
The Day That Changed the World
Railway enthusiast Michael Portillo leads a landmark journey through 200 years of rail, marking the moment Britain’s modern railway was born.
Railway enthusiast Michael Portillo follows the route of the pioneering Stockton and Darlington Railway in north east England - the world’s first public railway to carry fee-paying passengers using steam locomotives. He learns how the Stockton and Darlington proved that railways could work - sparking a transport revolution across Britain and beyond.
He visits key locations in the story of this pioneering railway, including the town of Shildon, from where the train hauled by Locomotion No.1 set off in 1825; Bishop Auckland, where he joins thousands at a spectacular outdoor show to launch the 200th anniversary and drives a replica of the original train; and the Tyne and Wear Metro, where he discovers a new fleet transforming travel in north east England.
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Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Michael Portillo |
Director | Anthony Holland |
Executive Producer | John Comerford |
Executive Producer | Alison Kreps |
Production Company | Fremantle |
Broadcasts
- Tuesday 20:00
- Next Saturday 18:30ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Two except Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD