Billy and Dan return with a railfan update episode of StackTalk, covering a busy stretch of news across the hobby.

The episode focuses on a major summer of steam, including Big Boy’s national tour and a number of other high-profile excursions. Along the way, they talk about the realities of chasing, planning, and missing out, and whether this moment represents a high point for mainline steam activity.

They also discuss Amtrak’s shifting equipment strategy, infrastructure upgrades like the Portal Bridge, and broader changes affecting passenger rail and preservation. The conversation touches on the growing move from coal to oil-fired steam and what that signals for the future.

A mix of current events, context, and railfan perspective.