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The team of historians examine how the golden age of steam changed Britain in unexpected ways, starting with domestic life. From slate roof tiles to the coal fire the railways shaped peoples homes.

The team look at how the railways impacted on people, those who built them, the railway staff and industries across the country and at how the railway companies began to develop ways to transport people as well as goods.

The team look at how the railways transformed the British diet, reviving a nation that was struggling to feed itself. The mass transportation of fish, livestock and vegetables fed the nation's cities and spawned popular new dishes.

The team examine how a combination of increased leisure time and affordable rail travel opened up new freedoms for working-class Victorians, from trips to the seaside to fossil-hunters exploring Britain's prehistoric past.