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Daniel Puddicombe

@danielonrails.bsky.social

150 followers 130 following 310 posts

Freelance journalist: Mostly write about trains and cars. Paloma Faith enthusiast and a snooker anorak as well. Email: [email protected]. Own views.

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · Nov 28

Hi Bluesky. Suppose I should introduce myself?

I'm a freelance journalist. I mostly write about trains these days; I'm very much an enthusiast that happens to be a journo and I travel thousands of miles behind steam each year in the UK & abroad.

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 1d

Every so often, the 135-year old former presidential train takes to Portugal's most scenic railway line. Last month, I travelled aboard Comboio Presidencial for an eight-course meal & trip along the Douro Valley for @telegraphnews.bsky.social:

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/desti...

@diningcar.at

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 2d

Unrelated to this, I sent you a DM a little while back, Miles. Cheers.

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 3d

Until last month, I'd never travelled on a railway run by an actual military. Have written about the glorious Tren Interoceánico network in Mexico for @telegraphnews.bsky.social.

Yes, it was most odd seeing armed marines guarding level crossings & platforms.

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/desti...

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 5d

Remember that Austrian bloke that jumped out of a balloon in space? This is a really nice read about him and also the culture about Red Bull's sponsorship of extreme sports. Well worth five minutes of your time.

The Observer @theobserveruk.bsky.social · 5d

Felix Baumgartner: the highs and lows of a life of extremes trib.al/zk6gSky

Felix Baumgartner: the highs and lows of a life of extremes

The Austrian skydiver survived jumping 24 miles from space. But then his challenges really began. How did a daredevil hero become a political villain?

trib.al

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 7d

Thanks for sharing my piece, Chris!

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 7d

The first of the dispatches from my US & Mexican rail trip went live this morning.

Amtrak's 'Pacific Surfliner' is a stunning route between LA and San Diego that's affordable and has good frequency - an epitome of all that is good about rail travel in the US.

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/affor...

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 14d

That's a really nice turn of phrase. Looking forward to reading the full piece.

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 24d

Pocinho can now be added onto a long list of places that I’ve technically been to but haven’t ventured beyond the station…

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 24d

For those not in the know: Class 1400 diesels date from the 1960s and were designed by English Electric. Effectively an Iberian gauge Class 20.

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 24d

Back on the Douro Valley Line this afternoon to cover the route in full to Pocinho and to bash 1400s. Glorious weather and a return ticket from Porto bought at the station 20mins prior to departure cost just €26. Bargain!

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 25d

Didn’t have “be capped and cheered off a train by its staff” on my 2025 bingo card but the 135 year old Comboio Presidencial is rather special…

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 25d

I bloody love dining cars. I am sat opposite a man who is the first American to run from Porto to Istanbul. Why? Because he could.

I’ve met so interesting folk that I wouldn’t otherwise cross paths with thanks to trains. @diningcar.at

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 25d

Travelling aboard Comboio Presidencial - Portugal’s 125 year old former presidential train - from Porto through the Douro Valley in lovely sunshine today. There’s the added bonus of haulage behind a 1960s English Electric 1400-class diesel…

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · 27d

I spent three weeks in the US and Mexico and returned home on Tuesday. I was rather eye-opening to eavesdrop on everyday conversations.

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · Sep 15

That looks amazing!

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · Sep 15

Arrived 15mins early into New Orleans; I’m guessing there’s a lot of slack in the schedule.

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · Sep 15

#TravelbyTrain Gulf Mexico in the morning sunshine edition.

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · Sep 15

“Ladies and gentlemen, you might want to keep your eyes peeled for dolphins” is not a train announcement that occurs in the UK.

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · Sep 15

I know there are bigger issues in the world right now but yesterday I took a tour along Mobile River. I saw SS United States, mid decommissioning. What an utter waste of America’s shipping heritage that it is going to be sunk off the coast of Florida to create a reef.

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · Sep 15

Starting the day from Mobile with a run on Amtrak’s Train 23, the westbound Mardi Gras Service.

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · Sep 14

Didn’t take a photo last night as it was dark, so here’s Train 24 arriving into Mobile this morning.

Locals have really taken the launch of Mardi Gras Service to heart - there was a lady handing out Visit Mobile bags to passengers. It’s so refreshing to see this enthusiasm.

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · Sep 14

Interesting - thanks for that correction, Greg!

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · Sep 14

They did indeed! Very tasty.

Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · Sep 14

If this isn’t an indication of a massive success, I don’t know what is:

- This morning’s New Orleans - Mobile: fully booked.
- ⁠This evening’s Mobile - New Orleans: fully booked with an extra carriage added.
- ⁠This evening’s New Orleans - Mobile: Fully booked, Business is declassified.

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Daniel Puddicombe @danielonrails.bsky.social · Sep 14

Volume up for the video of the arrival - plenty of tones!

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