Great British Railway Journeys Catch up, Series 14: 1. Preston to Rawtenstall on BBC 2

Great British Railway Journeys

Series 14: 1. Preston to Rawtenstall

Michael Portillo strikes out to explore the Britain of his youth. He’s a 'boomer', born in the decade after the end of the Second World War, and he recalls the optimism and excitement of rebuilding a nation exhausted by conflict. He relives the agony and the ecstasy of British Rail and marvels at the new society and culture that emerged in postwar Britain. \n \nAt Preston’s Fulwood Barracks in Lancashire, Michael is called up for National Service but fails to impress the drill sergeant. Two veterans share their memories of postwar military action. \n\nAt the Preston Bypass, now part of the M6, he hears how the pioneering project aimed to tackle congestion and link the north of England to the south. In Blackburn, Michael investigates the town’s political heritage and its fiery red-headed MP, Barbara Castle.\n\nAt Bury Bolton Street station in Greater Manchester, Michael meets the volunteers who operate the fabulously preserved East Lancashire Heritage Railway and learns how the Beeching cuts affected rail services in the area.

Source: BBC 2

Most recent episodes of Great British Railway Journeys

Great British Railway Journeys

Series 14: 3. Oldham To Wakefield

Greater Manchester’s Metrolink tram delivers Michael to the former cotton town of Oldham on the edge of the Peak District. In the stalls of the Oldham Coliseum, the town&r ...

22-01-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Great British Railway Journeys

Series 14: 2. Urmston To New Islington

Michael Portillo’s railway journey through north west England from Preston to Hebden Bridge reaches Greater Manchester, where Michael celebrates new beginnings for the nat ...

21-01-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Great British Railway Journeys

Series 14: 1. Preston To Rawtenstall

Michael Portillo strikes out to explore the Britain of his youth. He’s a 'boomer', born in the decade after the end of the Second World War, and he recalls the optimism an ...

20-01-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Great British Railway Journeys

Series 16: 20. Colchester To Chappel And Wakes Colne

Michael's exploration of Essex is drawing to a close. He visits Colchester, which was first mentioned in AD 77 and proudly claims to be Britain’s oldest recorded town. He ...

11-10-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Great British Railway Journeys

Series 16: 19. Witham To Saffron Walden

Arriving in the Essex market town of Witham, Michael heads into the countryside to visit Terling Place, one of the county’s great country houses. He hears how in the late ...

04-10-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Great British Railway Journeys

Series 16: 18. Chelmsford To Tollesbury

Michael Portillo’s exploration of Essex reaches Chelmsford. At a huge construction site on the outskirts of the city he discovers Beaulieu Park, the first railway station ...

27-09-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Great British Railway Journeys

Series 16: 17. Romford To The Blackwater Estuary

Michael’s exploration of Essex continues in Romford. He arrives on the London Overground’s Liberty Line to visit a state-of-the-art rail operating centre responsible ...

20-09-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Great British Railway Journeys

Series 16: 16. Loughton To Audley End

Michael Portillo embarks on a journey across Essex. Beginning on the fringes of London, he takes the underground to the ancient woodland of Epping Forest, with its gnarled hornb ...

14-09-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Great British Railway Journeys

Series 16: 15. Solihull To Birmingham International

On the final leg of his Midlands tour, Michael Portillo travels to Solihull, the home of iconic British brand Land Rover. He discovers that their factory, now owned by Indian Ta ...

14-09-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

Great British Railway Journeys

Series 16: 14. Birmingham New Street To Wednesbury

Arriving in Birmingham, Michael Portillo heads to Curzon Street for a tour of the HS2 terminus still under construction. He discovers that parts of the site’s 1838 station ...

06-09-2025

BBC 2

All episodes