FULL STEAM AHEAD - HOW TRAINS OPENED UP THE WORLD TO THE WORKING CLASS

Cinemavixion Review

This documentary series, 'Full Steam Ahead - How Trains Opened Up the World to the Working Class,' offers a fascinating glimpse into the transformative power of Victorian railways. Historians Ruth Goodman, Alex Langlands, and Peter Ginn expertly reconstruct the era, focusing on how these technological marvels not only reshaped Britain but also ushered in an unprecedented era of freedom for the working class. The final episode, in particular, highlights this shift. Viewers will follow Ruth Goodman along the picturesque south Devon coast, Peter Ginn as he delves into the concept of excursion trains, and Alex Langlands as he explores the geological impact of railway construction. The journey continues in London, where Ruth visits the iconic St Pancras Station and experiences Victorian shopping, while Peter gets hands-on with gallopers at a steam fair, and Alex takes the wheel of a steam car. It's a rich exploration of how steam power democratized travel and leisure, fundamentally altering the social fabric of the time.