Catch up TV

This episode is currently not available.

Series 4: 8. Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre to Winnipeg



Michael Portillo explores the province of Quebec with his 19th-century Appleton’s Guide to Canada. He takes the fabulously scenic Charlevoix train along the north bank of the mighty St Lawrence River to La Malbaie.\n\nFollowing his guidebook to the beautiful basilica at Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, Michael discovers the racks of crutches discarded by the healed and meets modern-day visitors in search of miracles.\n\nThe Train de Charlevoix, built to transport pilgrims, now conveys tourists along the north bank of the St Lawrence River to the Murray lakes. Michael tours the fine 19th-century houses, which were once the haunt of the Gatsby generation. Taking to the skies in a seaplane, Michael flies over the Laurentian Mountains to land on an isolated lake, where he fishes for trout for his supper.\n\nAt Baie St Paul, Michael heads for the high ground, where he discovers 6,500 tomato vines are under cultivation to produce wine. The waterfall at Montmorency is a spectacular sight – especially from a zip wire! \n\nFrom Quebec, Michael relocates to Canada’s Central Plains to begin a 1,000-mile journey across the vast Prairie aboard Canada’s last trans-continental passenger line. From the very heart of the country, he travels west to the majestic Rocky Mountains.\n\nOn this leg, Michael explores the Manitoban capital, Winnipeg, the nation’s chief railroad centre, known as the 'gateway to the west'. Joining the ranks of the 17,000 Canadian national students to have studied at the giant freight company’s national training centre, Michael has a go at marshalling a wagon.\n\nIn the French quarter of Saint Boniface, Michael cashes in at the Canadian Royal Mint and discovers the origins of the half-million Canadians who today identify as Metis. Michael meets a descendant of the 19th-century rebel leader now known as the Father of Manitoba and enjoys their traditional fiddle music.

Source: BBC 2

Most recent episodes of Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 2 Reversions: 10. Illinois To Tennessee

Series 2 Reversions: 10. Illinois To Tennessee

17-09-2024

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 2 Reversions: 9. Chicago To Champaign, Illinois

Series 2 Reversions: 9. Chicago To Champaign, Illinois

16-09-2024

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 2 Reversions: 8. Milwaukee To Chicago

Series 2 Reversions: 8. Milwaukee To Chicago

12-09-2024

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 2 Reversions: 7. Minnesota - Wisconsin

Series 2 Reversions: 7. Minnesota - Wisconsin

11-09-2024

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 2 Reversions: 6. Minneapolis - St Paul

Series 2 Reversions: 6. Minneapolis - St Paul

10-09-2024

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 2 Reversions: 5. Santa Fe, New Mexico, To The Grand Canyon

Series 2 Reversions: 5. Santa Fe, New Mexico, To The Grand Canyon

09-09-2024

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 2 Reversions: 4. La Junta To Colorado Springs

Series 2 Reversions: 4. La Junta To Colorado Springs

05-09-2024

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 2 Reversions: 2. Sedalia To St Joseph, Missouri

Series 2 Reversions: 2. Sedalia To St Joseph, Missouri

04-09-2024

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 2 Reversions: 3. Lawrence To Lamar, Colorado

Series 2 Reversions: 3. Lawrence To Lamar, Colorado

04-09-2024

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 2 Reversions: 1. St Louis To Jefferson City, Missouri

Series 2 Reversions: 1. St Louis To Jefferson City, Missouri

02-09-2024

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Most popular episodes of Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 2: 5. Lawrence To Topeka, Kansas

Series 2: 5. Lawrence To Topeka, Kansas

27-01-2017

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 1 Reversions: 4. Schenectady To Niagara Falls

Series 1 Reversions: 4. Schenectady To Niagara Falls

28-07-2016

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 4: 5. Kamloops To Calgary

Series 4: 5. Kamloops To Calgary

Clutching his 1899 Appleton’s Guide, Michael Portillo boards one of the world’s most famous trains, the Rocky Mountaineer, to cross the backbone of the North America ...

26-09-2022

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - 9. Lancaster To Gettysburg

9. Lancaster To Gettysburg

11-02-2016

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 3: 14. San Francisco

Series 3: 14. San Francisco

Michael Portillo resumes his exhilarating tour of San Francisco to find that diversity has been at the heart of the city since the days of the gold rush, though not always harmo ...

29-11-2022

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 2: 2. St Louis To Jefferson City, Missouri

Series 2: 2. St Louis To Jefferson City, Missouri

24-01-2017

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - 14. Manassas To Richmond

14. Manassas To Richmond

18-02-2016

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 3 Reversions: 4. Monterey To Los Angeles

Series 3 Reversions: 4. Monterey To Los Angeles

Steered by his late 19th-century Appleton's guidebook, Michael Portillo continues through southern California aboard the Coast Starlight rail service. In the historic port of Mo ...

08-06-2018

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 4: 7. Springhill Junction To Quebec City

Series 4: 7. Springhill Junction To Quebec City

Clutching his 1899 copy of Appleton’s Guide to Canada, Michael Portillo travels on the Ocean train from Nova Scotia to New Brunswick. Along the way, he investigates the wo ...

28-09-2022

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Great American Railroad Journeys

Great American Railroad Journeys - Series 4: 9. Portage La Prairie To Saskatoon

Series 4: 9. Portage La Prairie To Saskatoon

Steered by his 1899 Appleton’s Guide, Michael Portillo strikes west across Manitoba into the province of Saskatchewan. High above the prairie at Riding Mountain, Michael d ...

10-10-2022

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

© 2025 - Catchupplayer.co.uk