Thousand Islands to Toronto
Michael Portillo's rail journey through eastern Canada continues along the Grand Trunk railway, following the route of the St Lawrence River.
Steered by his 1899 Appleton's guide, Michael Portillo's rail journey through eastern Canada continues along the Grand Trunk railway, following the route of the St Lawrence River.
At Brockville, he leaves the tracks for a nautical pilgrimage through the beautiful Thousand Islands. In the port city of Kingston, Ontario, Michael visits Fort Henry and, dressed for the occasion, is entrusted to fire the naval guns that protected the nation's southern border during the 19th century. Travelling west to Port Hope, he learns of the antics of a celebrated 19th-century high-wire walker known as The Great Farini. And, in a spirit of showmanship, Michael tests his balance with the modern sport of slack lining.
In Oshawa, at the opulent home of the McLaughlin family, Michael has a chance to drive a McLaughlin Buick, the car that heralded a new automotive economy for Canada. At Toronto's Union Station, Michael is invited to inspect an ambitious underground engineering project designed to expand capacity for the city's modern commuter boom. From deep underground, Michael boldly climbs to dizzying heights at the top of the CN tower for an extreme outdoor experience. On board the street car, Michael heads for Toronto's 19th-century stock exchange, where he opens the day's trading. Michael's Canadian adventure concludes in Toronto's High Park, where he seeks the origins of patriotic song, The Maple Leaf Forever.
Last on
More episodes
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Michael Portillo |
Director | Cassie Farrell |
Series Editor | Alison Kreps |
Production Company | FremantleMedia |
Broadcast
- Mon 18 Jun 2018 19:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two except Wales
Steam Railways: Watch programmes from the archive collection
Shows from the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ archives celebrating the beauty of locomotives.