Join us for our new Open University series in partnership with the BBC Full Steam Ahead where historians Ruth Goodman, Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn re-live the golden age of steam and explore how the Victorian railways created modern Britain.
To complement the series, we've complied a range of fantastic learning resources to take your knowledge of the railways further. You can:
- Download your free poster 'Our Railways' to explore how steam trains transformed the British Isles.
- Explore the fascinating history of the railways with articles from the series' academic consultants.
- Try a free course on the 'Tay Bridge disaster' or 'What is heritage?'
- Become an Open University student of Humanities and take it further.
The first episode of Full Steam Ahead was broadcast on BBC Two on Thursday 21st July 2016 at 8.00pm. There are often repeats of the series on BBC and other channels. Details on BBC broadcasts, and links to watch again where available, can be found on the BBC programme pages.
Download your free poster
Select the image below to download your free poster.
How did the railways transform the British Isles since their introduction in the 19th century? What impact did they have on lives, work and travel for people living in the Victorian era and nowadays? Find out the answers to these questions and much more by downloading this free, double-sided poster produced by The Open University.
Find out more about the fascinating history of the railways
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'The wrong side of the tracks': The impact of the railways on Victorian townscapes
When we think of the introduction of the railways we might think of it bringing prosperity to the people, but it also brought unsanitary conditions and isolation to those who lived on 'the other side of the tracks'. Explore more...
Read now'The wrong side of the tracks': The impact of the railways on Victorian townscapesLevel: 1 Introductory
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What have the railways got to do with the 999 system?
Did you know when you dial '999' the origins of this system lie in the railways? Explore the history here.
Read nowWhat have the railways got to do with the 999 system?Level: 1 Introductory
Try a free course on the railways and heritage
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Tay Bridge disaster
The sudden collapse of Scotland's Tay Bridge in 1879 killed more than 70 rail passengers and shocked the population. An extensive inquiry was carried out, including numerous witnesses, experts and reports. Were the high winds that night to blame, or were poor design or mechanical failure at fault? This free course re-examines some of the original evidence from the Tay Bridge disaster.
Learn moreTay Bridge disasterLevel: 3 Advanced
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What is heritage?
What is heritage? This free course will introduce you to the concept of heritage and its critical study, exploring the role of heritage in both past and contemporary societies.
Learn moreWhat is heritage?Level: 1 Introductory
Take it further with The Open University
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BA (Honours) History
With this degree course you will develop and deepen your knowledge of different periods of history from antiquity to the twentieth century. Engaging with a range of exciting and challenging topics such as imperialism, politics, social relations, medicine, warfare and religion in different periods, you will learn the skills of the historian in studying the materials of the past. You will also examine some of the critical approaches taken by historians to their subject matter. We offer a number of alternative routes through the BA (Hons) History with different combinations of modules, allowing you to align your studies with your own particular historical interests. Studying within a broad framework designed to meet high national standards for single-subject history degrees, you will develop a range of skills in knowledge management, oral and written communication, critical reasoning, research, and information and communications technologies, all of which are highly valued in the modern workplace.
Learn moreBA (Honours) History -
BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities
From poetry to string quartets, and from sculpture to short stories, the extraordinary range of human culture offers rich possibilities for study. This broad and absorbing course develops a deep understanding of the world we live in and how we got here, covering a fascinating variety of perspectives, periods and subjects – including art history, classical studies, creative writing, English language and English literature, history, modern languages, music, philosophy and religious studies.
Read moreBA (Honours) Arts and Humanities
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