The Architecture the Railways Built

Season 4

2023 · 10 episodes · 7h 30m in all

In the fourth series, Tim also explores the history of railway design with special access to the Network Rail archives – the first time this repository of railway history has been featured on TV – and the archives of the National Railway Museum, a treasure trove full of architects’ plans, drawings and rare artefacts, containing the untold histories of railway buildings.

Episodes

1. 1

   1. Forth Bridge

   28 Feb 2023 · 45 min

   Tim heads north of the border to scale a Scottish railway icon – the Forth Bridge, without doubt one of the engineering wonders of the world. Tim conquers his fear of heights to learn its story from its foundations, deep under the Firth of Forth, to its summit 110 metres above the water. At Goathland, North Yorkshire, is a railway station where movie magic was made, possibly better known today as Hogsmeade from its starring role in the Harry Potter films.

2. 2

   2. Manchester

   7 Mar 2023 · 45 min

   In Manchester’s Castlefield area, Tim discovers how viaducts still dominate the cityscape. In Reading, a railway station is transformed and ready for the commuter challenges of the 21st century.

3. 3

   3. Channel Tunnel

   14 Mar 2023 · 45 min

   Tim goes deep beneath the waves to explore the Channel Tunnel, stopping off at Ashford International to take in this underappreciated piece of 90s railway architecture. Folkestone Harbour Station, once a great hub for international travel, is leading the way for the regeneration of a whole area of the town.

4. 4

   4. London Bridge

   21 Mar 2023 · 45 min

   Tim gets to grips with his local station – London Bridge, meeting the architects who turned this one-time Frankenstein’s monster of a station into the bright, airy and tranquil modern terminus. At the National Railway Museum, Tim gets access to Borough Market Junction Signal Box.

5. 5

   5. Coventry

   28 Mar 2023 · 45 min

   Tim visits the striking post-war Coventry station. In Scarborough he discovers the birthplace of Britain’s funicular railways. And in a TV first, Tim delves into Network Rail’s archives.

6. 6

   6. Edinburgh

   4 Apr 2023 · 45 min

   Tim explores railway ingenuity at Goole swing bridge in Yorkshire and takes in Edinburgh Waverley from roof to underground vaults. At the National Railway Museum learns how railways demarked their land.

7. 7

   7. Lincoln

   11 Apr 2023 · 45 min

   Tim Dunn discovers how two competing Victorian railway companies shaped the city of Lincoln.

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   8. South Devon

   18 Apr 2023 · 45 min

   Tim Dunn revisits his childhood holiday haunts in South Devon, following the route of Brunel's experimental atmospheric railway.

9. 9

   9. Leeds

   25 Apr 2023 · 45 min

   Tim Dunn explores the birthplace of British locomotive manufacturing - Leeds, starting at the Round Foundry.

10. 10

    10. Hull

    2 May 2023 · 45 min

    Tim Dunn explores beautiful Hull Paragon station and finds out how Royal Leamington Spa got a wonderful art deco station.