Steam Days is a 1986 BBC 2 television documentary series written and presented by Miles Kington. Each episode is themed around the history of British steam locomotives and railways, particularly highlighting preserved locomotives operating at the time of its filming. The series consists of six half hour episodes. It aired on Public Television stations in the United States under the title Great Steam Trains.
Travels with a Duchess
Jul 8, 1986
A journey over the Settle to Carlisle Railway on Duchess of Hamilton. The presenter meets Kim Maylon, the Duchess's custodian at the National Railway Museum in York for the engine's preparation for its epic trip
The Fishing Line
Jul 15, 1986
Miles Kington takes a LMS Black Five from Fort William to Mallaig on the West Highland Line, examining Glenfinnan Viaduct and investigating the importance of kippers and dental drills to the construction of the line.
The Quest for Speed
Jul 22, 1986
Charts the development of the fastest express passenger locomotives from the Stirling Single to 4468 Mallard via the City of Truro
Workhorses
Jul 29, 1986
Examines the unsung role of goods engines during the age of steam.
Going Great Western
Aug 5, 1986
The history of the Great Western Railway from the days of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the broad gauge Iron Duke to the development of the Cornish Riviera.
A Tale of Two Scotsmen
Aug 12, 1986
Explores the history of the "Flying Scotsman" - both the 4472 Flying Scotsman locomotive and the train of the same name running up the East Coast Main Line from London to Edinburgh. This episode also evaluates the line's many appearances in film.
