The Railways That Built Britain

After his Extreme Railways series, Chris Tarrant is back in Britain to look at the history of our railways, and the massive impact they had on industry

After his Extreme Railways series took him around the world, Chris Tarrant is back in Britain to look at the history of our railways, and the massive impact they had on industry.

In the first of the three-part series, he begins by telling the story of steam locomotive the Puffing Billy, which was built in 1813 for the purpose of moving coal from a Northumberland mine to the docks.

Chris also finds out about Henry Booth, who championed George Stephenson's Rocket, and the navvies who risked their lives to lay the tracks.