Tales from the Rails

Michael begins his trip in Osaka, takes a journey on the Shinkansen and heads to Nagoya.

The A1 class steam engine Tornado tries to achieve 100mph on the main line.

A journey back to a lost era of rail travel, when trains had names, character and style.

Victoria Wood makes a round trip to the north of Britain from Crewe.

Ian Hislop looks at the 1963 Beeching Report, which closed a third of the UK's railways.

Railway enthusiast Michael Portillo leads a landmark journey through 200 years of rail.

How the trains gradually acted as a great catalyst in mixing the classes.

The story of the hidden powerhouse behind the globalised world, the diesel engine.

Meeting the teams above and below ground who keep everything moving through the tunnel.

Tanfield in the north east is the world’s oldest railway, and in 2025, it turns 300.

Clive Anderson meets nomadic tribes, visits a Buddhist cave, and devours chicken feet.

Michael Portillo takes to the rails to explore the Weald in south east England.

Michael mounts a valiant defence against latter-day gladiators in Pula's amphitheatre.

Michael Portillo embarks on another journey exploring the shores of Britain.

The view from the driving seat as Flying Scotsman travels the Severn Valley Railway.

Travel from London’s King’s Cross to Edinburgh on the 'Flying Scotsman'. (1968)

Following the Flying Scotsman as it returns to the tracks after a ten-year restoration.

Michael Palin goes to St Andrews on a train journey up the 'drier side of Britain'.

Celebrating 150 years of rail transportation with a look at India's rail network. (1975)

Documentary looking at the first murder on Britain's railways.

Charles Dickens's ghost story in which a signalman is haunted by a hooded figure.

Tim Dunn explores disused tube station Down Street, which played a crucial role in WWII.

Three children move from a comfortable townhouse to a small Yorkshire cottage.

Ben Fogle and Sally Thomsett visit the locations of key scenes from The Railway Children.