The Architecture The Railways Built - Series 2 Episode 7
You can view the episode online here.
Sheffield station
The unique architecture of the building is explored – with its wide frontage – and we find out all about railway dining by visiting the 1st, 2nd and 3rd class dining rooms. These are now home to the Sheffield Tap’s bar rooms – an essential stop-off if you’re visiting the station. Then it all gets more exciting – as the tour goes underground to walk along the river that runs beneath the platforms - and explores the hidden structures that hold the station up.
The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust were the guides for this programme; and they’re planning to establish a new light well to let sunlight flood down into the river vaults below. The plan is that it’ll not just be a great thing for passengers to see, but it’ll also encourage wildlife back up into the darkened river, too.
Bennerley Viaduct
A revisit (from the first series) to this enormous disused railway viaduct – it’s the longest wrought iron viaduct in the UK. Since then the campaigners at the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct (who want to save the viaduct) have raised enough money to start work to bring it back into public use. The team visited to see how it’s progressing: it’s recently been put on the World Monuments Fund list and has gained significant funding since the first series. Here's a unique view taking from the scaffolding at one end - unlikely to repeated for many years.
Lisbon Oriente
A whistlestop tour, guided by experts who help choose the winning design by internationally-acclaimed architect Santiago Calatrava. Its extraordinary soaring feather-like roof is supported by a surprisingly complex organic-like web of concrete ribs at ground level – and below.
You can view The Architecture The Railways Built - Series 2 Episode 7 online here.