Great British Railway Journeys (2010)

S5E18 Ilford to Rochester

Guided by his trusty Bradshaw's, Michael Portillo travels along the Essex side of the Thames before crossing into Kent, known as the Garden of England. He kicks off his journey in Barkingside, a place transformed by the efforts of Victorian philanthropist Dr. Thomas Barnardo, who dedicated his life to helping impoverished children. Continuing from Upminster, Michael boards the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway to Tilbury, where he learns how the railway and its historic station turned the town into a major port. At the docks, he tries to load a container onto a pocket wagon. In Gravesend, he uncovers the legacy of General Gordon, one of Queen Victoria's favored officers. Michael's journey concludes in Rochester, where he meets iconic characters and delves into the life of renowned Victorian author Charles Dickens.