Season 1
12 episodes · 2005
1The Passion of a Lifetime
The late Fred Dibnah searches for technology from a bygone age. In this first episode, he demolishes his last ever chimney at a textile mill near Oldham.
2Collecting the Coal
Fred visits an open cast mine near Wigan to get coal to power his engine, then goes to Astley Green Mining Museum in Lancashire.
3The Source of Iron
Fred reaches Cumbria where iron ore was once mined on a large scale, and enjoys the Lake District on a friend's steam boat. It's then on to the Florence Mine.
4Castings
Fred and his steersman Alf travel up to Scotland, where they marvel at the ingenuity of the Falkirk Wheel and visit one of the region's few surviving iron works.
5Water and Boilers
Fred Dibnah searches Britain for technology from a bygone age, visiting Ryhope pumping station in Sunderland and the Israel Newton boiler works in Bradford.
6The Road to Steel City
Fred Dibnah travels Britain in a traction engine in search of engineering skills and technology from a bygone age. He visits a forge in Sheffield.
7Mechanics and Riveters
Fred Dibnah travels Britain in a traction engine in search of engineering skills from a bygone age. Fred visits a company that makes ornate carvings.
8Pattern Making
Documentary series. Fred Dibnah searches Britain for technology from a bygone age. He visits David Ragsdale, a skilled pattern maker who owns six steam engines.
9Engines at Work
Fred Dibnah travels Britain in a traction engine in search of engineering skills from a bygone age. Fred visits a pumping station with a triple expansion engine.
10Chains and Copper
Fred Dibnah travels Britain in a traction engine in search of engineering skills from a bygone age. Fred watches the skills of an authentic chain maker.
11The Engineering Workshop
The Engineering Workshop
12A Lifetime's Achievementfinale
Documentary series in which Fred Dibnah travels around Britain. In the final episode, Fred travels down to London to collect his MBE from the Queen.