The Roundhouse

Summer is almost here.  What should you pack for your next railfanning trip?  I share my Top Ten suggestions, along with introducing you to the Rail U.S.A. maps by Bella Terra Publishing.  We’ll also be discussing the recent derailment of Amtrak Train #188. News Amtrak Train #188 crashed in Philadelphia on the evening of May 12th, 2015.  NTSB has confirmed the train was traveling at 102 MPH...

As you know, preserving railroad history of the 19th Century is difficult due to the limited amount of equipment which has survived for so long.  Steam Into History Inc. provides a unique opportunity for you to connect with the Civil War era using replica equipment and historical reenactors.  COO Robert Gotwols joins us to talk about the formation of this railroad, how they engage with their homet...

Photo courtesy of Kelly Lynch/American Steam Railroad. Ever since it was announced that Reading T1 #2100 would be restored to operation, many of you have raised questions about the condition of the locomotive, what the restoration will require, and what the future of the locomotive holds.  Kelly Lynch joins us to answer these and discuss how we can keep steam restoration alive! News Today is the 1...

ATRRM Conference attendees relax at Hanover Jct. while visiting Steam Into History. The Association of Tourist Railroads and Railway Museums (ATRRM) is the result of a recent merger between two rail preservation organizations.  We learn more about what they do, how they help organizations in the industry, and why they want to help you find a good place to volunteer. News Fire Up 2100, the campaign...

Wales is a country of beautiful countryside, and with equipment that is over 150 years old the Talyllyn Railway takes you back in time in this landscape.  General Manager Chris Price talks about how the railway became the first preserved line in the world, what you can expect when you visit, the relationship it has with The Railway Series (Thomas the Tank Engine), and how the 150th Anniversary is...

#611 powers an excursion through Georgia one evening in 1992. Photo by James G. Howes. The Fire Up 611! campaign has been a tremendous success so far, with the locomotive nearing completion to operation. Chief Mechanical Officer Scott Lindsay provides us an update on the restoration of this locomotive, an overview of the campaign beyond the locomotive, and how he was involved with the 2002 Winter...

Casey Thomason (center,kneeling) Norfolk Southern employees, and other crew members pose with the NS Heritage Units in Spencer, NC. Photo by Nick Ozorak. The Roundhouse is Our House, and having topics requested by you on the show is highly important to meet that goal.  Many of you have been curious about what it is like to work for a Class I Railroad, so I interviewed THREE employees from Norfolk...

NS 9946 races through Cassandra, PA. Photo by Nick Ozorak. The Roundhouse is Our House, and having topics requested by you on the show is highly important to meet that goal.  Many of you have been curious about what it is like to work for a Class I Railroad, so I interviewed THREE employees from Norfolk Southern, each from a different location or field of work. News The Boulder Valley Railway Hist...

Leviathan rests for the night at Train Festival 2011 in Rock Island. Photo by Nick Ozorak. There is no doubt to the significance of President Lincoln’s role in American history.  David Kloke tells us about completing the funeral train and building Leviathan, a 19th century 4-4-0 steam locomotive. News Huffington Post ran  a great article about how trains influenced Walt Disney and led to his...

Jason is working on the underside of a Canadian Pacific ‘Park’ car. Photo courtesy of Jason Shron. Can you imagine starting up your own model train manufacturing business?  What models would you produce, and how would you run it?  Jason tells us about the founding of Rapido Trains, an HO and N-Scale manufacturing company, and why humor is important for the hobby. News The Roundhouse no...

In the heart of Lancaster County, the Strasburg Rail Road provides a unique railroad experience for the public.  Steam locomotives pull wooden coaches through beautiful farmland on a regular basis, and events like Day Out with Thomas and Steampunk Unlimited introduce the public to important pieces of railroad history.  Linn gives us a tour behind the scenes and the history of this fascinating oper...

If you are a railfan, you’ve been to a train show.  They are a unique opportunity to meet people in the hobby, buy new and used equipment, and take in the beautiful club layouts.  I have always had fun going to this show throughout the years, but I particularly enjoyed interviewing so many interesting vendors, club members, and railfans. News As you are probably aware, a CSX bakkan crude oil...

Pennsylvania Landscapes at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Photo by Sara Kelly. What is it like for someone outside of the hobby of model railroading to explore it, capture it on film, and create a feature-length documentary about it?  Filmmaker Sara Kelly shares with us her experience working on “Model Citizens” over the past couple of years and her unique perspective on model ra...

Nickel Plate Road #765 steams along the Cuyahoga River while visiting the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Photo by Nick Ozorak. Nickel Plate Road #765 has become a steam celebrity in the railroad and railfan community.  What is it like to be this locomotive’s engineer?  Rich Melvin shares his experience as Senior Engineer of NKP 765, as well as being CEO and Publisher of O Gauge Railroading...

Photo courtesy of Casey Thomason. If you were asked by a railroad to be their company photographer, would you say yes?  Casey Thomason works for one of the largest Class I railroads in the country and shares what life is like being on the road, finding interesting locations, and visually representing Norfolk Southern. News I was sent this video by a number of sources, and not all of them are railf...

As we embark on this railroad journey, it’s important to establish who I am, what the show is, and how you will become part of it. Related Episodes: The Scrapper Who Saved Steam Strasburg Railroad – Andrea Biesecker News Our first story is that Norfolk Southern has released the first of 25 GP33ECO locomotives.  These low-emission switch locomotives will be appearing around the NS syste...