In this week’s series of episodes of the latest series of Great British Railway Journeys, Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guidebook, crossing the Irish sea to discover the rich railway history of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, following the unfurling 19th century expansion of the tracks from Dublin to Londonderry.
Watch out for Wednesday’s episode where Michael explores the Victorians’ fascination with antiquity, by visiting the amazing Cromlech stones of Dundalk. He reaches for the stars at the Portadown Observatory and travels in style along the steam railway of Downpatrick.
Catch this episode on BBC2 or BBC-HD, this Wednesday 1st February 2012 at 18.30