The Big Steam Adventure

In this first episode our intrepid trio meet in historic Greenwich in London. John gets his trusty map out and they are nervous as they take on the enormity of the challenge. Their first vehicle is the ninety-year-old steam tug Challenge. This wonderful vehicle is the last working steam tug on the Thames and is famous for her part in Operation Dynamo where she travelled to Dunkirk in 1940 to help evacuate the troops. John stays on deck with the captain whilst Piglet and Peter check out the powerful steam engine. Tides take them too fast up to Tower Bridge where they have a nerve-wracking approach before the bridge is raised and they can travel through. Next, they travel to Kings Cross station across London in an open-topped 1909 Stanley Steam car. Whilst Piglet's a steam enthusiast, he's never driven a steam car, nor has he ever driven in London so there's plenty of anxiety in the back seats. But with no seat belts and no doors, Peter and John make a pact to jump out if things get too hairy. From Kings Cross the men climb aboard The Duchess of Sutherland steam train which takes them as far as Stevenage where they stop off to see the fascinating vintage planes at the Shuttleworth Museum. It's at the museum that they find their final vehicle of this leg of their journey. The Puffing Billy is a century-old steam bus which was designed to carry a brass band to functions around the country. Peter gets to drive for the first time and propels them in style but not a lot of comfort all the way to the historic city of Peterborough.

In this second episode the intrepid trio start their journey at Peterborough station which is home to the Nene Valley Railway. Piglet is thrilled that they're starting on a steam train designed by famous designer Oliver Bullet called 92 Squadron. John gets to sit up front this time and was hoping that he'd drive but has to shovel coal whilst Piglet and Peter sit in comfort in the carriages. Eventually John's allowed to drive the huge engine which he's thrilled by. When they reach Wandsford at their journey's end they head to the engine sheds. Inside are plenty of fantastic engines but one excites them more than the rest: the original Thomas the Tank engine is there. She was named in 1971 when the Reverend W Awdry, having written his books, said that he needed a genuine engine to base his lead character on. Next the men head to the Grand Union Canal where they board a steam barge called The Adamant. They need to master the 7 locks which the enormous barge can only just fit into. Disaster awaits as John drops the essential windlass which is used to operate the locks but a man with a magnet saves the day. At Leicester the impressive steam loco the Duchess of Sutherland speeds the men north in style as they have waiter service in the fine dining car before arriving in York. Their final mode of transport is a quirky ¾ sized replica of a Victorian traction engine named Polly. John steers them through rush hour traffic much to the joy of the assembled crowds. The three of them are happily chuffing through the streets when disaster strikes - they grind to a halt as they've run out of water. They manage to get her going again to their final destination: the pub.

In York, Peter John and Paul head off down the river Ouse on a steam launch modeled on a luxury service vehicle from the 1980s, before stopping off at Newby Hall for a spot of lunch and to take a look around the stately home. When they later disembark in Ripon, the trio hop into a 1908 Stanley steam car to Paul's hometown of Pickering, before racing towards Grosmont on a 9F steam train with a huge 3,500 horsepower engine.

John, Peter and Paul set off from Whitby in their first vehicle of the day, a 1937 open-topped steam lorry, but when it breaks down, the trio have to hitch a ride to Beamish, the living history museum. From Beamish they head to the oldest railway line in the world, before hopping on a steam launch on the River Tyne. With just 75 miles to go and their journey coming to an end, they jump in their final steam vehicle and set off for the Scottish border.