The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is honouring its fiftieth anniversary this year, and as part of this golden year, it is also celebrating the launch of the new TV show ‘The Big Steam Adventure'.
On Tuesday 25 April at 9pm on Channel 5, journalist and presenter John Sergeant, actor Peter Davison and NYMR's Paul ‘Piglet' Middleton (star of Channel 5's The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard) will travel from London to Scotland using only the power of steam.
During the show, the trio will use any steam-means possible to get across the country – paddle boats, barges, steam cars, trains and traction engines.
In the first episode, the team meet in historic Greenwich in London. John gets his map out and they are nervous as they face an enormous challenge.
In each episode, viewers will see a huge variety of amazing steam machines, fascinating history, chat, plenty of laughs and the unique character and charm that can be found in every corner of the UK.
The show boasts that there will be “lots of fun, plenty of bumps in the road and loads of gorgeous countryside, as the three of them face all sorts of trials and tribulations en route”.
Paul Middleton (Piglet), NYMR's Director of Mechanical Engineering said: “The new TV programme is fantastic and showcases loads of different types of steam traction. John and Peter get the chance to have a go and learn how a steam vehicle operates and the pressure is on me to ensure that we get to our destination in one piece. The programme couldn't have aired at a better time – we are celebrating our 50th Anniversary year and it engages with new audiences which will keep the love the love of steam alive for the next 50 years.”
As a warm-up at 8.0 on 25th Middleton Railway features on Yesterday Channel’s The Architecture the Railways Built.