Britain gave railways to the world, yet its own network is the dearest (definitely) and the worst (probably) in Western Europe.

For Matthew Engel the railway system is the ultimate expression of Britishness. To uncover its mysteries, Engel has traveled the system from Penzance to Thurso, exploring its history and talking to people from politicians to platform staff. Along the way Engel (half-John Betjeman, half-Victor Meldrew) finds the most charmingly bizarre train in Britain, the most beautiful branch line, the rudest railway man, and - after a quest lasting decades - an Individual Pot of Strawberry Jam. Eleven Minutes Late is both a polemic and a paean, and it is also very funny.

In the steam era, Carlisle was the hub of North West Englands rail network and most Anglo-Scottish traffic utilised the main line via Beattock and Carstairs and the programme focuses primarily on this 103-mile section of the West Coast main Line.

Carlisles Kingmoor depot was host to a fascinating variety of locomotive classes with LNER A4s and A3s rubbing shoulders with Duchesses and Princesses. Detailed scenes at Kingmoor, plus views of Canal and Upperby depots, are complemented by an impressive array of steam and diesel traction in action at Carlisle Citadel station in the 1960s, with Patriots, Scots, Jubilees, A2s, Britannias - and even a Glen -shown in service.

Carlisle also had a direct route to Edinburgh via the Waverley Route, which closed in1969 and scenes at Newcastleton, focal point for anti-closure protesters on the last day of service, are a poignant reminder of the route.

Leaving northwards on a Duchess-hauled railtour, the border is crossed before reaching Beattock and its infamous 1 in 75 incline which caused even the mighty Stanier Pacifics to pause for banking assistance! On reaching Carstairs, the station and depot are shown before the main line is temporarily left behind as the special heads west behind an ex-CR Jumbo and Highland Railway No. 103.

Returning to the WCML, the programme features a Clayton handling coal traffic on the Morningside branch, together with scenes at nearby Motherwell. Finally, arrival in Glasgow features views of diesel and steam power at the citys Polmadie depot and Central Station.

The sight and sound of the mighty `Deltics is celebrated in this exciting programme as we follow the `Napier roar from London to York, in Part One of this tribute to the Deltics, with Part Two featuring the locomotives at work between York and Edinburgh in addition to York to Liverpool services.

Much of the material was filmed between 1978 and 1981 and captures the Class 55s at work in their latter years at a time of the increasing appearance of HSTs and the spread of overhead power masts north from London. Featured locations include Kings Cross, North London suburbs, Potters Bar, Hitchin, Sandy, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Grantham, Newark (including the famous `flat crossing), Retford, Doncaster and York. Finally, a film montage displays the names and numbers of all twenty-two class members.

There are images of the industries that have developed as a result of the sea - ship-building, fishing and trade - as well as views of bustling ports, quaint seaside towns, and quiet fishing villages; all are connected by the railway that links the coast with the rest of the country.

The diary is hard back and illustrated in colour throughout

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The programme opens at Kings Cross Station in the early 1960s, with views in the station complemented by fascinating film taken between 1944 and 1963 at Kings Cross Locomotive Depot, known as Top Shed.Heading north, Hitchin, Biggleswade and Sandy are shown before arrival at Peterborough, with film taken between 1948 and 1964 recording a wide range of steam classes at the North Station and New England Depot. The ECML is temporarily left behind as the once-direct route from Cleethorpes to Peterborough via Spalding, Boston and Werrington Jct. is featured in 1962, with Britannia Pacifics. A second detour from the ECML features a railtour in 1962 headed by the last ex-GCR Class J11 in service.

North from Peterborough, 1960s ECML traction is shown at Essendine, Newark, Peascliffe Tunnel, Great Ponton and Grantham, with various Pacific classes, V2s, B1s, O2s, WDs and Deltics hard at work. Next is Doncaster, where film taken between 1945 and 1965 of the station, locomotive depot and works is followed by film at Selby, Church Fenton and York, with the citys immense locomotive depot and busy station both featured.

For many years, Londoners flocked to Waterloo Station at the start of their annual holidays and, for a large number, the ultimate destination was Devon and North Cornwall.

Opened by the London & South Western Railway in 1860, the route to Exeter and Plymouth soon grew in popularity, culminating in the introduction of the Atlantic Coast Express. Until its demise in 1964, the ACE was the principal express to the South West and the programme primarily follows the route of this famous train.

Views at Waterloo, Vauxhall, Clapham Junction and Nine Elms Depot feature a wide variety of steam classes before the city is left behind – appropriately on the footplate of Merchant Navy 35021 heading an ACE in 1964. After Basingstoke and Salisbury, Templecombe is the next location recorded in detail, with high-speed mainline action contrasting with the adjoining S&D route. West of Templecombe, Yeovil, Chard Jct. and nearby Chard Central are seen before passing Axminster, which is then followed by Seaton Jct and Sidmouth Jct. Arrival at Exeter - with Z Class bankers in evidence – is followed by film of West Country Pacifics at Plymouth, the most southerly location in the programme.

Finally, the focus falls on now-closed lines that served more rural locations, with film that includes Bude, Padstow, Halwill Jct. and the Torrington line to Barnstaple. Concluding the programme is a fascinating chapter at Wadebridge, filmed mainly in 1958, with Beattie tank locomotives still hard at work on the Wenford Bridge mineral branch.

This is the second programme in the Marsden Rail series to feature steam locomotives at work on the Southern Region of British Railways and complements Volume 25 Southern Region Steam – Part One.

The programme starts at Londons Waterloo Station and is followed by views at Vauxhall and Clapham Junction. Also included is a journey on the last scheduled regular steam service to operate from Clapham Junction to Kensington Olympia. Leaving the capital on the former London & South Western Railways route to Southampton, we witness scenes at Guildford, Woking and Worting Junction with a wide variety of steam classes at work. From Guildfords Peasmarsh Junction, the line to Christs Hospital and Shoreham is traced, with almost every station on this now-closed route featured. Services in and around Eastleigh and Southampton then precede a crossing of the Solent on board a British Railways ferry to the Isle of Wight.

At its peak, the Isle of Wights rail system could boast a route network totalling more than fifty miles served, until 1966, entirely by steam. This fascinating network of island services was handled by ex-LSWR Class 02 0-4-4 tank locomotives and pre-grouping stock which created an almost “Edwardian” atmosphere. The Isle of Wight scenes, captured on film from the late 1950s until steam traction ended in December 1966, are a major highlight of this absorbing programme.