The Architecture the Railways Built — Season 3
About this season
Railway expert and train enthusiast Tim Dunn explores the stunning architecture that lines the railway network in `The Architecture the Railways Built'. He visits stations made up of simple stone buildings, decorative Victorian grandeur, and striking glass and concrete structures, but he doesn't stop at visiting stations, as he explores every structure which owes its existence to the railway, including viaducts, railway hotels, tunnels, and the less obvious buildings such as homes, swimming pools, and Turkish baths.
Episodes (10)
1. Newcastle
Aired 13 September 2021
Tim Dunn takes to the tracks in Newcastle, to explore a city rich in railway architecture. He also looks at two recording-breaking structures in Scotland and marvels at the quirky design of a funicular in the German highlands.
2. Wharncliffe
Aired 20 September 2021
Tim Dunn explores Brunel’s first and last railway projects and looks at a Scottish station with a royal connection. Later he takes in the delights of a Portuguese station which looks more like a palace than a railway terminus.
3. Charing Cross
Aired 27 September 2021
Tim uncovers the secrets above, below and inside London’s Charing Cross Station. He also looks at the modern wonder of the Ordsall Chord in Manchester and tells the tale of two stations in the Swedish town of Boras.
4. Bramhope Tunnel
Aired 4 October 2021
Tim heads underground at the magnificent Bramhope Tunnel and looks at architectural salvage on a grand scale at Fawley Hill. In Germany, Tim finds out how Dresden Station finally rose from the ashes after WW2.
5. Saltburn
Aired 11 October 2021
Tim explores Saltburn-by-the-Sea, a town built by the railways, and hears the story of the depot at the centre of Bristol’s tram revolution. Tim also looks at the Polish border station which welcomed Russian Royalty.
6. Bishopstone
Aired 18 October 2021
Tim visits Bishopstone, a seaside station that’s also a WW2 fortress, and looks at the UK’s first ever high-speed line – the Selby Diversion. He also finds out how the Swedes built a station in a city made up of 14 islands.
7. Greenwich and Deptford
Aired 25 October 2021
Tim explores London’s first passenger railway, the London and Greenwich, and looks at the disused station that was transformed into a huge bookshop. Tim also takes in the record-breaking viaduct in the Czech Republic.
8. North Staffordshire
Aired 1 November 2021
Tim Dunn takes a trip through the history of the North Staffordshire Railway Company, admiring the beautiful Stoke Station.
9. Ramsgate
Aired 8 November 2021
Tim Dunn heads to the seaside to find out how the railways changed the fortunes of Margate and Ramsgate, and finds out more about 19th-century Dom Luiz Bridge in Porto
10. Curzon Street
Aired 15 November 2021
Tim Dunn visits the historic Grade 1 Curzon Street Station, to be reborn as part of the terminus for HS2, the rail link between London and Birmingham