Britain's love affair with the railways

From Stephenson’s Rocket to Thomas the Tank Engine and the Flying Scotsman to Michael Portillo, as a nation we have had a unique fascination with trains over the centuries.

The latest manifestation has been through many celebrating “Railway 200”, the bicentenary of the pioneering Stockton & Darlington Railway – the world’s first passenger train.

Join author Michael Williams as he discusses our enduring love affair with the railways with reference to history, culture and his own travels by train around the world.

Michael Williams is a leading commentator on railways in the national media, including the BBC, the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian and the Daily Mail. He is the author of bestselling books, including the ‘On the Slow Train’ series, published by Penguin Random House. He is a former head of news and features at The Sunday Times.

Image credit: Illustration of locomotive 'Locomotion' 1875, COPY 1-31 (60)

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