Railways of the Great War with Michael Portillo

Episode 2: Railways and Railwaymen Called to Action

August 5, 2014 • 30 min

Michael travels through Britain uncovering railway stories from the Great War. His journey begins in England's north east where he finds out about the brave railwaymen who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Moving south to Oxfordshire he learns how the manufacturing expertise of the railways turned a crisis into a victory. In Hampshire, Michael meets the proud son of a railwayman who, as a Royal Engineer, taught soldiers to be railwaymen and trained railwaymen to be soldiers. Finally, on the south coast he meets the big guns that turned the tide of war.