Season 15

2015 · 6 episodes

Episodes

1The Trains That Time Forgot: Britain's Lost Railway JourneysAuthor and railway enthusiast Andrew Martin travels the route of three famous named trains from bygone days, the Cornish Riviera Express, the Flying Scotsman, and the Brighton Belle, to examine why we used to name trains, and why express trains of today no longer provide the level of luxury VIP service that they used to.
2A Very British Map: The Ordnance Survey StoryFor over 200 years, Ordnance Survey has mapped every square mile of the British Isles, capturing not just the contours and geography of our nation, but of our lives. Originally intended for military use, OS maps were used during wartime to help locate enemy positions. In peacetime, they helped people discover and explore the countryside. Today, the large fold-out paper maps, used by generations of ramblers, scouts and weekend adventurers, represent just a small part of the OS output. As Ordnance Survey adjusts to the digital age, Timeshift looks back to tell the story of a quintessentially British institution.
3The Engine That Powers the WorldThe story behind the invention of the diesel engine in the 19th century that later became the workhorse of the 20th and 21st century.
4The People's Liners: Britain's Lost Pleasure FleetsA voyage in the company of passengers and crew of the vintage steamers, which were common sight on the rivers and coastal waters around Britain.
5Looking for Mr Bond: 007 at the BBCAfter more than 60 years tracking James Bond in print and on screen, the BBC opens up its vaults to reveal the forgotten files on the world's most famous secret agent. Featuring rare and candid interviews with all six actors to play 007, and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, this is James Bond unguarded, unrestricted and unseen.
6How Britain Won the Space Race: The Story of Bernard Lovell and Jodrell BankHow Bernard Lovell's telescope was used by both the Americans and the Russians to track their competing spacecraft and put Britain at the forefront of radio astronomy.