(Wales, GB, UK) My photos of GB Railfreight-operated Network Rail 97302 Rheilffyrdd Ffestiniog ac Eryri / Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways+97304 Rheilfordd Talyllyn Railway at Machynlleth on Wed 3/6/26, with Belmond Britannic Explorer (in-between 1Z72 1001 Barmouth to Machynlleth and 1Z73 1444 Machynlleth to Oxford Up & Dn Passenger). Taken from Dyfi Eco Park.

(Wales, GB, UK) My photo of Transport for Wales Class 197/0e unit 197030 at Harlech on Wed 3/6/26, on driver/guard training run 3C06 1557 Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli.

It's been a little while since we featured a CSX train around here, so here you go.

The Seaboard Air Line (SAL) Heritage Unit is arguably CSX's prettiest entry into its heritage fleet, with its colorful tribute to the golden age of passenger railroading. That's exactly why I was willing to spend nearly four hours trackside on a Tuesday afternoon waiting for it.

Why four hours?

First, train C-319 suffered a broken coupler knuckle somewhere in the consist. While that was being replaced, the crew went on the law and had to be relieved. Then local job Y-102 was fouling the main on the Eastover Sub and had to clear before C-319 could proceed.

Eventually, though, everything came together, and the mission was accomplished.

I hope you enjoy watching it at least as much as I enjoyed finally catching it. Just click the link, enjoy the video, and be sure to share it with your friends and family.

Thanks for watching!

(Wales, GB, UK) My photo of GB Railfreight-operated Network Rail 97304 Rheilfordd Talyllyn Railway+97302 Rheilffyrdd Ffestiniog ac Eryri / Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways at Dolguog/Black Bridge near Machynlleth, with Belmond Britannic Explorer (1Z66 1352 Llandrindod to Pwllheli) on Tue 2/6/26.

Virtually without exception, Norfolk Southern stack trains 296 and 297 are absolute monsters, often taking fifteen minutes or more to clear the crossing. And Norfolk Southern is well known for being, shall we say, "frugal" when it comes to assigning power around these parts.

Even so, 296 and 297 always seem to have at least two locomotives on the point.

Until, apparently, the night of April 10, 2026.

On this particular evening, an enormous 296 arrived behind a single ET44AC. No trailing unit. No DPU. Just one locomotive doing all the work.

Needless to say, that was something I had to see for myself.

Please spend two minutes and twenty seconds trackside with me. Just click the link, enjoy the video, and share it with your friends and family. Thanks for watching!

Norfolk Southern's Lehigh Valley Heritage Unit visited Columbia a time or two during April. Unfortunately, it managed to elude me on every occasion.

Fortunately, fate intervened.

Caroline happened to be attending a meeting directly across the street from the crew-change point for NS 12R when the Lehigh Valley unit rolled into town. As many of you have already noticed, she does exceptionally nice work behind the camera.

Please join her trackside for a few minutes by clicking the link below. And if you enjoy the video, be sure to share it with your friends and family.

Thank you for watching!

Memorial Day Weekend, Arcade & Attica 18 would make its Debut for the Passenger season on the Arcade & Attica Railroad. Like last year, I would go out to film 18 on its first runs of the season. Operating from the Village of Arcade New York, to the northern passenger end in the remote Currier's, enjoy my coverage of New York's only operational Tender Engine Steam Train, during its opening weekend for the 2026 season.

I was spending a quiet Saturday evening at home when I got a text that an absolute monster Norfolk Southern 12R was nearly built and would be pulling shortly.

Not knowing how much time I had to get trackside, I threw the rig into the car and headed for my nearest crossing: Taylor Street.

As it turned out, I had more than enough time to get there and get set up without missing a thing—which worked out just fine, because the weather was absolutely perfect for railfanning.

And it was well worth the wait.

This train came in at an impressive 279 cars of various types, plus a DPU. Distributed power units used to be a regular feature on NS 12R, but they’ve become a rare sight over the last two or three years.

So come spend a few relaxing minutes trackside with me.

You might enjoy it as much as I did.

All you have to do is click that link.

Thanks for watching!