Lectures » Riding the Rails - Chris Levett
'Riding the Rails' - a historical and scenic rail journey through Europe
The story of Chris Levett's three week adventure travelling by train through Europe's great scenic rail journeys. Chris shares some of the fascinating history behind the places they stopped at: the great fire of the Chapel wooden bridge in Lucerne, the extraordinary way the 12th century Chillon Castle was defended against invasion, the oldest cogwheel railway in Europe, opened in 1871, and the Porta Nigra in Trier, built in 170AD and the oldest city gate in the world.
They travelled by train through six countries, covering 3000 miles, climbed 35,000ft up mountains, and a further 27,000ft by cable car. Plenty of celebrities have made similar journeys, but Chris's talk isn't just about the scenic bits, it's about all the things they don't show you. Did you know that in Switzerland trains are used much like buses, you press the bell if you want the train to stop? Cog railways are remarkable too, on one they travelled 8000ft up, but inside the mountain. And has anyone seen cows being herded down the middle of a Swiss town?
Chris also explains how the trip was organised and what it cost. The talk is presented in an amusing but informative way, with plenty of interaction with the audience.
Menu:
- Bangers and mash with peas and gravy
- Apple pie with cream
Last updated 1:37pm on 15 September 2026
