Episode 4
The great sweep of social and economic change ushered in by the railways also brought hitherto untold feats of engineering.
A magnificent account of Britain's railways and how track and carriage united a nation.
This series of readings includes an exploration of many aspects of the railway revolution, such as the challenges of 'railway time', the nuances of first, second and third class, the dificulties of lighting and heating, passenger comfort, what to eat when travelling and the history of refreshment stops and the commercial opportunities they brought - including the establishment of W.H.Smith and Son, who became the nation's first high street bookstore. Architecture and engineering are also covered, alongside the impact on social classes and gender.
Passengers may have a love-hate relationship with our railways, but few of us know much about the journey taken to get to where we are now.
"Simon Bradley's The Railways is magisterial. It's both authoritative and absorbing. A first class journey." Michael Palin
Episode 4. The railways altered the shape and character of the landscape, as well as giving us access to all corners of the country. Feats of engineering created bridges that have stood the test of time.
Read by Stephen Tompkinson
Abridged and produced by Jill Waters
A Waters Company production for 麻豆社 Radio 4.
Last on
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Author | Simon Bradley |
| Reader | Stephen Tompkinson |
| Abridger | Jill Waters |
| Producer | Jill Waters |
Broadcasts
- Thu 3 Dec 2015 09:45麻豆社 Radio 4 FM
- Fri 4 Dec 2015 00:30麻豆社 Radio 4
Listen to more Audio Books
Including My Sister The Serial Killer, Queenie, The Flatshare and more.
Opening Lines
John Yorke unpacks the themes behind the stories in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.
Sample our books and authors Clip Collection
Interviews, previews and reviews
Subscribe to the Short stories podcast
Featuring the best stories from the UK's finest writers
How many of these 100 Novels have you read?
After a passionate debate, our panel has come up with this surprising literary selection.
Finding Your Story
Ten remarkable novels about identity: Which one will help you discover yourself?
麻豆社 Arts: Books
Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.