Welcome to the Tracing the Rails® Press Hub
Thank you for your interest in Tracing the Rails®—our award-nominated, non-profit documentary series uncovering Britain’s lost railways, one mile at a time. This press area is designed to provide journalists, editors, and media partners with up-to-date information about our episodes, upcoming features, guest presenters, and downloadable assets including logos, images, and trailers.
Whether you’re covering railway history, rural exploration, cultural storytelling, or Britain’s hidden heritage, you’ll find everything you need to learn more about the series and connect with our team.
👉 For press enquiries, interviews, or custom media packs, please contact: info@tracingtherails.com for the Press Letter, Please Click Here
Please feel free to download the assets from this page. Please bear in mind our name "Tracing the Rails" is trademarked, but not the image of the green Railway Totem Sign. Hence why the registered trademark logo appears within the sign, next to the text and not outside the sign.
Presenter - Stephen Cranford
Presenter - Mike Jaimes
Presenters - Stephen Cranford & Mike Jaimes
Director - Chris T Kirk
Producer - Lou Kirk-Partridge
Production Supervisor - Catherine Pope
Branding Guidelines: Click Here
Social Media Guidelines: Click Here
Opening Video Ident: Click Here
Hi-Res PNG Logo: Click Here
Hi-Res JPG Logo: Click Here
Tracing the Rails® – Press Information
About the Series
Tracing the Rails® is a non-profit, community-driven documentary series that celebrates and preserves Britain’s rich railway heritage. Beginning with the long-lost Steyning Line in West Sussex, the series blends archive material, community memories, aerial drone footage, and on-the-ground exploration to bring the past vividly back to life. Each episode invites viewers to walk the line with us, uncovering forgotten stations, hidden relics, and the stories of those who lived and worked along the tracks.
History & Focus
The Steyning Line once connected Shoreham-by-Sea to Horsham, serving communities such as Bramber, Steyning, Henfield, Partridge Green, West Grinstead, and Southwater. Closed under the Beeching cuts in 1966, the route now forms part of the Downs Link footpath and cycleway. Tracing the Rails® explores how this railway shaped local life, why it disappeared, and what remains today—from bridges and platforms buried in undergrowth to surprising artefacts preserved in gardens and museums.
The Team & Presenters
Stephen Cranford – Series presenter, BBC Radio Sussex broadcaster, and lifelong railway enthusiast, bringing warmth and humour to the narrative.
Mike Jaimes – Co-presenter and transport historian, specialising in rail, tram, and bus history.
Chris Kirk – Director and professional filmmaker/editor, with decades of experience in broadcast and documentary production.
Louise Kirk-Partridge – Producer and creative lead, ensuring community voices and local heritage remain central to the storytelling.
Guest appearances include Chris Bedford (“Dumpman”), creator of Sussex railway heritage films, and collaborations with local museums, authors, and historians.
Creation & Community
The project began in Upper Beeding, West Sussex, where local fascination with the vanished line inspired the team to research, film, and share its story. It has since grown into a 10-part documentary series, supported by community contributions, Patreon supporters, and local sponsorships. Residents have opened their homes, shared rare photographs, and even provided family memories dating back to the line’s early days.
Broadcast & Channels
Rewind TV – Weekly broadcast on Freeview 95, Sky 182, and Freely 125, reaching an average of 35,000 viewers per episode.
YouTube – Episodes premiere to a global audience, regularly achieving 60,000+ views per episode.
Patreon – Supporters enjoy exclusive early access, director’s cuts, behind-the-scenes features (“The Engine Shed”), and special Q&As.
Mission
As set out in its non-profit charter, Tracing the Rails Productions Ltd reinvests all income into creating accessible heritage documentaries. The company’s ethos is to preserve history, share knowledge freely, and celebrate the communities shaped by Britain’s railways.
