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About Us...
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All modelers have a life but what do we know of it. This podcast is as much about the people in the hobby of model railroading as it is about the hobby itself.
Having always been a fan of the long form conversational interview and having met so many interesting people in the hobby over the years we decided it would be fun to share their back stories with everyone else. So come along with me, Lionel Strang and a strong cast of supporting characters as we discover how life intertwines with this great hobby of ours and helps to strengthen the fabric of who we are as individuals. |
Upcoming Episodes...
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George's Journal Part 3 -
What happens when a well-worn railroader crosses paths with a rookie… Lots of stern looks, shaking of the head, rolling eyes and gnashing of the teeth. The Mayor of Hornepayne has found himself a nice place to live, some heritage units to shove freight cars over the hump using a belt pack, while “the Spoon” tries to explain how to protect the spare board. So find a comfortable chair, bring a big bowl of freshly buttered popcorn and enjoy the show!! |
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Adam Pinales - Art Dutra -
What happens when a guy decides to build a seven-and-a-half-inch gauge, two-and-a-half-inch scale railroad around his property?? More than you could possibly imagine and that's why we're here today. We all have questions about what Adam is up to and now through the AML Nation he’s enlisted the help of another one of it’s citizens. Adam is one of the most engaging, talented, prolific modelers we've met since beginning this podcast and along with Art the two of them are on the verge of becoming a live steam go to source for all things narrow gauge. Get comfortable as you’re about hear the story of two AMLer’s from different parts of North America coming together and the adventure that awaits. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded blueprints, a warm mug of slurry and enjoy !! |
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Episode 169: Jack Trabachino Part 3 !! -
They say it’s not the destination but the journey and this thirty-seven-part trilogy was one interesting journey, it took a while but we finally heard the story of Babbi and the O-Gauge layout. Jack’s lonely summer, plus the memories of times he and trusty side kick Dave Abeles spent together. This podcast could read as well as any good romantic comedy. Jack’s story didn’t disappoint, so grab yourself a stale commuter station Danish, a soggy paper cup full of lukewarm coffee and enjoy !! |
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Scenery Emergency with Chris Adams !! -
There are so many facets and skills to learn in this great hobby of model railroading, it's impossible to master all of them and for many of us the best we can hope for is to be really good at one or two disciplines such as trackwork, structures, DCC programming, painting, weathering and capable of handling some others. Creating the scenery for our railroads to run through can be almost an insurmountable task for some while others look forward to this aspect of the hobby with great delight. On this podcast we handle a late-night AML emergency with our buddy Chris Adams a.k.a. Mr. Fitness as he struggles to convince himself that he has any of the skills required to create great scenery. So grab yourself a big bowl of freshly mixed plaster, a tall cool glass of matte medium and enjoy. |
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Waz' Happenin' with Marty McGuirk -
We've had a lot of great modelers passed through the doors at the AML’s world headquarters in downtown Busted Knuckle, Kentucky and one of the most prolific is our next guest. Marty's had a fascinating career in the hobby from both the industry side and the journalism side, an excellent modeler who’s willing to share his passion for the Central Vermont Railway with anybody that will listen. This is a great episode where we catch up with all the comings and goings in Marty’s life. Check out his excellent YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC658VTCXk8HhKxlgYUs6-gw So sit back in your most comfortable chair with a warm blanket, a cool refreshing glass of Moxie soda and enjoy!! |
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Episode 168: Jack Trabachino Part Deux -
When we last left our heroes, the scares of being separated after grade five were still freshly etched into their memories. The tragedy of the Pattenburg Tunnel “incident” still lingered on through a haze of ding-dongs, train tracks and coffee trucks. This story truly reflects what life was like at the end of the last century as our intrepid travellers leapt into the twenty-first century with the intention of helping the world understand the benefits and excitement that can only be understood with a properly run commuter rail service. Grab yourself a big plate of shredded elementary school math tests, a steaming hot mug of week-old commuter station coffee and enjoy!! |
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Fans of the AML #36 -
Still haven't worked out the bugs on your remote-control roof scrubber, but the bugs in your lawn are slowly turning it into an S-scale model of the Australian outback. You’re convinced the virtual convention you attended exceeded the fire marshal’s occupancy limit. When your friends asked you to zoom your car was impounded by the local constabulary. We can’t help with any of these problems but after listening to this podcast a pedicure with a belt sander will seem less painful, so grab yourself a big bowl of shredded thirty-year shingles, a steaming hot mug of roofing tar and enjoy !! |
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Amtrak's 50th with Matt Donnelly -
Fifty years is a long time, especially if you’re a railroad passenger service that most critics thought of as nothing more than a stop gap measure likely to meet its demise sooner rather than later. Amtrak began with one painted locomotive a bunch of borrowed equipment a few full-time employees and a whole lot of anxiety on May 1st, 1971. It’s now time to celebrate a railroad that’s become a fixture on the American rail scene and of course where better to do it than right here on the AML Network. So jump on board, grab yourself a window seat in coach, a steaming hot mug of gusto and enjoy!! |
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Remote Operations on the OC -
The hobby has seen many changes over the last hundred years, some of them very significant and some of them just as important but maybe not as evident. Lately the hobby seems to be growing at an almost unimaginable rate while things seem to change and get better almost daily. One very revolutionary change has been the advent of remote operations, for some time now remote dispatching has been available, becoming more and more popular with each passing year but lately the ability for someone to operate a model railroad from a distant location or even a different continent has become one of the newest and most exciting changes that we've seen in some time. Get comfortable with your favorite set of earbuds as we discover this newest development with a group of individuals that pride themselves with being on the cutting edge of technology and advancing this great hobby of ours. |
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Episode 167: Jack Trabachino Part One -
And so begins an epic journey into the life of our next guest, we were first introduced to this gentleman by our very own “Uncle Dave” Abeles and true to his word Jack has turned out to be a very interesting study. In part one, we travel through the early years when Dave and Jack begin a lifelong friendship in grade five, it's a heart wrenching story with many twists and turns throughout that will surely bring a tear to your eye. Grab a big box of Kleenex, some popcorn, your favorite soda and get ready to listen to a romance of the ages. |
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George's Journal Part 4 -
The journey continues as we find out that George is getting home sick for Southern Ontario and “The Spoon” is more excited than a schoolgirl with a new puppy because of the announcement that ScaleTrains is acquiring S-scale tooling from MTH. Riding the rails agrees with the “Boy Wonder” but living in the bush miles from anywhere doesn’t appeal to his Grizzly Adams side. It's another exciting chapter in George's adventure as a full-time railroader with the Canadian National Railway . So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded discarded locomotive shells, a steaming hot mug of injection resin and enjoy !! |
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All-Star Variety Hour #29 -
Every podcast on the AML Network is like a bag of Cracker Jacks, you’re just never sure of what’s in the bag and this week is no different. First up is a visit with AML’s official videographer, Ron Marsh, he’s been making some major changes to his railroad and this week talks about his plans to build a helix. Then after a quick visit with Bernard Hellen, the creator of MiniPrints we check in with “the Teaspoon” for another chapter of “George’s Journal.” So grab that bag of week-old chips that’s been left on the counter, a steaming hot mug of leftover soda and enjoy !! |
Recent Episodes...
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ViewerMail Flight #79 -
In a hurry because you’ve missed the last train to Clarksville, you’re afraid the snowman you made with cheese-balls won’t last till summer. You’re concerned the democratization of the hobby isn’t happening fast enough. Have you ever wondered what it be like to move to Lititz, Pennsylvania but concerned their transit system isn’t sufficient enough to meet your needs?? Perhaps you’re considering a sound system for you 7 ½’ gauge eclectically powered streamliner?? We can’t help with any of problems but we can tell what other members of the AML Nation are concerned about as we answer ViewerMail. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded transit schedules, a steaming hot mug of diluted battery acid and enjoy !! Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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Episode 166: Apogee Locomotive Works -
This is a great episode about a young modeler, designer and businessman named Aaron Piotraschke. His love of interurban equipment and small industrial locomotives led him to 3-D printing and an opportunity to fill a void in the hobby. Aaron started producing quality HO scale shell kits for rare and unique prototypes like boxcab diesels, standard gauge traction motors and fireless locomotives used around industrial areas where explosives and other dangerous goods were manufactured. It’s a great story of a creative mind and a desire to conquer the world, so get comfortable by the Victrola with a warm cup of cocoa and enjoy !! Click Here For the Free Download |
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Inspiration and the Written Word -
Inspiration comes in many forms and it was after seeing a post on Bob Fallowfield’s Galt Sub Facebook page that we here at the ole’ AML Network decided to challenge or engage his views on publishing an article about his layout in the model railroad press. Some say the 1980’s produced an absolute treasure trove of ideas and inspirational modeling, long before the world wide web took during what some refer to as the golden age of model railroading. Bob has chosen his path to share his layout and modeling skills with the world and we think a more traditional form of publication is needed for the Galt Sub. So get comfortable in your bell bottoms and wide lapel suits as we investigate what might inspire you. Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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All-Star Variety Hour #28 -
It’s often been said the best path to a balanced diet is to hold a cupcake in each hand. Here at the ole’ AML Nation we strive to offer a fair and balanced diet of model railroad podcasting. In this episode we explore everything from what the July 4th is like in Lebanon, New Jersey, getting notes ready for an appearance on the “Dudes” show in St. Louis, Missouri and then finally discovering what life is like outback in Western Australia. So grab yourself a big bowl of last summer’s left-over potato salad, some month old Jagerbombs and enjoy !! Click Here For the Free Download |
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Fans of the AML #35 -
We cover a lot of ground in this podcast, “Hard Part” fills us in on getting his funeral arrangements set, turns out he was fine physically but wanted to get on his Mom’s good side so she’d make cookies for TomStock 2020. Chris Atkins tells us what it was like to live in Texas during an ice storm, the Queso Cowboy is excited to discover what’s in the next blue tub he pulls out of storage. We try to answer the question, “will Tom Patterson ever become a SuperFan.” It's all here, so grab yourself in a big bowl of shredded leftover funeral home flowers, a tall glass of melted Texas road ice and enjoy !! Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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Jenkins Photo Contest Winner -
This is it, we’ve arrived at our final destination, the last stop on the road to discovering who can best replicate the look of stunned surprise on Martyn Jenkins face as he sets off on another model railroading adventure. With almost a hundred entries we picked the best of the best that the AML Nation has to offer in order to help Martyn pick the best photo. It’s an exciting episode with plenty of paparazzi, red carpet interviews and a cast of thousands, so grab yourself a big bowl of shredded confetti, a tall glass outback pond water and enjoy !! Click Here For the Free Download |
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All-Star Variety Hour #27 -
“Mr. Introductions” a.k.a. David Start is always ready, the Evel Overlord and “Hard Part” patch things up and Timothy Harrison the dynamic host of the Model Railcast Show brings us up to date about all the comings and goings in his life. Hard Part tells us all about a website called HistoricAerials.com that allows you to easily search for aerial photographs of any parcel land in the United States which of course can be of great use looking to model abandon or current rail lines. It’s another great podcast so grab yourself a big bowl of shredded 8X10 glossy’s, a tall cool glass of stale pond water and enjoy !! Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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Episode 165: John Caffarelli & Cam Nealy -
This episode features two fantastic young men who found each other through the wonders of social media. Cam models the BNSF’s line over Crawford Hill and Marias Pass while John, who’s layout was planned by Bob Sprague, models the Union Pacific Mainline across the Cascade Subdivision in Oregon. These two young men typify what the next wave of model railroader will look like. We were so excited to interview these two youthful modelers we couldn't hardly think straight, so bear with us as we talk remote operations, manned helpers, YouTubing and what the next generation of model railroader might look like in the years and decades to come. Enjoy!! Click Here For the Free Download |
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200th Patron with Bill Sampson -
Well we finally did it, two hundred patrons and it didn't take that long at all. There's lots of excitement around the old AML headquarters here in Busted Knuckle, Kentucky with so many folks willing to plunk down their hard-earned cash just for a chance to tune in one more time each week. Bill Sampson from Minnesota wanted to do something special to recognize this momentous event with a special gift and we here at HQ decided to kick in a couple of T shirts. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded raffle tickets, a tall glass of freshly squeezed coleslaw juice and find out who the lucky winner is. Click Here For the Free Download |
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Fans of the AML #34 -
It’s another great addition of the “Fans”… Nothing gets done but we all have fun doing it. We talk about Chris Atkins’ new laser cutter that’s the size of a small freezer, Mr. Fitness struggles with his microphone, the Queso Cowboy ends up in a life-or-death struggle with a bag of chips, Kaylee discusses the pluses and minuses of the new Airbus a350 and, “Hard Part” is excited about his new assistant “the Dust Deputy” and Kelly talks about the merits of the recent NMRA election. Grab yourself a steaming hot bowl of potato chip soup, a tall cool glass of leftover election champagne and enjoy !! Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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Prototype Posse #8 -
The posse rides again as they cover a variety of subjects including a thorough investigation of the Delaware-Lackawanna short line railroad headquartered in Batavia, New York and operating primarily on former Conrail trackage. It was all going quite smoothly until the Evil Overlord insisted that he had to know what everything cost after a discussion ensued about car storage fees. “The Boy Wonder” forgot his notes and “the Spoon” declares he never had a knuckle while tell his story about a thirty-car derailment and Kaylee was pleaded with the audience to please help. A fun time was had by all, so grab yourself a big bowl of shredded leftover Buffalo wings, a steaming hot mug of coffee from the Conrail era and enjoy !! Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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Episode 164: Lorne James and Otter Valley Railroad -
Founded in 2003 the small family business of Otter Valley Railroad served local customers and travelled the circuit of train shows throughout Southern Ontario. In the summer of 2011 a brand new 1,200 square foot retail store was built and packed from the ceiling to the floor with model train products. Over the years Otter Valley has worked with such manufacturing giants as Bowser and Rapido Trains becoming an important source for individual items as they continue to grow and expand. Surrounded by a great group of employees, Lorne and his capable staff continues to grow the product line while the future looks more promising with each passing day. This is a great episode as the Evel Overlord reveals his alter-ego Captain Grumblebum, so grab yourself a big bowl of shredded Canadian bacon, a tall glass of Maple syrup and enjoy. Click Here For the Free Download |
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ViewerMail Flight #78 -
Just when you think you know somebody; they throw you a curveball at you. The excitement was almost too much for the AML Crew to handle, hoping for another letter from home as we watched the next flight of ViewerMail make it’s final approach into Busted Knuckle International Airport. In this episode of ViewerMail some deep dark secrets are revealed, our in-house legal counsel makes enough money to purchase those ostrich skinned fuzzy zippers he's always dreamed about and the Queso Cowboy gives us some insight into how his sleepy nights dreaming about adventures with AML Nation. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded fake passports, a tall cool glass of aviation fuel and enjoy !! Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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Drew Warrington and Tony -
The next generation of hobbyist is here with YouTube videos, Facebook pages and any other kind of social media you can think of this episode is a perfect example of why the argument of “the hobby is dying” needs to be put to rest once and for all. This is a great discussion with an enthusiastic young man who's all about enjoying this great hobby of model railroading. There's plenty of other fun as Tony Cook and Ron Marsh talk about collaborating on some exciting new projects for model railroad news. Plus we hear from our very own “Mr. Intros” David Start along with the proprietor of everybody's favorite model railroad shop, Midwest Model Railroad. So grab yourself a big bowl I've shredded videotape, a steaming hot mug of film developer and enjoy !! Click Here For the Free Download |
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the Spoon and the Youngin' -
What happens when you get two of the AML Network’s cutest on-air personalities … A bromance for the ages. The Evel Overlord stumbled into the Joe Cummings Studio late one night only to find “the Spoon” and “the Boy Wonder” deep in conversation and looking longingly into each other's eyes. Throw in the subject matter of the Canadian National Railway’s heritage units and you've got yourself one steamy date night. In all seriousness though we couldn't think of a better duo to be discussing the advent of railroads all across North America repainting their locomotives in a bid to pay homage to their collective roots. It's a great discussion that covers the topic in detail with some side chats, so grab yourself a big bowl of old paint flakes, a tall cool glass of lacquer thinner and enjoy !! Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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Episode 163: Emory Van Lehman III -
More and more we’re finding full-time railroaders just as interested and excited about model railroading as they are with their day jobs. This month's guest is a long time BNSF employee who enjoys spending time at the workbench as much he does behind the controls of an SD40-2. It's a great story of a dedicated railroader from his early days in the Seattle, Washington area to his present assignment in Temple, Texas and all his adventures in between. So grab yourself a big bowl I've shredded air hoses, a tall cool glass of spent diesel fuel and enjoy !! Click Here For the Free Download |
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Fans of the AML #33 -
It's another exciting episode of the “Fans” with all your favorite characters, just plain simple folks, the sort of people who’ve settled down and taken the wheels off their trailer. This episode contains the kind of edge of your seat excitement that you've become used to in years past as the Evel Overlord negotiates the price of Lafawnduh with Hard Part, the Spoon tries to convince us that particle board will never warp and Mr. Fitness frets over his scenery. It's floor to ceiling fun as we tried to figure out who Serge Lebel has buried in his layout. So grab yourself a steaming hot bowl of creamy sawdust, a tall glass of freshly mixed hydrocal and enjoy!! Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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Kelly Questions: "Uncle" Dave Abeles -
It's time for another exciting round of the Kelly Questions with one of Conrail's biggest fans, we've all got to know him up and personal from his fabulous Facebook live podcasts featuring operations in upstate New York and now it’s our chance to find out how he holds up under pressure. It’s our very own “Uncle” Dave, as he dons the tin foil helmet and gets ready to answer some of the most toughest questions in the hobby today. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded timetables, a tall cool glass of melted aerosol cheese and enjoy !! Click Here For the Free Download |
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Waz' Happenin' with Jason Shron -
The hobby of model railroading is exploding and we're all going to be covered in model railroad goo but something else that's exploding is Rapido Trains one of the fastest growing manufacturers in the hobby producing all sorts of high-end quality models. This Canadian based company with three factories in China and a bunch of project managers spread across North America are all under the watchful eye of a train nerd with a passenger car in his basement. It's not easy to get Jason to sit still but we managed to do it for a couple of hours and ask a bunch of listener questions with the help of young Drew Warrington from Delaware. So grab yourself a huge bowl of shredded bacon, a big mug of steaming hot Maple syrup and enjoy. Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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Episode 162: Mike Hauk -
What do you get when combine a lifelong model railroader with a doctor and an ex-navy guy?? A great layout built by a dedicated member of the NMRA and someone who has squeezed as much out of the hobby as possible. This is a great episode that follows the journey of a lifelong model railroader that travelled the world while serving his country. When he finally settled down, he decided to preserve the memory the Susquehanna & New York Railroad in HO scale. Mike has also created a great website at: snyrr.com So sit back and get comfortable for a story that we’re sure won’t disappoint !! Click Here For the Free Download |
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Waz' Happenin' with Bob Fallowfield -
We’ve had so many great guests pass through the studio here at the ole’ AML Studios and it’s always fun to check up every once in a while, with folks to see what they’ve been up to, Bob Fallowfield is a passionate modeler and now a full size 1:1 scale railroader in his spare time. He also been a frequent host on TrainMasters TV as well as his own show “the Platforum.” He’s a great historian of railroading and constantly seeking out retired railroaders to help quench his appetite for knowledge of railroading. This is a great interview so get comfortable in your favorite Holstein onesie and enjoy !! Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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NMRA Elections: Doehring/Robinson -
It's election time at the NMRA again and we’ve offered this podcast to anyone running for office in order for them to express their positions and answer questions about the future of this hobby and the organization. John Doehring who’s running for Eastern Director and Gordy Robinson who’s put his name on the ballot for president of the NMRA agreed to answer some questions and tell what they think is store for the future of this hobby. These two gentlemen were more than happy to answer our questions covering many areas of concern about where the hobby is headed. Hopefully this episode will help you decide one way or another who to vote for in this critical upcoming election. Enjoy !! Click Here For the Free Download |
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Fans of the AML #32 -
Chris Atkins talking about adding backdrops to his layout, Scott Lister tells us about building brass locomotives, “Hard Part” gets excited about soldering at different temperatures and the Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gets critique by the gang. Obviously with such a wide range of exciting topics it can only mean one thing… It’s time for another exciting edition of the “Fans.” We hit a new low with the number of posts we manage to cover, and the Evel Overlord stresses out about ever catching up, but Hard Part tells everyone to relax while he talks about the newest tool to arrive in his workshop. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded aluminum backdrops, a steaming hot mug of boiling solder and enjoy !! Chris Atkins' Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NPCBQ Scott Lister's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/modelingGandN Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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Episode 161: Dave Ramos -
What happens when a guy with lots of enthusiasm for the hobby with a personality as big as Manhattan itself, twelve hundred freight cars, a wobbly car float finally decides to build an operating layout?? You get a place where friendships come first and operating a model railroad in a realistic fashion is a close second. Welcome to the New York Harbor Railroad on the west of Manhattan set in the year 1947. Serving the Erie Railroad, Lehigh Valley Railroad and the New York Central all jammed into one basement primarily for the pleasure of other modelers to operate. Dave is a fun guy to talk with and this is an episode we’re sure you’ll enjoy !! Click Here For the Free Download |
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Prototype Posse #7 -
The “Posse” rides again in what might be one of our most exciting episodes yet !! We discover two new short line railroads, Spoon regales us with tales from the past, the Boy Wonder brings us up to speed on what’s happening with his new career in full size railroading, the Evel Overlord gives driving tips and even manages to make Kaylee mad. We learn everything there is to know about holding up your pants with a belt, try to determine how far it is from Hornepayne to Hearst, Ontario and discover the true meaning of life, all in just two short hours. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded road maps, a tall cool glass of yellow snow and enjoy !! Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
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George's Journal -
Starting a new career can be as exciting as anything you’ll ever do and getting to share the adventure with others might be the next best thing. When we found out our very own George “the Boy Wonder” Taylor (a.k.a. “Teaspoon”) had been hired on by the Canadian National Railway, we jumped at the chance to ride along. These are the first two installments in a journal of life as we tag along on what we hope will be a long, exciting journey for our intrepid hero as he begins a new chapter in his life. So grab your book of operating rules, radio, some warm boots and hop onboard this train bound for the future. Click Here For the Free Download |
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Fans of the AML #31 -
Just like an experimental moonshot that crashes to the ground or a top-heavy Christmas tree that ends up on the floor, this episode of the "Fans" is a disaster waiting to happen. Tune in as the gang wrestles with the new Facebook and realizes that without Kaylee, their attempts to understand anything are hopeless. Chris tell us about his new giant phone, the Spoon tells us about punishing his conductor by forcing him to listen to the podcast, the pros and cons of particle board are discussed at length and Hard Part his excited about a new delivery of decoders from his man of mystery. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded wood fibre, a tall cool glass of left-over Christmas tree water and enjoy !! Download This Podcast at: patreon.com/ModelersLife |
