railway programmes on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer

A collection of programmes from the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ archives on the beauty of steam locomotives.