With the help of Victorian steam enthusiasts across the country, historian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Peter Ginn and Alex Langlands journey back in time to the era of steam which shaped modern Britain.
DirectorStuart Elliott
Episode 1
Jul 21, 2016
The team of historians examine how the golden age of steam changed Britain in unexpected ways, starting with domestic life. From slate roof tiles to the coal fire the railways shaped peoples homes.
Episode 2
Jul 28, 2016
The team look at how the railways impacted on people, those who built them, the railway staff and industries across the country and at how the railway companies began to develop ways to transport people as well as goods.
Episode 3
Aug 4, 2016
The team look at how the railways transformed the British diet, reviving a nation that was struggling to feed itself. The mass transportation of fish, livestock and vegetables fed the nation's cities and spawned popular new dishes.
Episode 4
Aug 11, 2016
The historians take a trip on the legendary Flying Scotsman as they continue their exploration of the age of steam, discovering how the railways revolutionised communication with the transportation of mail.
Episode 5
Aug 18, 2016
The life of the branch line before Dr Beeching's cuts of the 1960s is examined. Peter finds out about life on the footplate, Ruth discovers the prosthetic limb workshop for GWR staff who lost a limb in accidents.
Episode 6
Aug 25, 2016
The team examine how a combination of increased leisure time and affordable rail travel opened up new freedoms for working-class Victorians, from trips to the seaside to fossil-hunters exploring Britain's prehistoric past.
