Locomotion: Dan Snow's History of Railways

Railways have been a popular method of transport since the 18th century (and have been around even longer than that). In this three-part programme, presenter Dan Snow demonstrates how the early rail systems of the 18th century quickly developed into a catalyst for the start of the Industrial Revolution and a pivotal technology that helped shape modern Britain and lead to a connected world. `Locomotion' examines how rapid industrial growth in the early 19th century led entrepreneurs to develop steam locomotives, metal tracks and other innovations that led to a nationwide railway system in just 30 years which, in turn, led to a revolution in the way people lived and helped build Britain which, for a time, was the most powerful nation on the planet.