Around The Layout - A Model Railroad Podcast

Latest Episodes:

ATLP Rewind - The Art Of The Review with Ryan Crawford - October 1, 2024 Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released October 1, 2024
On this episode of Around The Layout Podcast, we talk to model railroad product reviewer and author Ryan Crawford. Ryan provides us with an inside look into his process for writing reviews, including the prototype research, evaluating details, and sharing what you need to know to make an educated purchasing decision. Ryan and Ray also chat about the amazing advances in today's models and what they would like to see more of. Later, we hear answers to the Question of the Month submitted by our listeners.
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Oak Hill Model Railroad Track Supply:
https://ohrtracksupply.com/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, ScaleSigns.com:
https://scalesigns.com/
Visit our website at aroundthelayout.com
Become a member of our Operating Crew for chances to win and much more!
aroundthelayout.com/crew
Around The Layout Podcast is a production of Thirty Five Productions LLC
©2026 Thirty Five Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Thirty Five Productions LLC or our sponsors.
Use of any trademarks or trade names is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.
No portion of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Thirty Five Productions LLC, except for brief quotations used for purposes of review, commentary, or promotion.

The Foreword To Freelance with Christopher Palmieri Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

How does one create a model railroading story of their very own? On this episode of Around The Layout Podcast, we talk to Christopher Palmieri, one of the leading voices in the freelance model railroading community, and learn more about the freelance concept and how it can benefit those who aren't completely sold on a fully prototype approach. Chris lays out steps to follow to start creating a freelance story and provides recommendations on resources to learn more. Later, we hear answers from our listeners to the Question of the Month.
Learn more about this episode on our website:
aroundthelayout.com/195
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains:
https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Home Shops:
https://homeshops.net/
Visit our website at aroundthelayout.com
Become a member of our Operating Crew for chances to win and much more!
aroundthelayout.com/crew
Around The Layout Podcast is a production of Thirty Five Productions LLC
©2026 Thirty Five Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Thirty Five Productions LLC or our sponsors.
Use of any trademarks or trade names is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.
No portion of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Thirty Five Productions LLC, except for brief quotations used for purposes of review, commentary, or promotion.

2025 Colorado Rail Proto Meet Interviews - Part Three Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

It's time for part three of our coverage of the 2025 Colorado Rail Proto Meet in Greeley, Colorado. On this episode, we talk to Hank Stephens, Christopher Palmieri from Home Shops, Ken Zieska from Crossing Gate Podcast and Chris Palomarez from Intermountain Railway Co.
Learn more about this episode on our website:
aroundthelayout.com/192
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Oak Hill Model Railroad Track Supply:
https://ohrtracksupply.com/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, ScaleSigns.com:
https://scalesigns.com/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Tully Models:
https://tullymodels.com
Visit our website at aroundthelayout.com
Become a member of our Operating Crew for chances to win and much more!
aroundthelayout.com/crew
Around The Layout Podcast is a production of Thirty Five Productions LLC
©2026 Thirty Five Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Thirty Five Productions LLC or our sponsors.
Use of any trademarks or trade names is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.
No portion of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Thirty Five Productions LLC, except for brief quotations used for purposes of review, commentary, or promotion.

What's Happening In Model Railroading - October 2025 - Tony Cook & Matthew Freix Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

Put your prototype research to good use. That's what Matthew Freix is doing by contributing to the book Gateway Western - A Regional In Transitiion. Matt tells us what he's learned and what you can get out of this new book that is coming soon from White River Productions. Later, Ray and Tony discuss new products from Class One Model Works, Walthers, ScaleTrains, PIKO America, Rapido Trains, Broadway Limited Imports and Bachmann Trains.
This episode was recorded live as part of our first Around The Layout Podcast Live on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@aroundthelayout
Learn more about this episode on our website:
aroundthelayout.com/194
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains:
https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Home Shops:
https://homeshops.net/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Tully Models:
https://tullymodels.com
Visit our website at aroundthelayout.com
Become a member of our Operating Crew for chances to win and much more!
aroundthelayout.com/crew
Around The Layout Podcast is a production of Thirty Five Productions LLC
©2026 Thirty Five Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Thirty Five Productions LLC or our sponsors.
Use of any trademarks or trade names is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.
No portion of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Thirty Five Productions LLC, except for brief quotations used for purposes of review, commentary, or promotion.

2025 Colorado Rail Proto Meet Interviews - Part Two Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

It's time for part two of our coverage of the 2025 Colorado Rail Proto Meet in Greeley, Colorado. On this episode, we talk to Greg McComas, Bill Schneider from Rapido, Rick Bacon and Bob Stears from Roka.
Learn more about this episode on our website:
aroundthelayout.com/191
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Oak Hill Model Railroad Track Supply:
https://ohrtracksupply.com/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, ScaleSigns.com:
https://scalesigns.com/
Visit our website at aroundthelayout.com
Become a member of our Operating Crew for chances to win and much more!
aroundthelayout.com/crew
Around The Layout Podcast is a production of Thirty Five Productions LLC
©2026 Thirty Five Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Thirty Five Productions LLC or our sponsors.
Use of any trademarks or trade names is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.
No portion of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Thirty Five Productions LLC, except for brief quotations used for purposes of review, commentary, or promotion.

Talking Ops with Don Irace - BNSF Montana Division Ops with Mark Herrick Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

What would you do if you discovered a passion for operations well into your layout build? Our guest on this episode of Talking Ops with Don Irace, Mark Herrick, did just that and tells us how he took what he started, and with some inspiration and guidance from a good friend, turned his BNSF Montana Division that was originally designed for two and used artistic licence to turn it into an operations layout that hosts up to six and provides a diverse list of jobs. Mark talks about recreating lost industries to enhance the experience and how a layout owner should approach the process of developing jobs.
Learn more about this episode on our website:
aroundthelayout.com/193
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains:
https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Home Shops:
https://homeshops.net/
Visit our website at aroundthelayout.com
Become a member of our Operating Crew for chances to win and much more!
aroundthelayout.com/crew
Around The Layout Podcast is a production of Thirty Five Productions LLC
©2026 Thirty Five Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Thirty Five Productions LLC or our sponsors.
Use of any trademarks or trade names is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.
No portion of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Thirty Five Productions LLC, except for brief quotations used for purposes of review, commentary, or promotion.

2025 Colorado Rail Proto Meet Interviews - Part One Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

Picturesque views, an amazing model railroad museum, a hotbed of top notch layouts and now an event bringing modelers together from both the prototype and freelance approaches - this is what the 2025 Colorado Rail Proto Meet delivers. ATLP host Ray Arnott was on the scene and talked to several of the show attendees and this is part one of three of those conversations. On this episode, Ray talks to Radisson McGuire, Mike Zucker, Brian Sopke and George Bogatiuk.
Learn more about this episode on our website:
aroundthelayout.com/190
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Tully Models:
https://tullymodels.com
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Oak Hill Model Railroad Track Supply:
https://ohrtracksupply.com/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, ScaleSigns.com:
https://scalesigns.com/
Visit our website at aroundthelayout.com
Become a member of our Operating Crew for chances to win and much more!
aroundthelayout.com/crew
Around The Layout Podcast is a production of Thirty Five Productions LLC
©2026 Thirty Five Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Thirty Five Productions LLC or our sponsors.
Use of any trademarks or trade names is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.
No portion of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Thirty Five Productions LLC, except for brief quotations used for purposes of review, commentary, or promotion.

Brent Johnson & The Clinchfield Carolina Division Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

Can the process of building the a big layout be the same as eating an elephant? For Brent Johnson, taking one bite at a time is an approach that has kept his flywheel turning as he looks to accomplish a rather large layout build of the Clinchfield Railroad Carolina Division. Brent also shares how he used an interim layout to prepare for this build, and how early influences led him to model the southern end of the Clinchfield Railroad.
Learn more about this episode on our website:
aroundthelayout.com/184
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains:
https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Home Shops:
https://homeshops.net/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Tully Models:
https://tullymodels.com
Visit our website at aroundthelayout.com
Become a member of our Operating Crew for chances to win and much more!
aroundthelayout.com/crew
Around The Layout Podcast is a production of Thirty Five Productions LLC
©2026 Thirty Five Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Thirty Five Productions LLC or our sponsors.
Use of any trademarks or trade names is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.
No portion of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Thirty Five Productions LLC, except for brief quotations used for purposes of review, commentary, or promotion.

2025 Mid-Atlantic RPM Interviews Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

Come along with ATLP host Ray Arnott as he attends his first Mid-Atlantic RPM just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. Ray talks to several show participants about what they brought to share at MARPM and how the event affords them the opportunity to learn more and spend time with like-minded folks.
Learn more about this episode on our website:
aroundthelayout.com/188
Thank you to our episode sponsor, ScaleSigns.com:
https://scalesigns.com/
Thak you to our episode sponsor, Oak Hill Model Railroad Track Supply:
https://ohrtracksupply.com/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Highball Graphics:
https://highballgraphics.com/
Visit our website at aroundthelayout.com
Become a member of our Operating Crew for chances to win and much more!
aroundthelayout.com/crew
Around The Layout Podcast is a production of Thirty Five Productions LLC
©2026 Thirty Five Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Thirty Five Productions LLC or our sponsors.
Use of any trademarks or trade names is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.
No portion of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Thirty Five Productions LLC, except for brief quotations used for purposes of review, commentary, or promotion.

Introduction to N Scale with Jimmy DIY Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

As I prepare to join my fellow content creators in creating T-Trak modules, I thought it might be a good idea to get an education on N scale from someone who knows the topic well. So, on this episode of Around The Layout Podcast, Jimmy DIY gives me the 101 on 1:160th, from starter sets to locomotives and rolling stock and the overall differences between HO and N. Later, we hear from our audience as we listen to the answers submitted for our Question Of The Month.
Learn more about this episode on our website:
aroundthelayout.com/189
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains:
https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Home Shops:
https://homeshops.net/
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Tully Models:
https://tullymodels.com
Visit our website at aroundthelayout.com
Become a member of our Operating Crew for chances to win and much more!
aroundthelayout.com/crew
Around The Layout Podcast is a production of Thirty Five Productions LLC
©2026 Thirty Five Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Thirty Five Productions LLC or our sponsors.
Use of any trademarks or trade names is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.
No portion of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Thirty Five Productions LLC, except for brief quotations used for purposes of review, commentary, or promotion.

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