https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-r-m-ballantyne-library--7321911
For those who delight in shipwrecks, exploration, narrow escapes, and the grand adventure stories of the Victorian age, here is an invitation to travel once more into Ballantyne’s remarkable world.]]>enFictionPublic domainhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/5995a256ed3674a84cbb79db58e25e0f.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-r-m-ballantyne-library--7321911Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:32:02 +0000R. M. BallantyneGood Old Classicsfeeds@spreaker.comHoist sail, shoulder your pack, and set forth upon a world of peril, discovery, and high adventure. The R. M. Ballantyne Library brings the stirring tales of R. M. Ballantyne to life in full. Journeys across coral seas, frozen wastes, untamed forests,...
For those who delight in shipwrecks, exploration, narrow escapes, and the grand adventure stories of the Victorian age, here is an invitation to travel once more into Ballantyne’s remarkable world.]]>falsea413cbf0-743e-59e4-bff3-7f3bca2f5d5eserialhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-1-treats-of-the-engine-driver-s-house-and-household--75032501https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032501Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:25:15 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which we are introduced to the sturdy and affectionate Marrot family, who make their home beside the thunderous and rattling Grand National Trunk Railway embankment, living amid the constant clamour and vibrations of passing trains. Amidst the...1756false11fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-2-the-driver-visits-a-little-elderly-gentlewoman-and-prepares-the-iron-horse-for-action--75032503https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032503Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:25:19 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which John Marrot enjoys a brief domestic respite filled with playful chaos and tender family moments before duty calls him back to the steam and bustle of the railway shed, where meticulous preparations and strict regulations govern the life of...2445false12fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-3-in-which-the-widow-holds-converse-with-a-captain--75032505https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032505Fri, 11 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which we are introduced to the gentle widow Mrs Captain Tipps and her devoted son Joseph, whose lives are marked by quiet struggles and unexpected acts of kindness, while a chance meeting at a bustling station kindles a sudden and profound...1631false13fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-4-a-double-dilemma-and-its-consequences--75032507https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032507Fri, 11 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which a young gentleman, unexpectedly embroiled in a misunderstanding during his railway journey, encounters a kindly captain and faces a moment of acute distress as he is detained by a sharp-eyed detective. The narrative softly unfolds the...800false14fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-5-an-accident-and-its-consequences--75032510https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032510Sat, 12 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which an evening at a temporary railway station unfolds with Mr Tipps nervously coping amid the bustle of passengers and the vigilant scrutiny of the ever-observant Inspector Sharp. A sudden shunting mishap threatens disaster, leading to a dramatic...1405false15fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-6-history-of-the-iron-horse-part-1--75032511https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032511Sat, 12 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which we take a reflective excursion through the history and development of the Iron Horse, tracing the humble beginnings of railways from horse-drawn tramways to the revolutionary steam locomotives and the transformative advent of the railway age....1529false16fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-6-history-of-the-iron-horse-part-2--75032513https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032513Sun, 13 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which the boundless triumphs and trials of railway construction are unfolded, from the steadfast navvies to the heroic engineering feats of tunnels and bridges that conquer nature’s obstacles and sceptics’ doubts. We journey through stirring tales...1888false17fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-7-little-gertie-comes-out-in-a-new-light-and-bob-receives-good-news--75032514https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032514Sun, 13 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which John Marrot, a seasoned engine-driver, suffers a painful injury that brings his family and railway colleagues together in a tender display of care and concern, while his son Bob receives exciting news about a promising appointment. The...923false18fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-8-mrs-marrot-and-bob-visit-the-great-clatterby-works-part-1--75032516https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032516Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which the industrious visitors, Mrs Marrot and her son Bob, behold the astonishing Grand National Trunk Railway works, where a multitude of trades unite, and steam-powered machinery performs tasks with such vigour and speed as to surpass all...1340false19fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-8-mrs-marrot-and-bob-visit-the-great-clatterby-works-part-2--75032517https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032517Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which Mrs Marrot and her son Bob are taken on a thorough tour of the vast and bustling locomotive works, where iron is forged, shaped, and transformed into the various parts of a railway engine amid the clang and roar of steam-hammers and...1207false110fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-9-concerning-domestic-economy-and-difficulties-surprises-and-explanations--75032519https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032519Tue, 15 Sep 2026 18:30:03 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which the practical difficulties of household budgeting are candidly explored through the endeavours of the good Mrs Tipps, as she strives amid unforeseen expenses and tender family moments to reconcile her careful calculations with the pressing...1273false111fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-10-sharp-practice--75032523https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032523Tue, 15 Sep 2026 18:30:05 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which the indefatigable Superintendent Mr Sharp, guardian of the railway’s integrity, devises a clever plan to uncover the perpetrators of a series of thefts at Gorton station, while engaging in a discourse about the challenges and triumphs of...980false112fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-11-sharp-practice-continued--75032524https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032524Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which the indefatigable Mr Sharp pursues the furtive art of uncovering pilferers among railway men, employing keen observation and stratagem to expose hidden misdeeds amid the dimming light of evening. Amidst a vigil beneath the moon and whispered...1155false113fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-horse-chapter-12-loo-s-garden--75032527https://api.spreaker.com/episode/75032527Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:30:04 +0000R. M. BallantyneIn which the preparations for Mrs Durby’s journey to London are detailed amidst affectionate reminiscences and community concerns, culminating in a visit to the Marrots’ charming garden oasis nestled by the lively railway. Amidst lively conversation...779false114full