Around The Layout - A Model Railroad Podcast

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released November 22, 2022 What do you get when you combine an art teacher with a love of model railroading? You get Tom Johnson and a spectacular layout filled with super detailed scenes that tell the story of the late 70's in northern Indiana. Listen as Tom tells about growing up around the prototype and how it has influenced him to create a freelance story of his own on...

It's been way too long since we've heard Christopher Palmieri on Around The Layout, and with all the projects he's been working on at Home Shops, it was high time we got him on What's Happening In Model Railroading to get us up to speed. Tony Cook and Ray Arnott learn about his project selection process, what goes into creating a great freelance model railroad logo, and how Home Shops is expanding...

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released September 27, 2022 In this episode of Around The Layout, we go deep into the vivid imagination of Chris Palmieri and learn about the alternate railroading reality he has created in the freelance world of "The Meridian Speedway." Chris talks about the how he, from an early age, has been developing his own model railroad story based on his deep and growing knowledge...

Keeping a long family tradition of railroading, Allen Whitaker comes by to tell us about how, from a young age, he was exposed to the prototype, particularly the Southern Railway which inspired his freelance Tennessee Southern Railway. Allen shares how his career as a railroader has affected operations on his layout, and how knowing too much can be a challenge as a model railroader. Later, Allen s...

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released January 3, 2023 We’re off to the Sunshine State for a visit to Sebastian, the town that might become the capital of model railroading in Florida, and meet up with John Farrington. We learn how his grandfather helped light his youthful passion for model trains and how he rediscovered the hobby through content on YouTube. John talks about creating his own YouTube ch...

Around The Layout is where model railroaders and, in this case, podcasters come to tell their story. A pioneer of model railroad podcasts, Tom Barbalet, comes by to tell us about how Model Rail Radio was started. Tom talks about how the live radio call-in format for his long-running podcast was developed and how he has built an amazing community of friends from around the world. Check out Model Ra...

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released January 17, 2023 We give Streamyard the night off as Mark Herrick does an in-person visit to the Around The Layout studio and tells us about his model railroading journey that has led to the BNSF Montana Division. Listen as Mark tells us about how trips to Montana in his teenage years formed his love of the Burlington Northern and how a trip to “The Mall” sparked...

In our past interviews, we've found that freelance model railroaders have amazing stories to tell and Tim Garland is no exception. On this episode, Tim tells us how he got started in the hobby and how at 14 years old, his mind was made up about becoming a railroader. Tim shares how the story of the Seaboard Central was developed, how it's a form of protest against changes he's observed in the rail...

After getting to meet the NMRA Social Media guru Lucy Dormont in person at the Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show, I wanted to hear about her first trip to Springfield and her event filled weekend. Lucy shares the details on the events she participated in, including the NMRA Board of Directors meeting and the Women In Model Railroading meet and greet and operating session. I also find o...

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released January 31, 2023 He’s been talked about a lot on Around The Layout, but now it’s time to hear from Don Irace himself. Don’s original Providence & Worcester layout in Scituate, Rhode Island was known by many as the layout to see in southern New England, and he gives us the backstory on it’s creation. He shares how he developed operations on this layout, and how...

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Just a few weeks removed from the Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show, Broadway Limited's Curtis Koch stops by to tell us about the exciting announcements and releases from BLI, including the new Conductors Club, GP35's, die-cast diesels and a device you can use not only in the layout room, but throughout your home and garage too. Later, Tony brings us the industry news from ScaleTrains,...

ATLP Rewind - Originally released April 25, 2023 Seven days a week, Weather My Trains' Rob Arsenault is producing some of the most realistic and jaw-dropping weathering in the hobby. In this episode of Around The Layout, Rob puts down the brush and tells how a childhood spent on Prince Edward Island and railfanning the PEI sparked his lifelong love for trains. He shares how time spent in the Royal...

How did a Brit decide to model an American railroad? Blame it on Budweiser! That's one of the things we learn on this episode of Around The Layout as we chat with Steve McEwen about his model railroading journey and how his trips to the United States influenced his choice to model the New York & Atlantic Railway in a freelance way that addresses his wants in an operating layout. We also learn...

ATLP Rewind - Originally aired February 14, 2023 There are no shortage of topics when Thomas Klimoski comes to the Around The Layout studio. A retired firefighter, author, trainman and accomplished model railroader, Tom tells us about his beginnings in the hobby and how a letter written to a well-known model railroader changed his tragectory in model railroading and led to amazing opportunities an...

Want proof that the hobby isn't dying and young folks are into model railroading? Allow us to present, once again, Issac Fabris and his CN/IC Heyworth Spur. It's been quite a while, so we were overdue for an update and Isaac brings us up to speed on the changes he's made on his layout and how changing his era has allowed him to narrow his focus, keep what he loves, but set up guardrails that keeps...

Neil Schofield and his CP Rail's Newport & Lyndonville Subdivision has been our guest wish list since the start of the podcast, so when Neil reached out to be on the podcast, there was quite the celebration! Before telling us about his amazing layout, Neil tells us about his start in model railroading and forcing the transition era on his dad's steam era layout and how road trips to the northe...

West Springfield, Springfield, The Big E Show, Amherst - call it what you'd like, just make sure you get there! The Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show has become the bucket list event for model railroaders around the globe and leading this destination event is the highly dedicated and super enthusiastic Show Director John Sacerdote. John gives us a brief history of the show, then tells...

Shane Wilson, President of ScaleTrains, returns to Around The Layout Podcast to talk about the latest somewhat controversial announcement of the new Hypotypical line. Shane clears up some concerns and shares with us the benefits of adding a new line and how it positively impacts their ability to produce additional offerings. Later, Tony and I discuss more news pouring in from Broadway Limited, Bac...

On this episode of Around The Layout, we check in with Paul Cassar. Paul's not only the Executive Producer of Around The Layout; he's quite the modeler and he provides us with updates on his River Belt Line HO scale layout located in his garage in New South Wales, Australia. Paul talks about scratchbuilding, weathering, and super detailing the layout and how his choice to keep the layout relativel...

ATLP Rewind - Originally aired May 30, 2023 On this episode of Around The Layout, we head back to Texas to chat with yet another freelance model railroader, Joe Bohannon. Joe shares his start in the hobby and the many influences, from California to Washington State to Texas that led to him creating the Chinook Lines. He also tells us about his involvement in historical societies and how the knowle...

After hosting myself and fellow podcasters Andy Dorsch and Tom Gasior on his TSG Live Talking Trains, it was great to have John Abatecola stop by the Around The Layout studio. John tells us about his hobby within the hobby; creating videos to share his model railroading and prototype adventures with the masses. He talks about his work with Jack Burgess and how filming trains is so much better than...

ATLP Rewind - Originally aired September 19, 2023 There's something really cool when you find out that someone you watched on television and in movies is a fellow model railroader. On this podcast, we get to learn more about Michael Gross, the man who, among many acting accomplishments, portrayed TV dad Steven Keaton on Family Ties for seven seasons. It becomes clear early on that he's no actor wh...

Author and professional model railroad builder Lance Mindheim returns to Around The Layout with a couple of new books tucked under his arm. Since the last time he appeared, he's released two new "how and why" books, 8 Track Plans For Modern Era Switching Layouts and Scenery For Modern Switching Layouts. Lance shares with us the motivation for writing and takes an opportunity to tell us more about...

ATLP Rewind - Originally aired April 11, 2023 Why. It's the question every model railroader should know the answer to, and Lance Mindheim has prided himself in helping model railroaders find their own why. In this episode, we find out how Lance found his own "why" as he shares his own model railroading journey. He also shares how studying the arts has made him a better modeler and how you too can...