Mark Williams On The Rails

Episode 01

Cornish Steam Giant

Apr 1, 2004 · 23 min

Mark Williams celebrates two hundred years of trains, charting the development of the first locomotive by Richard Trevithick in 1804.

Episode 02

Rocket Men

Apr 8, 2004 · 23 min

Mark Williams celebrates two hundred years of trains, tracking the creation of railways in the North East by George Stephenson and son.

Episode 03

Brunel

Apr 15, 2004 · 23 min

The creation of the Great Western Railway under the control of a single engineer I.K. Brunel

Episode 04

Moving Mountains

Apr 22, 2004 · 23 min

Mark Williams discovers how a curious engine used to transport slate down the Welsh mountains inspired an amazing railway through the Rocky Mountains.

Episode 05

Carriage Kings

Apr 29, 2004 · 23 min

Mark Williams explores how the introduction of railways affected society. He rides in an old third-class carriage before travelling in style on the Orient Express

Episode 06

Death on the Tracks

May 6, 2004 · 23 min

In this edition, Mark Williams learns how, during the early days of train travel, death on the tracks was tragically common.

Episode 07

Big Country

May 13, 2004 · 23 min

Mark Williams rides the American railroad to explore how the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad linked the east and west coasts of America.

Episode 08

Speed and Power

May 20, 2004 · 23 min

Mark Williams explains how the race for speed during the 1920s and 1930s led to locomotives setting records that are still a match for modern rail travel.

Episode 09

Going Underground

May 27, 2004 · 23 min

Mark Williams gets to grips with the oldest subterranean train network in the world, London's Underground, and travels through an early tunnel under the Thames.

Episode 10

Diesel Generation

Jun 3, 2004 · 23 min

Mark Williams explores the introduction of diesel electric systems in 1953 and drives a Class 31 complete with hot plate, windscreen wiper and ashtrays.