Great American Railroad Journeys (2016)

Episode Overview

Michael Portillo embarks on a new adventure along the Ocean line, set to explore Canada’s maritime provinces as he makes his way to Quebec City. Armed with an 1899 Appleton’s Guide to Canada, he begins his journey in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he visits an 18th-century British citadel once guarded by the 78th Highland Regiment. Joining modern reenactors, Michael dons a kilt and sporran to experience military drills under the watchful eye of a young 'sergeant major.' His travels take him to a historic Victorian dry dock, where he learns about the construction of advanced Arctic Patrol vessels. He also uncovers the tragic story of the 1917 Halifax explosion, which devastated the community, as well as the ongoing fight for justice from descendants of an African-Canadian community divided by the railway.