There are bizarre incidents that go viral nearly every day, but rarely one as strange as a taxi driver arguing with a steam locomotive pilot because his SUV was hit by the train.
The taxi driver, who parked his vehicle near the tracks, blamed the locomotive pilot for driving the train on the wrong side. A video that went viral on social media captured the two drivers debating at the scene, which drew crowds of onlookers.
The incident, which occurred in Darjeeling, a hill station in India, has had people scratching their heads on social media, while many have been left concerned about the UNESCO heritage train.
Authorities confirmed later that the taxi was parked illegally near the railway line, leading the police to seize the taxi and charge the driver.
How Did the Train End Up on the Road?
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has been operating since 1881 and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historic importance and remarkable engineering.
The Darjeeling Toy Train runs on a narrow-gauge track and passes through the existing Hill Cart Road (National Highway 55). Back then, engineers utilized the road’s established gradient and carved the narrow track right alongside it to connect the plains to Darjeeling.
Just as tourists thought they would enjoy the scenic journeys through tea gardens and vast mountain landscapes, the train came to an abrupt halt because a taxi driver failed to park his SUV properly.
Taxi Driver Raises Weird Argument
A video posted on X shows the taxi driver arguing with the loco pilot in the middle of the road, holding up traffic from both sides. According to the post, his point was that the train was being driven on the wrong side of the road.
It appears from the footage that the loco pilot braked hard to prevent extensive damage to the SUV, a dark red Tata Sumo. While the train could have knocked the SUV from its path, it only left a few scratches on the passenger-side door.
It is common knowledge that a train cannot weave through traffic and instead travels along a fixed track. But the taxi driver appeared to ignore that fact and remained adamant that he was not at fault.
According to India Today, no injuries were reported. However, the extent of damage to the heritage train is not known.
Footage of the incident shows steam covering parts of the heritage loco, while a heated argument unfolded between the two parties.
Darjeeling hill train and taxi collide; driver seen arguing with the loco pilot, insisting the train was on the “wrong side.” 😄
Sometimes reality writes better comedy than fiction.
The iconic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway “Toy Train” was proceeding along its fixed, century-old… pic.twitter.com/CW4LP2dvJC
— Colonel Mayank Chaubey (@col_chaubey) July 12, 2026
One user expressed concern about the loco on X, commenting, “I really hope the engine did not get too scratched up..” Another user was of the opinion that the driver should have accepted his mistake. They said:
“If he had just said sorry and moved the car right away, he still might had the car and one less case against him, but he thought whats fun in that? Let’s argue with the loco pilot.” [sic]