Iron City Roundhouse Report

🚂 Iron City Roundhouse Report 🚂 Steel is taking center stage! Join hosts Brad and Pat for Part 1 of an in-depth series on steel mill modeling. They explore the different types of steel mills, explain the basic steelmaking process, and discuss how understanding the prototype can help you design more realistic and believable model railroad layouts. Along the way, they also talk about: 🔹 Why this...

🎙️🚂 Season 2, Episode 12  This episode of the Iron City Roundhouse Report is all about getting the most out of your model railroad budget! Join special guests Clem Harris and Freddie Mac as they share their experience finding great deals, including auction strategies, eBay research tricks, and ways to spot value in the secondary market. From brass and rolling stock to locomotives and accessories,...

Episode 11 — "Yardmasters" brings together 3D printing hobbyists and small-business owners from across North America to discuss getting started, safety, tools, and real-world workflows. Guests share practical tips for home and commercial printing, including resin vs. FDM differences, finishing techniques, and essential accessories.  The episode also explores the real costs and benefits of 3D print...

🚂 One year down — and the celebration continues! Join the Iron City Roundhouse Report for Part 2 of their one-year anniversary special as hosts Brad, Pat, Kevin, and Uncle Dave look back on an incredible year of railfan memories, stories, and community moments alongside the Iron City Young Guns — Blake George, Jimmy Braum, and Connor Deardoff. The crew revisits favorite segments like the office c...

🚂 Brad and Pat celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Iron City Roundhouse Report! This special anniversary episode reunites returning guests — modelers, YouTube creators, historians, and T-Track organizers — as they revisit favorite moments, unforgettable layout stories, and the incredible growth of the community over the past year. The discussion covers some of the biggest topics in the hobb...

Brad and Pat head to LA to talk with Bob Frein and Frank Hinojosa from Iron City West about their model railroading journeys and what’s trending on the West Coast. We get into: • Santa Fe, SP & Union Pacific modeling • Clubs like Belmont Shores • LCC & NCE control systems • T-Track modules • Mentoring the next generation of hobbyists Plus—don’t mi...

Season 2, Episode 7 🚂 Pat and Bradd are back with Office Car Special: Volume 3, joined by special guests Todd Treaster and Dave Abeles! From decades of real railroad experience to unforgettable railfanning stories, this episode dives deep into: • Railfanning safety tips every fan should know • Favorite hotspots like Horseshoe Curve, Crescent, and Lewistown • How prototype railroads inspire model...

🚂 Iron City Roundhouse Report – Part 2: Ron’s Social Media Bradd and Pat are back with special guest Ron Marsh from Ron’s Trains N Things for Part 2 of this great conversation! This episode dives into Ron’s perspective on the connection between model railroading and social media—and how that relationship is shaping the hobby today. They also go behind the scenes of Ron’s YouTube channel, breaking...

🚂 Iron City Roundhouse Report – Part 1: Ron’s Layout In this episode of the Iron City Roundhouse Report, hosts Brad, Pat, and Todd welcome special guest Ron Marsh from Ron’s Trains N Things for a great conversation about his model railroading journey. Ron shares details about his layout, including standout features, scenic techniques, and the section of the layout he enjoys the most. The crew als...

Iron City Roundhouse Report – Season 2, Episode 4  Hosts Brad and Pat sit down with three leading online auctioneers—Bill Jenkins of East/West Model Train Auctions, Ross Palabeski of NorCal Train Auctions, and Garrett Metcalf of Midwest Train Auctions—for an inside look at the fast-growing world of N-scale online sales. The group shares how they got started selling N-scale equipment online, why th...

In this episode of the Iron City Roundhouse Report, Bradd and Pat welcome accomplished HO‑scale modeler Tom Jacobs, whose work is deeply rooted in the railroad heritage of Reading, Pennsylvania. Tom takes listeners inside his meticulously crafted 1970s Reading Division layout, a project inspired by his family’s long-standing connection to the Reading Railroad. Tom walks us through the design and o...

Brad and Pat are back in the studio, kicking things off with a recap of the missed Springfield show and a look at the bright spots from a successful Science Center weekend. They highlight standout work from modelers Clem Harris and George Hall on the latest roundhouse report and share updates on upcoming club activities and projects. They’re joined by guest Kevin Squire for a practical, listener‑f...

Season 2, Episode 1 Brad and Pat kick off Season 2 by sitting down with DJ from DJ’s Trains for an in-depth catch-up on all things model railroading. DJ shares his journey growing up around the hobby, his professional work with CSX, and how those experiences influence his approach to modeling today. The conversation dives into scratch-building techniques, N-scale tips, and DJ’s evolving YouTube jo...

🎉 SEASON’S GREETINGS from The Iron City Roundhouse Report! 🎄 The Season 1 finale brings your hosts Bradd and Pat together one last time this year—joined by an all-star cast of hobbyists celebrating the season and wrapping up an amazing first year of the show. In this special episode, our guests share: ⭐ Favorite memories and highlights from 2025 🛠️ Layout projects and progress updates ⚡ DCC tr...

Iron City Roundhouse Report fans — Episode 17 goes "Freelanced" with special guest co-host Todd Treaster. Bradd, Pat and Todd discuss standout layouts modeling the (Lehigh Valley, Norfolk & Western, Finger Lakes), the importance of welcoming younger modelers, tips for running successful open houses and virtual showcases, and lessons learned from a multi-camera live layout showcase. They close...

Episode 16 of the Iron City Roundhouse Report features hosts Brad and Pat with special guest/co‑host Chuck Rockwell. They discuss Chuck’s career with CSX, his Mega...Mega...Mega three‑level N‑scale Chessie layout, signaling and DCC plans, and recent railfan adventures. Other highlights include a showcase of a British division modular cement plant, the Redding & Northern’s patriotic #1776 locom...

Episode 15 of the Iron City Roundhouse Report explores larger model railroad scales beyond N-scale. Hosts Pat and Brad talk with accomplished modelers about techniques, layout design, trackwork, showcases, remote operations, and recent community highlights like cover photo winners and club shows. Yardmasters "Dave Abeles, Scott Lister, David Heyde and Chris Adams" introduce their layouts and share...

Iron City Roundhouse Report Episode 14 "Snap it features hosts Brad and Pat with guests Marty Jenkins and Andy Zimmerman  discussing T‑Trak and modular model railroading. They cover T‑Trak fundamentals, real‑world tips for layout design and troubleshooting, and stories from recent shows like Altoona. The episode also explains how T-Trak modular railroading began for Iron City, how easy modules sna...

    Your host, Bradd Williamson and Pat Moore welcome back Todd Treaster and Uncle Dave Abeles for the Office Car Special, sharing stories from Altoona, Conrail train symbols, and life at Conway Yard. They explain manifest and intermodal symbols, special dimensional and military trains, cabooses and shoving platforms, and how to use prototypical details in model railroad operations. The episode bl...

Live from the Altoona N‑Scale Weekend, Iron City members walk through a busy show featuring large layouts, DCC and DC loops, vendor booths, clinics, and a module contest. The episode highlights vendors and new sound-equipped locomotives, fundraising in memory of organizer Mike Phillips (proceeds to the SPCA), community meetups, and evening events like a pizza party and open houses.

Jump into this exciting episode of the Roundhouse Report, where Bradd and Pat welcome Lorne James from Otter Valley Railroad. Lorne discusses the evolution of the model railroading industry and shares insights from his 23 years of experience, including the impact of online shopping and the pandemic on hobby shops. He delves into the trends shaping the hobby, such as the resurgence of steam engines...

Join the Iron City Roundhouse Report for a quick preview of Altoona N‑Scale Weekend (Sept 20–21). Walk‑in tickets are available at the gate; module setup begins Friday the 19th at noon. Highlights include a live podcast on Saturday at 2 PM, tower‑cam live streams, photo ops, contests and door prizes, and a Saturday night pizza gathering at the Station Inn. Todd Treaster open house runs Friday (fro...

Hosts Brad and Pat welcome Andy Zimmerman and Martyn Jenkins from the National Model Railroad Association to discuss the NMRA’s role in creating standards, fostering fellowship, and supporting modelers worldwide. The episode covers modular HO and N‑scale modeling, convention experiences and long‑distance travel, the benefits of NMRA membership and the partnership discount program, and the NMRAX on...

Pat Moore and Brad Williamson host EP 10 The Yardmasters and explore some random thoughts about the hobby. The Yardmasters— Phil, George, and Bob — gather for a lively model railroad ‘think tank’. They discuss restarting layouts, benchwork vs. T‑track modules, and ideas for micro and shelf layouts. The guys share weathering techniques, wheel and coupler preferences, favorite manufacturers, and whi...

Get ready for a real treat, folks! In this special episode, Bradd and Pat invite Kevin Squire to co-host the Altoona N Scale weekend preview show. They've got two fantastic interviews lined up with Tim Mallon, co-director of the Altoona show, and Alex Lang, the owner of the Station Inn in Cresson Pa. These guys will give you the lowdown on the Altoona weekend and all the amazing railfanning spots...