Great American Railroad Journeys — Season 1, Episode 1: Manhattan: Grand Central to Broadway

Episode synopsis

Michael begins his American odyssey in New York City. Starting at Grand Central Terminal, the 'gateway to the nation', he boards the Manhattan subway system, the busiest rail transit system in the US. His first stop is the Rockefeller Centre, where he gets a bird's eye view of Manhattan Island and learns how about the technology which enabled the city to build up. Portillo heads to the Financial District, where, over a Lobster Newberg, he finds out how the dodgy political dealings of the era's famous industrialists earned them the nickname 'Robber Barons'. He observes their better side at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as he learns that philanthropy helped the city's burgeoning art scene, before finishing his journey midtown, among the bright lights of Broadway.

About Great American Railroad Journeys

Michael Portillo crosses the Atlantic to ride the railroads of America, armed with Appleton's General Guide to the United States, published in 1879.

More episodes from Season 1

• E2Manhattan: Lower East Side to World Trade Center
• E3Brooklyn to Montauk
• E4New York City to Garrison
• E5Poughkeepsie to Albany
• E6Schenectady to Rochester
• E7Buffalo to Niagara Falls
• E8Philadelphia to Atlantic City
• E9Lancaster to Gettysburg
• E10Wilmington to Havre de Grace
• E11Baltimore to Fort McHenry
• E12Washington DC
• E13Georgetown to Mount Vernon