Around The Layout Podcast

23/07/2024

Don Irace & The Providence & Worcester III is now available. Learn more about this episode and listen online at aroundthelayout.com/111 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Don Irace is back in the Around The Layout studio to tell us more about how he developed his operating scheme for his Providence & Worcester layout. Don shares how he took the large operations held at the original layout in Scituate, Rhode Island for a multitude of operators and compressed it for a smaller crew while still providing fun and challenging trains to run on a layout that still gives a solid representation of the prototype.

Thank you to our show sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains:
https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/

22/07/2024

ATLP Rewind - Joe Atkinson & The IAIS 4th Sub from June 27, 2023 is now available. Learn more about this episode and listen online at aroundthelayout.com/rewind or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

After all of the past interrogations and information from informants, we've finally captured the Iowa Interstate Godfather; none other than Joe Atkinson himself. Now that we've beat the dead horse with this mafia thing, we can get down to the business of learning how Joe became such an authority on the Iowa Interstate, leading him to create two versions of the 4th Sub that has inspired fellow IAIS modelers and was featured in the January 2018 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman.

Thank you to our show sponsor, Oak Hill Model Railroad Track Supply LLC:
https://ohrtracksupply.com/

Thank you to our show sponsor, Highball Graphics Decals:
https://highballgraphics.com/

18/07/2024

More fun being had with ATLP 2022 in Deshler, Nebraska. It's on it's way to St Louis to join in the fun at the RPM before it's off to it's next stop.

Please join us! Sign your layout up for a stop at aroundthelayout.com/2022

16/07/2024

What's Happening In Model Railroading - July 2024 - Tony Cook is now available. Learn more about this episode and listen online at aroundthelayout.com/110 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

With so much news to catch up on, it's just Tony and Ray on this episode of What's Happening In Model Railroading as they get you caught up on recent events and talk plans for the St. Louis RPM. They recap the recent Firecrown Media special and Ray shares his experience at the N Scale Show in Bethlehem PA. Later, Tony brings us news from ScaleTrains, Athearn, Bachmann and more.

Thank you to our show sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains:
https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/

16/07/2024

The ATLP 2022 Interchange Tour rolls on! Stop 13 belongs to the Spring Creek Model Trains Free-Mo event this past weekend. Thanks to the Spring Creek team for including it in their awesome event. Next stop - St Louis!

We're having lots of fun and we want you to be a part of it - aroundthelayout.com/2022

15/07/2024

ATLP Rewind - James McNab & The Hills Line from June 20, 2023 is now available. Learn more about this episode and listen online at aroundthelayout.com/rewind

It's time to interrogate another member of the Iowa Interstate Mafia as we bring James McNab downtown for a whole line of questioning. Luckliy, James is willing to talk and we learn about his start in the hobby and how a fellow churchgoer's layout inspired him. We also hear how a change of employment led him to the Iowa Interstate and opened up a new world of railroading and friendships.

Thank you to our show sponsor, Southern Tier Grain Modelers Supply:
tullymodels.com

10/07/2024

Today's the day - submit your model railroad industry question for our Ask Tony segment on this month's What's Happening In Model Railroading today!

aroundthelayout.com/asktony

09/07/2024

Dustin Whitten & The N&W South Branch is now available. For more on this episode and to listen online, go to aroundthelayout.com/109 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

You've probably have heard of model railroaders that go on to become railroaders, but how about a railroader who starts their model railroading journey after hiring on to the railroad? That's the story of Dustin Whitten, a long time employee of Norfolk Southern who despite growing up near Southern Railway, has fallen for the Norfolk & Western. Dustin shares the lessons learned through 4 different layout builds and a run at freelance that led him to the N&W.

Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains:
https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/

09/07/2024

We were fearful that ATLP 2022 might have been caught in a cornfield meet in Iowa, but it has reemerged for it's 12th stop. It’s a beautiful day as Iowa Interstate GP10 #401 moves a coil steel car and boxcar full of paper on the Milan branch. The steel lattice truss bridges were built in 1890 and are still in use. Thanks to Scott Thornton for hosting ATLP 2022 on his outstanding layout!

It's not too late to get your layout featured. Sign up today at aroundthelayout.com/2022

08/07/2024

The 5th stop on the N Scale ATLP 2022 Interchange Tour takes it to the Olde Newburgh Model Railroad Club in Walden, NY. With Walden being the one time center of United States Pocket Knife manufacturing, the 2022 was carrying a load of Pocket Knives Around the Layout, where it met an Amtrak passenger train and a Conrail run-through freight, with a power pool B&CCS Dash 8 second out. Thanks to Dennis Colucci for arranging this stop on the tour.

Be the next stop on the tour - sign up at aroundthelayout.com/2022

08/07/2024

What's Happening In Model Railroading Special - Tony Cook & Craig Fuller is now available. Learn more about this episode and listen online at aroundthelayout.com/108 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Model Railroader - the "Rolling Stone" of our hobby - the magazine many of us grew up with, inspired us, and the one we dreamed of being on the cover someday. For those reasons and more, we're passionate about the publication and when the news hit that Kalmbach Media was purchased by a new owner, there was concern about the future. On this special episode of What's Happening In Model Railroading, Tony Cook and I talk to Firecrown Media CEO Craig Fuller and learn more about the new home for Model Railroader, Trains and the additional Kalmbach titles. Craig gives us an inside look at Firecrown and their plans to keep these legendary titles going for many years to come.

Thank you to our episode sponsor, Oak Hill Model Railroad Track Supply:
https://ohrtracksupply.com/

08/07/2024

While we await photos of the 3rd stop of the N Scale ATLP 2022 Interchange Tour, we can share the 4th, a trip to the layout of Dennis Colucci. Here's how he describes it:

The N Scale ATLP 2022 made its way up the Hudson from New York to Poughkeepsie, where it was picked up at the B&CCS/Conrail Interchange and made its way onto a Maybrook Line Local! The train met an Amtrak train while doing its local switching, and had a 4-8-2 led Excursion train pass by as well! And just for Ray's enjoyment, I took a shot of the ATLP 2022 and all the 50 foot Hi Cubes I have! Enjoy the natural lighting of my 1'x6' switching layout outside!

Join in on the fun - aroundthelayout.com/2022

06/07/2024

ICYMI - Dr. Mini, also known as Bernard Hellen, owner of miniprints, joined us for the July 2024 Operating Crew giveaway and made several big announcements.

- miniprints will be bringing MINIME full-body scanning to the 2024 St. Louis RPM. Get a miniature you on your layout - sign up at miniprints.com/stlrpm

- Bernard shared that Ray will be scanned at the STLRPM and will be available to railfan your layout in miniature in the near future!

- Bernard announced that animals are now available in painted as well as non-painted.

- If you want to learn how to paint your own figures, Bernard offers 2 clinics on figure painting at miniprints.com/clinic

- Want to get miniprints in your mailbox every month? Join the miniprints-of-the-month club at miniprints.com/subscriptions
..and a whole bunch more! Check out the replay of last night's live feed below and you just might find a special discount code for you!

Dr. Mini, also known as miniprints owner Bernard Hellen, makes a house call to the ATLP studio to make a special announcement regarding the St. Louis RPM and...

06/07/2024

Dr. Mini, also known as miniprints owner Bernard Hellen, makes a house call to the ATLP studio to make a special announcement regarding the St. Louis RPM and to give away a $50 gift certificate to miniprints to a member of the ATLP Operating Crew. Everyone who joins us for the live feed will be a winner, so tune in on July 5th at 8PM ET to find out more.

To be eligible to win the $50 gift certificate, join the ATLP Operating Crew by Friday, July 5th at 5PM ET at aroundthelayout.com/crew.

03/07/2024

Get your model railroad industry questions answered and hear yourself on the podcast!

It's time to Ask Tony - head to aroundthelayout.com/asktony to submit your question. Submissions for our next show need to be in by July 10th.

03/07/2024

Need yet another reason to join the Operating Crew? How about 5% off at MAC Rail LLC - Model Train Products & Services! Join today at aroundthelayout.com/crew to get this discount plus your chance to win monthly and of course, the exclusive sticker. :)

Thank you to MAC Rail for their support of Around The Layout Podcast.

https://macrailproducts.com/

02/07/2024

***UPDATE - The issues with the audio glitch have been resolved.***

There's a glitch with today's podcast audio that I'm working on fixing as we speak. We'll have a fixed version posted shortly.

02/07/2024

Win a $50 gift certificate from miniprints - join the Operating Crew at aroundthelayout.com/crew by Friday, July 5th at 5PM ET.

Then join Dr. Mini and ATLP host Ray Arnott live on Friday, July 5th at 8PM ET to learn more about miniprints with a special announcement regarding the St. Louis RPM and much more.

For less than 10 cents a day, you can be a member of the ATLP Operating Crew and get yourself in on the monthly giveaway drawings, an exclusive sticker and recognition on our website. Sign up today! aroundthelayout.com/crew

02/07/2024

Michael Spoor & The Burlington C&A Divisions is now available. Learn more about this episode and listen online at aroundthelayout.com/107 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

In this hobby, it's far too often that we see a layout meet its demise when its owner passes on, but on this episode, we hear the complete opposite in Michael Spoor's story. Michael shares with us how he has brought his late father's CB&Q layout back to operations, much to the delight of his father's friends, and has put his own signature on it with a slight change in time period and added the capability to move the clock forward to the time of his own youth.

Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains:
https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/

02/07/2024

Introducing.... Question Of The Month! aroundthelayout.com/question

Each month, we will post a question to the ATLP audience that you can answer by leaving us a voicemail. We'll take these answers and play them on an upcoming episode.

This month's question: What commodity does your model railroad move the most of? Tell us where it comes from, where it goes and why. Answers must be received by July 22nd.

01/07/2024

ATLP Rewind - Marty McGuirk & The Central Vermont Railway is now available. Find more about this episode and listen online at aroundthelayout.com/episodes/rewind or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

There's good news to deliver on this episode of Around The Layout - progress is being made in Washington DC - but only on the model railroading front. That progress is being made by Marty McGuirk, who joins us to share his model railroading story. Learn how a visit to New London, Connecticut became the precursor to an outstanding career and love for the Central Vermont. Marty also shares how a kitchen remodeling project eventually yielded a brand new layout area and how Lance Mindheim helped guide Marty on a "3-3-3" plan for his next model railroad.

Thank you to our episode sponsor, Southern Tier Grain Modelers Supply:
www.tullymodels.com

26/06/2024

Get your model railroad industry questions answered and hear yourself on the podcast!

It's time to Ask Tony - head to aroundthelayout.com/asktony and record your question for an upcoming episode of What's Happening In Model Railroading. Submission for the next show need to be in by July 10th.

25/06/2024

Brian Sopke & The Benton & Southern is now available. Learn more about this episode and listen online at https://www.aroundthelayout.com/episodes/106 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

A litte freelance model railroading amongst friends - that's what we get with Brian Sopke's Benton & Southern. Brian shares with us his model railroading journey that led him to team with a friend to create a freelance model railroad that connects them together. Additionally, Brian tells us what he learned by starting over, taking down a layout of frustration and creating his current railroad using lessons from the past.

Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains:
https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/

24/06/2024

ATLP Rewind - William Sampson - Father & Son & The Great Northern & The Milwaukee Road from June 12, 2023 is now available. Learn more about this episode and listen online at https://www.aroundthelayout.com/episodes/rewind or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

With Father's Day less than a week away, we got the father/son duo of William Sampson and William Sampson together to share their bond over model railroading. William Sr. tells us how railroad is in the Sampson blood, with ties to railroading in several generations. He then tells us how he got started in the hobby, with influences from his past leading him to model the Great Northern in 1970. He then shares how his model railroading journey got even better with the arrival of William Jr, who shares his memories of his father's layout and the many lessons and great times he shared with his dad.

Learn more about this episode and find photos and additional links on our website:
www.aroundthelayout.com/episodes/44

Thank you to our episode sponsor, Highball Graphics:
https://highballgraphics.com/

23/06/2024

It was equally as great seeing Mike from Spring Creek Model Trains yesterday in Bethlehem, PA. I'm always impressed at how well they present at shows and this one was no exception! Yes, I stopped in and said "WOW!" :)

To was good to see Ray, today at the N Scale Convention. Make sure to check out the Around The Layout Podcast!

23/06/2024

We stay right on the Free-moN layout at the 30th National N Scale Convention hosted by the N Scale Enthusiast at the Wind Creek Casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania as John Oh takes his turn hauling what we believe is fishing supplies in the 1:160th ATLP 2022.

If you're N or HO, we have a car for you to show on your layout. Sign up at aroundthelayout.com/2022

23/06/2024

I've been asked, "How do I get on the show?" The answer is:

aroundthelayout.com/tell

We're always looking for great guests for the podcast, so if you have a story to tell or a topic you'd like to cover, let us know about it!

22/06/2024

After arranging coupler repairs, Bob of Da’Bobs N-Scale Mancave takes the 1:160 ATLP 2022 for its inaugural trip on the FreemoN layout at the 2024 National N-Scale Convention in Bethlehem, PA.

Check out Bob’s YouTube channel:

https://youtube.com/

20/06/2024

The HOME SHOPS LLC Prairie Shadows Model Railway Co Michigan Interstate St. Clair Subdivision 50’ hi-cube boxcar has arrived at the ATLP studio and it’s a great looking car!

I would have tossed a FRED on it, but apparently I need to get over to MAC Rail LLC - Model Train Products & Services’ website and order some new EOT’s for scale couplers.

19/06/2024

ATLP 2022 has arrived on The Hills Line - the 11th stop of the tour and past ATLP guest James McNab has done an outstanding job of capturing the movements of the car while on his portion of the Iowa Interstate.

Sign up for your turn at aroundthelayout.com/2022