5. Trainspotting

The revolution of track and engine gave birth to a new species - the railway enthusiast.

Today, there is so much more to 'trainspotting' than just numbers...

Conclusion of a magnificent account of Britain's railways and how track and carriage united a nation.

Series of readings including an exploration of many aspects of the railway revolution:

* The challenges of 'railway time'
* The nuances of first, second and third class
* The difficulties of lighting and heating and passenger comfort
* What to eat when travelling and the history of refreshment stops
* The commercial opportunities they brought - The establishment of WH Smith and Son, who became the nation’s first high street bookstore.

Architecture and engineering are also covered, alongside the impact on social classes and gender.

Passengers may have a love-hate relationship with our railways, but few of us know much about the journey taken to get to where we are now.

Written by: Simon Bradley.

Abridged by Jill Waters.

Concluded by Stephen Tompkinson.

Producer: Jill Waters

A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2015.