The Architecture the Railways Built

The factual documentary series *The Architecture the Railways Built* first aired on 28 April 2020 on the British channel Yesterday. Presented by historian Tim Dunn, the programme examines railway locations throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, looking at sites that are historical, abandoned, modern, or still in development. In each episode, one location is drawn from continental Europe, while the rest are in the UK.

The series was commissioned by UKTV for Yesterday and produced by Brown Bob Productions. After the first series, UKTV ordered two further ten-episode series in October 2020. The second series began on 19 January 2021, and the third on 13 September 2021. A fourth series of ten episodes was commissioned in 2022, premiering on 28 February 2023. From 4 February 2025, BBC Four started broadcasting series 1 on weekday evenings, excluding Fridays. The programme’s success led to a spin-off, *Secrets of the London Underground*, also presented by Dunn, which began airing in 2021.

Critical response to the first series was positive. *The Guardian* described the opening episode as "enjoyable and illuminating," praising Dunn’s enthusiasm and the show’s ability to highlight the surprising architecture connected to railways. Later in the series, the paper’s Hannah Verdier noted Dunn’s exceptional passion for train travel and his continued "railway magic" when visiting historic structures. *Radio Times* television editor Alison Graham called the programme one of her "lockdown treats," simply stating, "I love the series."

Reviewers generally valued the show not as a niche railway documentary, but as an accessible blend of architectural history, engineering, and an enthusiastic travelogue. Dunn’s evident passion was seen as an asset, making specialist subjects approachable for a general audience. *World of Railways* labelled the first series a "critical and ratings success," while *The Railway Magazine* emphasised that the programme shifted focus from locomotives to the often-overlooked buildings and civil engineering of the railway landscape.