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Darlington to Dunbar

Michael Portillo continues his journey from London to Edinburgh at a leisurely pace up the East Coast Main Line, testing a state-of-the-art train on the way.

After his epic trip north on the Flying Scotsman, Michael Portillo continues his journey from London to Edinburgh at a leisurely pace up the East Coast Main Line.

In Newton Aycliffe, he tests a state-of-the-art passenger train on tracks which follow the route taken by George Stephenson's steam engine on its historic journey in 1825. Through the looking glass at Croft-on-Tees he discovers a curious potion at the childhood home of Victorian writer Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, and finds the author was also a fan of Bradshaw.

In the coastal village of Craster, Michael discovers the Victorian smokehouses of a family firm still active today and learns how to smoke a kipper. Crossing the Scottish border he reaches Dunbar, birthplace of a visionary Scot who made his mark on the landscape of America. Michael ends this leg rocking the boat on the River Tyne in a coracle.

29 minutes

Music Played

  • Impious

    Dark Closure

  • The Dandy Warhols

    Easy

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Michael Portillo
Series Producer Alison Kreps
Executive Producer John Comerford

Broadcasts

Steam railway programmes on 大象传媒 iPlayer

A collection of programmes from the 大象传媒 archives on the beauty of steam locomotives.