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Today was a day I'm so glad that I didn't sleep in during! 🛌 Saturdays are rarely entirely free for me now, and that's not a bad thing, but there was no way I would've missed out on November 18th - Because it was my first and last chance to witness the 101st Birthday Celebration of my favorite Japanese Steam Locomotive (do I have to say it?) 58654, which needs no introduction! 😄 I was joined by fellow members of 肥薩線again at Yatsushiro Station bright and early, and despite the cold, chilly weather, the crowds soon poured in and needed barriers from crossing the yellow line to get photos. My friend and fellow rail fan Minki Hatashima was there to greet and farewell the gallant SL and even landed an interview on the spot with NHK. I did as well. You can see his name mentioned in this article (in Japanese) about the party events. She's a beauty, isn't she? We know now for certain that the restoration of the Hisatsu Line to Hitoyoshi will be done. Next, we can only hope that this beloved steam locomotive will return there, too. But the day's adventures did not end there...

I'm going for a week in Warsaw in late august but i have some questions: 1) It's forbidden to take Photos or videos of trains (includes Metro and Trams) in poland? Is reqired a special permit? I ask this because in many countries railfanning is forbidden unless you've a special permit from the railway company. By the way my equipment will be a simple entry-level handcam. No tripods. And i'll made photos by a public accessible area (like station platforms). 2) Where can i find EN57s in the Warsaw area? 3) Is there any method to completely avoid the Siemens Inspiro train and thus the Whole Line 2 Metro? 4) What are the differences (in terms of services, lines and fares) between KM (Koleje Mazowieckie) and SKM (Szybka Kolej Miejska) ?

I am planning a short, post-Christmas, New Years holiday in central/southern Europe and will be in the Zurich area for a couple of days. I have allocated a full day for full-on trainwatching (no sightseeing), and am seeking some suggestions. My parameters for train watching spots: 1. locations within approx. 1 train hour of Zurich Central Station 2. mainline with heavy passenger traffic, preferably with freight traffic too, say 15~20tph ea. direction 3. good trackside vantage points with few obstructions like signs, overpasses, fencing. Station platforms are OK. *Background scenery not necessary, though existence of such is a plus 4. preferably some loco-hauled passenger trains, such as Re4/4 pulling older coaching stock, if it still exists I am thinking of visiting two or three spots for around 90min each, depending on the time needed to get to them as well as availability of daylight. I have already some places in mind: A. Olten- not so much for photography, but to observe SBB railway operations at this node. B. Some point on the approaches to the Gotthard Line (Zug?, Schwyz?), heavy pax and freight trafffic. Your thoughts appreciated.