Great American Railroad Journeys

[Highmac]

Don't know if this sort of thing is broadcast in the US, but if it does turn up, it's worth checking out. Wikipedia link

The presenter is a chap by the name of Michael Portillo. He was a minister in Maggie Thatcher's cabinet, but lost his seat as an MP in 1997. Since then he has made dozens of Great British Railway Journeys and Great Continental... and two series in the US, where he was polite enough to use the US description

His shows, usually 30 minutes, are more about the tracks changed the towns, cities and rural areas and the effects on the people living there, so there is plenty to interest all the family. We've just seen the last episode of series 2, which concluded in Memphis. Lots of history along the tracks that we never knew, but even he couldn't visit the city without mentioning Elvis...

[gunug]

This is something you can stream on Roku's and other devices; I think it's on the Acorn channel but I'm not at home right now to look.  I've especially enjoyed a similar show that takes you across Ireland!

[kimmer]

I looked at both Netflix and Amazon, and none of the eps are available for streaming. I don't have an Acorn acct, so we'll have to wait for gunug to check when he is able to do so.

[Xairbusdriver]

There is a DVD Only "Great Railway Journeys" with Michael Palin at/from Netflix. I believe the only episodes I've see where on PBS and probably came via the BBC. I do see mentions of "Continental" rail journeys by Mr. Portillo but they are from several years ago. These seem to be limited to individual PBS stations, nothing at the PBS web site. The only American railway program is totally different and apparently 'home-grown'.

My wife is taking our two Grand Daughters to London in a few months (just not enough time to see the real England!). Maybe she will come across more info then. I'm pretty sure the only 'trains' they will ride will be in 'tubes'! Of course, there is a great Transportation Museum, a bit east of St. Paul's Church?

[Highmac]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 23 2017, 11:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Of course, there is a great Transportation Museum, a bit east of St. Paul's Church?

That's likely to be the London Transport Museum just to the east of St Paul's Cathedral. Don't upset the natives

Only you will know if a transport museum full of buses and bits of trains would be of interest to your family members, but if not they might find the cathedral worth a visit. It was built to replace the earlier 13th century one, which was gutted in the Great Fire of 1666. More than 270 years later it survived Hitler's bombers.

As an aside, last week I found a documentary, recorded a few years back, called Britain From the Air. We learned that from 1946 to 1948 the RAF carried out a comprehensive aerial survey, flying in a grid pattern, to record the damage in preparation for rebuilding. St Paul's was standing alone in a large area of blitzed buildings. There's an archive screenshot here. The documentary went on to show parts of a recent similar survey.

There were reports in more recent years that Hitler had ordered that St Paul's and Parliament should not be bombed as he wanted to claim them for use in propaganda.  

Probably a lot more info there than you really wanted

[Xairbusdriver]

I was actually trying to remember the museum I visited, probably 20 years ago, back when I would have a couple of day layover in London. The hotel was in the Mayfair area, I think. Of course, I may have taken the Tube to almost anywhere! and there is the large railway museum in Yorkshire(?)!!!