BBC - Fred Dibnah's Industrial Age (1999)
Fred Dibnah sets out on an enthusiastic tour of Britain's industrial heritage.
Ch1. Wind, Water and Steam
Explores the early use of wind and water power and visiting some steam engines still in use today. On his travels the presenter visits old Lancashire to observe the workings of the Bolton, Bury and Manchester Canal.
Ch2. Mills and Factories
An exploration of the textile mills and factories that once thrived in Britain during the Industrial Revolution. From New Lanark in Scotland to the mill town of Burnley, Fred meets ex-workers to discover what life was really like, and chats to a group that has dedicated 30 years to restoring mill engines.
Ch3. Iron and Steel
Fred examines the history of the iron and steel industries, beginning with a visit to Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire. Fred moves on to the Black Country, where he learns how the anchor for the ill-fated Titanic was made, before getting the chance to drive the biggest steam-powered rolling mill engine he has ever seen.
Ch4. Mining
A tour of Britain's mining heritage takes Fred from Cornwall to Scotland, where he visits sites of lead, slate, tin and coal extraction. Along the way, the machine-mad former steeplejack has a chance to man a winding engine and descends a mine shaft while strapped to the top of the cage.
Ch5. Railways
Fred visits the North East, a region rich in transport history, to explore the development of Britain's railways, from the first steam locomotives to the record-breaking Mallard. A visit to York's National Railway Museum offers the chance to ride a replica of Stephenson's Rocket, while at Ffestiniog Railway he learns about the computer-aided design process used for new locomotives.
Ch6. Ships and Engineering
Fred recalls the golden age of shipbuilding, examining the skills of engineers who turned Britain into one of the leading manufacturing nations, and visits Bristol to pay tribute to his personal hero Isambard Kingdom Brunel. He also travels to Scotland for a voyage on the paddle steamer Waverley.
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