The Architecture The Railways Built
The Architecture The Railways Built is a TV show on BBC4. All aboard! From amazing viaducts to show-stopping stations, Tim Dunn takes the train to explore the railway's stunning structures and incredible engineering, both old and new. The program has been available since 2026. A total of 19 episodes have been broadcast, most recently in September 2026.
Last episode
1:00:00
1:00:00The Architecture The Railways Built
Tim Dunn goes behind the scenes at Bristol Temple Meads, a Grade 1 listed station, and is given special access to Brunel's old Tudor station and boardroom.
Catching up on The Architecture The Railways Built?
Don't want to miss an episode anymore? Set up a free alarm and receive an email when new episodes are available. Handy!
50:00Tim visits Sheffield station which been reinvented for the 21st century. He also helps to restore the Bennerley Viaduct in the Erewash valley.
1:00:00Tim explores the last working roundhouse in the UK, Barrow Hill in Derbyshire. Tim also visits Bath, a city renowned for its Georgian architecture.
50:00Tim Dunn rides on a funicular railway powered by water. Also, how an abandoned Victorian railway tunnel in Northamptonshire is being transformed into a racetrack.
1:00:00Tim Dunn is in London exploring the striking stations of the Piccadilly Line's northern extension. Tim also takes a look at Causey Arch in County Durham.
50:00Tim Dunn is in Windsor to learn how two rail companies fought to be first to get to Queen Victoria. He also explores the Connel Bridge in the Scottish Highlands.
1:00:00Tim Dunn visits the Royal Albert Bridge and discovers how it was constructed. He also visits Wolverhampton to learn the history of its train stations.
50:00Tim Dunn visits Wemyss Bay Station in Inverclyde - an architectural gem. He also explores the engineering marvel that is Blackfriars station in central London.
Series 1
1:00:00
1:00:00Tim Dunn visits Swindon's railway village, which became home to Great Western's enormous works and he also explores the dark and secret past of Milan's monumental station.
50:00Tim Dunn visits the architecture of the Stockton & Darlington railway, the first passenger steam line in the world, and learns how Essex's enormous Chappel Viaduct was built.
1:00:00Tim Dunn explores St Pancras station in London and its sister hotel - built to show off the might of the Midlands, and learns about Castle Howard station in North Yorkshire.
50:00Tim Dunn explores Metroland, the area around the Metropolitan Railway, and in Great Malvern learns about the woman behind the decorative 1860s station.
1:00:00Tim Dunn visits the Ribblehead Viaduct in the Yorkshire Dales and tours the breath-taking stations of the Hungerbergbahn in Innsbruck.
1:00:00Tim Dunn visits the former HQ of London Underground, 55 Broadway, which was the capital's first skyscraper, and sees the timber-framed Barmouth Bridge in north Wales.
50:00Tim Dunn goes behind the scenes at London's Kings Cross station and finds out about the disused funicular railway hidden in the Avon Gorge in Bristol.
1:00:00Tim Dunn visits the Ffestiniog in Wales originally built to transport slate from mountain to coast and learns about Amsterdam Centraal.
50:00Tim Dunn rides up Mt Snowdon's railway to visit the summit station, and discovers how a glass structure envelopes Strasbourg's 19th century station.
50:00Tim Dunn explores disused tube station Down Street in Mayfair that played a crucial tactical role during WWII and tours Rotterdam's new centraal station with its designer.
50:00Series 2, Episode 9 - Huddersfield
Expected on
Tim Dunn explores Huddersfield's Grade I listed station and examines the station's clock, and visits Cologne's magnificent Hohenzollern Bridge in Germany.