BBC TIMESHIFT – THE ENGINE THAT POWERS THE WORLD

Today the diesel engine is the most indispensable engine in the world with approximately 94% of global trade being diesel powered and, with more than half of this figure is powered by engines made by MAN Diesel & Turbo, the next episode of BBC Four’s Timeshift series is of great local interest and devoted entirely to the history and development of the diesel engine.

Entitled The Engine That Powers the World, the one hour programme – broadcast this Wednesday 23 September 2015 at 9.00 pm – begins in 1890s Germany with Rudolf Diesel’s early work to develop a rival – and more efficient – engine as competition for the steam engine.

Diesel’s mysterious death in 1913 is also highlighted and discussed and the programme goes on to cover the diesel engine’s first use in submarines, the breakthrough by a British designer in the 1930s to make a smaller version suitable for road vehicles and the engine’s use on trains in the 1950s.

The 1950s also saw the first container ships being used.

MAN Diesel & Turbo UK Ltd’s Headquarters are based in Hazel Grove: a truly international company but with a truly local connection.

The Engine that Powers the World – Timeshift – BBC Four

Wednesday 23 September 2015 – 9.00pm

If you miss the original broadcast, the show will be available shortly afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.

Well worth a watch even if you’re not in the industry.