Aired Thursday June 24, 12:30am - 1:30amon BBC Four

Timeshift

The Last Days of Steam

The surprising story of how Britain entered a new age of steam railways after the Second World War and why it quickly came to an end. After the war, the largely-destroyed railways of Europe were rebuilt to carry more modern diesel and electric trains. Britain, however, chose to build thousands of brand new steam locomotives. Did we stay with steam because coal was seen as the most reliable power source or were the railways run by men who couldn't bear to let go of their beloved steam trains?

Category
Documentary / History
Original air date
2008-10-16
Cast and crew
  • George ChanDirector