Main content

The Engine that Powers the World

Timeshift Series 15
Episode 3 of 6

Mark Evans tells the surprising story of the hidden powerhouse behind the globalised world, the diesel engine, a 19th-century invention that has become indispensable to the 21st.

The surprising story of the hidden powerhouse behind the globalised world, the diesel engine, a 19th-century invention that has become indispensable to the 21st century. It's a tortoise-versus-hare tale in which the diesel engine races the petrol engine in a competition to replace ageing steam technology, a race eventually won hands down by diesel.

Splendidly, car enthusiast presenter Mark Evans gets excitedly hands-on with some of the many applications of Mr Diesel's - yes, there was one - original creation, from vintage submarines and tractors to locomotive trains and container ships. You'll never feel the same about that humble old diesel family car again.

22 days left to watch

59 minutes

Last on

Sunday 02:20
大象传媒 Four

More episodes

Previous

A Very British Map: The Ordnance Survey StorySeries 15

Next

The People's Liners - Britain's Lost Pleasure FleetsSeries 15

See all episodes from Timeshift

Clips

See all clips from The Engine that Powers the World (3)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:06

    Battles

    Atlas

  • 00:22

    Boards of Canada

    Dayvan Cowboy

  • 00:29

    AC/DC

    Back In Black

  • 00:43

    Brian Eno

    1/1 (Excerpt)

Credits

Presenter Mark Evans
Producer Steve O'Hagan
Director Steve O'Hagan
Executive Producer Michael Poole

Broadcasts