Daniel Puddicombe
@danielonrails
Freelance railway journalist. Away from trains I’m a Paloma Faith enthusiast and a snooker anorak as well. Email: daniel@danielpuddicombe.com. Own views.
The @diningcar.at menu is very reasonably priced indeed and the food offering - like the rest of the train - aims to replicate menus from the 1970s…
Travelling on PKP’s “Nieśpieszny” (Unhurried) train today from Zakopane to Warsaw. It is comprised of wonderfully restored 1970s coaches and an electric loco in period-correct liveries.
Quite fun to go from the most photographed steam locomotive in the world as it crosses America to a locomotive that is an everyday sight in Poland in the space of four days…
Pt47-65 arrived spot on time in Poznan. This not the first time I’ve done this by any means but it is still remarkable there’s real main line steam running in 2026. I was, of course, the only enthusiast onboard.
The last bastion of real main line steam in the world is still running six days a week in 2026. Pt47-65 is hauling the 1046 Wolsztyn to Poznan all-shacks stopper this morning.
I’m a big fan of Kansas City’s streetcar network as it is (a) entirely free to use and (b) has good aircon.
Also, top marks to the Amtrak staff flagging 4014 to passengers onboard. The first of a few sightings today…
A new Amtrak division for me toddy, as I’m travelling on Train 311, the Missouri River Runner from St Louis. First time sampling the new Siemens Venture stock. Train 22, the on time(!) Texas Eagle to Chicago is on the right in the first photo.
Also visited the National Museum of Transportation on Friday, mostly to see No.4006. It only hit me this morning how many the museum’s exhibits were built at Schenectady Locomotive Works (including all 25 Big Boys). What a crying shame the site is now a casino.
Anyway, I was reunited with an old friend in St Louis earlier today…
Currently 38,000ft above Canada, typing this onboard an AA 787-9 using free WiFi. Part of me likes being connected during flights but it’s also a shame the days of being uncontactable on planes is disappearing rapidly. Anyway, there’ll be more American trains on this feed in the coming days.
5043 at Stratford-upon-Avon ready for the return leg to Birmingham. Owing to the fire risk (red status), the 47 on the rear is doing the lion’s share of the work.
After spending three days with the ‘Big Boy’ and 611, a ‘Castle’ feels tiny (indeed, two of them double-heading doesn’t match the length of 4014). I love Vintage Trains’ Shakespeare Express as it offers affordable main line steam haulage (£25) and pay on the day is possible, as I did this morning.
What’s better than one large US loco in a trip? Two, of course. A great day yesterday with the only remaining Norfolk and Western J-Class loco, No.611, in Virginia. Incredibly lucky to be able to sample 4014 and 611 almost back to back.
A childhood dream came true yesterday. Travelled 175 miles with Union Pacific’s ‘Big Boy’ No.4014 between Buffalo, NY and Sayre, PA, including two hours on the footplate. Story - I am the only non-US journo to be granted access during the coast-to-coast tour - coming soon.
A thoroughly enjoyable few hours spent at the Buffalo display day. Bravo to UP and NS for putting on a fine event. Former BR chairman Sir Peter Parker famously said that steam warms the market for the modern railway. That really does apply in the US when the ‘Big Boy’ is in town.
Union Pacific’s ‘Big Boy’ No.4014 - the world’s largest operational steam locomotive - crossing Cattaraugus Creek in Irving, NY, on the Conneaut, Ohio - Buffalo, NY leg of its historic coast-to-coast tour. What a sight, what a sound.
I am in Buffalo, NY, for the next few days (some of you will twig why) and its metro system is entirely free to use on the above-ground section.
Arrival into Union Station last night, around an hour behind schedule.
Crossing Niagara Falls into Canada. Currently waiting for a boat to clear a canal so a drawbridge can go down. New one for me.
Waiting for booked departure time at Niagara Falls, NY. Next stop: 🇨🇦
At Albany, there’s a 20 minute stop to detach the rear loco. Gives a good opportunity to go for a wander: the other train photographed a southbound Empire Service bound for NYC.
After a brilliant 40 hours in NYC being a tourist (Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty at sunset, Broadway show to name three things), I’m off to Canada for the first time, aboard Amtrak’s ‘Maple Leaf’ service.
One of the better days at work today. Celebrated the launch of The Chairman’s Train with a run from Euston to Crewe. Travelling along the WCML won’t quite be the same again… Story for @railmagazine.bsky.social coming soon.
Didn't realise Lumo has hired Flying Scotsman and a rake of Mk1s for its new Stirling service. This was posted by an account with 675k followers. *sigh*
Can't help but be staggered by the numbers quoted in this post by Union Pacific.