As South Asian Heritage Month draws to a close, Echoes of the Line podcast offers a timely reminder that Britain’s railway history has always been shaped by people from many different backgrounds.

Produced by The Mixed Museum, the three-part podcast series explores the overlooked multiracial history of Britain’s railways through archival discoveries, oral histories and family memories spanning more than 170 years. Challenging our notions of who worked on and travelled Britain’s railways, listeners encounter remarkable stories including Queen Malika of Awadh’s rail journey to meet Queen Victoria in 1856; interracial couples in the Victorian and Edwardian periods whose train journeys reveal stories of love and danger; the fight to overturn racial discrimination for rail workers in the 1960s; and individuals whose everyday journeys connected them with their families and communities.

Women in Rail Trustee Rajinder Pryor MBE features in Episodes 2 and 3, sharing both childhood memories of travelling by train and reflections on her own 20-year career in the rail industry. Her story sits alongside those of women from mixed Black Nigerian, Chinese and Anglo-Indian backgrounds, whose memories range from childhood trips to the seaside and visits to family, to journeys that inspired creative work and reflections on Britain’s colonial railway history.

Many of the stories featured in the series include personal connections. Rajinder said: “Looking back, I’m reminded that my own journey in the rail industry has only been possible because of the support of people around me. Most importantly, my husband who became the primary carer for our two daughters when my maternity leave ended, challenging traditional expectations and creating the space for me to build a career at Network Rail. This kind of allyship matters as it shapes what the next generation believes is possible.”

Echoes of the Line reminds us that there is no single railway story. Whether in the archives or in living memory, the history of Britain’s railways has always been richer and more diverse than many of us realise. We hope you’ll enjoy listening to the series and exploring the digital exhibition as well as celebrating women and their connection to the railways.

Access the podcast via Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit the digital exhibition here: Mixed Museum – Echoes of the Line

Images Rajinder Pryor MBE at Jalandhar City Junction railway station, Punjab, India, October 2025 & Left to right: The Mixed Museum’s Laura Smith and Dr Chamion Caballero recording Echoes of the Line in London, February 2026. Image credit: The Mixed Museum.