Ian Hislop's Trains That Changed The World

How four iconic British-built trains revolutionized rail travel and inspired incredible railway projects the world over. The Flying Scotsman was the first train to break the 100mph barrier. Travelling aboard this iconic steam locomotive, cameras reveal the engineering brilliance behind its design, and there's also a look into the new era of high-speed rail, including the opening of the Eurostar.

The London Underground - first operating in 1863 - changed the way people get around cities forever, driving travelers deep underground to clear congested streets. Ingenious technology, from electrified tracks to tunnels under the River Thames, has gone on to influence railways worldwide. This edition reveals how the filthy and crowded streets of London were transformed by the rapid expansion of the Underground.

The Industrial Revolution was the single most important event in the development of the modern railway and one train from that era came to symbolize the new age of steam, Stephenson's Rocket. Cameras reveal the revolutionary design of the Rocket, and how it transformed Britain's economy, from localized rural industries to the global networks we recognize today.

Ian concludes the series by looking at how the train transformed Britain into a nation of leisure seekers. Family holidays beside the sea, climbing remote mountains, the Football League all became possible due to the railways.