Michael Portillo’s ever-reliable Bradshaw’s guide leads him on another leg of his railway adventures this Friday, winding through the historic county of Essex. This episode of “Great British Railway Journeys” finds Portillo exploring everything from ancient Roman settlements to cutting-edge plant science.
Starting in Colchester, Britain’s oldest recorded town, he digs into the history of Boudica’s rebellion against the Romans, visiting the imposing Norman castle built upon the foundations of the Temple of Claudius. From ancient history, he leaps forward to the 21st century at the University of Essex, where scientists cultivate climate-resistant crops in a state-of-the-art laboratory.
Not content with simply observing from the sidelines, Portillo takes the controls of an Intercity 125 high-speed train for a spin along the scenic Colne Valley heritage railway, crossing the impressive Chappel viaduct. The Colne Valley line, once a vital link between Chappel and Wakes Colne to Haverhill in Suffolk, now takes a nostalgic glimpse into Britain’s railway past.
This episode of “Great British Railway Journeys” airs Friday, May 2nd at 6:30 PM on BBC Two.
