This week on the channel +640K views this week

DownieLive's steam-train race has a commuter-train interruption

Mike Downie's Sydney transport adventure also takes in working heritage buses, a vintage rail motor and the tall ship James Craig.

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DownieLive Story of November 2, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The channel's weekly summary: what went up this week, what is drawing views now, and where the channel stands among similar channels.

They drag raced Steam Trains in Sydney, Australia!

Video summary

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2:11Mike explores working historic buses outside Sydney Central Station.
2:56The James Craig takes him beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
3:56A century-old rail motor carries passengers along Sydney's mainline tracks.
6:40The two steam locomotives depart side by side, with a commuter train soon passing between them.
9:35Mike explains how the track speed limit turns the race into a coordinated performance.
12:31The locomotives return to the terminal, where the race's finish comes into view.

What happens when a commuter train passes between two racing steam locomotives? Mike Downie gets an unexpectedly good view of everyday Sydney intersecting with its transport history. "These people have no idea what they're between right now," he says.

"They drag raced Steam Trains in Sydney, Australia!" was DownieLive's only new upload this week, reaching roughly 165,000 views. Mike chooses to ride behind locomotive 3526 so he can look across at 3801. The steam engines run side by side on active railway tracks, though this is more choreographed spectacle than unrestricted speed contest: a track speed limit means they take turns passing each other.

Before the whistles and smoke, there's a whole Transport Heritage Expo to explore. Mike finds historic buses that actually operate, sails beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge aboard the James Craig and rides a century-old rail motor. The video includes a sponsored travel-data segment; its closing thanks go to the volunteers who keep heritage transport running.

The comments bring the railway memories. Viewers recall seeing multiple steam engines running together at Maitland's Steamfest, recognize the trains from childhood and describe waving from beside the line. Others are already imagining a Flying Scotsman-Mallard pairing.

The Sydney upload is the channel's strongest daily draw, while July's "Taking the train from Bangkok to Bali" continues to bring in viewers alongside its finale. Across DownieLive, daily viewing is below its usual level, and the subscriber total was unchanged over the week. Nearby travel channel Trek Trendy is running close to its normal daily viewing, while TayBrice is having a particularly busy spell.

For Mike, the standout detail isn't simply getting two steam engines together. It's doing so amid the working railway of a major city.

Published on Trari

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What viewers say

It's hard to top this, but sometimes at Steamfest in Maitland they can get 4 steam locomotives racing in parallel (as there are 4 tracks between Newcastle and Maitland). I've gotten to see this a couple of times, and seeing 4 steam locomotives running at once is truly magical.
@1234mallardSee it on YouTube
Really great to see downie downunder to partake in our heritage, we're very proud of it, thanks for showing it off ❤
@themidlandconnectionSee it on YouTube
Now i really want to see the Flying Scotsman against the A4 Mallard
@freja3187See it on YouTube

4 more comments

I could not drop what I was doing fast enough to catch this episode! Steam + Mike
@Travis_RidgenSee it on YouTube
It was great seeing your version of this adventure mate! and it was an honour to have met you there. Keep up the fantastic work on YouTube Michael. until we meet again🇦🇺❤🤙🏻
-TallBoyGareth
@TallBoyGarethSee it on YouTube
It’s amazing to see my favourite travel YouTuber from the other side of the world do a video on a train I’ve lived since I was a little boy, the 3801
@timheyer5660See it on YouTube
What an awesome video. I loved every moment of it. Thanks for bringing this to us! As an American, it was very interesting to see what the old vintage steam from Down Under looks like. And to see them actually running! What a treat. You're lucky to be able to experience that. Cheers
@TandemAdventurersSee it on YouTube