About this season
Documentary series in which Fred Dibnah travels around Britain in his restored traction engine in search of engineering skills and technology from a bygone age.
Episodes (12)
1. The Passion of a Lifetime
Aired 8 March 2005
The late Fred Dibnah searches for technology from a bygone age. In this first episode, he demolishes his last ever chimney at a textile mill near Oldham.
2. Collecting the Coal
Aired 15 March 2005
Fred visits an open cast mine near Wigan to get coal to power his engine, then goes to Astley Green Mining Museum in Lancashire.
3. The Source of Iron
Aired 22 March 2005
Fred reaches Cumbria where iron ore was once mined on a large scale, and enjoys the Lake District on a friend's steam boat. It's then on to the Florence Mine.
4. Castings
Aired 29 March 2005
Fred and his steersman Alf travel up to Scotland, where they marvel at the ingenuity of the Falkirk Wheel and visit one of the region's few surviving iron works.
5. Water and Boilers
Aired 5 April 2005
Fred Dibnah searches Britain for technology from a bygone age, visiting Ryhope pumping station in Sunderland and the Israel Newton boiler works in Bradford.
6. The Road to Steel City
Aired 12 April 2005
Fred Dibnah travels Britain in a traction engine in search of engineering skills and technology from a bygone age. He visits a forge in Sheffield.
7. Mechanics and Riveters
Aired 19 April 2005
Fred Dibnah travels Britain in a traction engine in search of engineering skills from a bygone age. Fred visits a company that makes ornate carvings.
8. Pattern Making
Aired 26 April 2005
Documentary series. Fred Dibnah searches Britain for technology from a bygone age. He visits David Ragsdale, a skilled pattern maker who owns six steam engines.
9. Engines at Work
Aired 3 May 2005
Fred Dibnah travels Britain in a traction engine in search of engineering skills from a bygone age. Fred visits a pumping station with a triple expansion engine.
10. Chains and Copper
Aired 10 May 2005
Fred Dibnah travels Britain in a traction engine in search of engineering skills from a bygone age. Fred watches the skills of an authentic chain maker.
11. The Engineering Workshop
Aired 17 May 2005
The Engineering Workshop
12. A Lifetime's Achievement
Aired 24 May 2005
Documentary series in which Fred Dibnah travels around Britain. In the final episode, Fred travels down to London to collect his MBE from the Queen.