Around The Layout - A Model Railroad Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Michael Spoor & The Burlington C&A Divisions Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

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/
Learn more about this episode and check out photos of Michael's CB&Q:
www.aroundthelayout.com/107
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.

ATLP Rewind - Marty McGuirk & The Central Vermont Railway - June 6, 2023 Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released June 6, 2023
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.
Learn more about this episode and listen online:
aroundthelayout.com/43
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Southern Tier Grain Modelers Supply:
www.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.

Brian Sopke & The Benton & Southern Jun 25, 2024

Show notes

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.
Learn more about this episode and find photos and additional links on our website:
www.aroundthelayout.com/episodes/106
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains:
https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.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.

ATLP Rewind - William Sampson - Father & Son and The Great Northern & The Milwaukee Road Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released June 12, 2023
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/
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 - June 2024 - Tony Cook & Prairie Shadows Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

Who is Prairie Shadows Model Railway Co? Jeff Arnold, Rob Gruber and Brandon Nawrocki join Tony Cook and Ray Arnott to tell us about how Prairie Shadows got its start working with model railroad manufacturers on special projects to breaking out on their own with projects in N and HO scale. The team shares the challenges of creating highly detailed and accurate models and the steps they take to ensure the model matches the prototype. Later, Tony Cook tells us about his big project of late - the HO Collector Annual that Ray found to be a walk down memory lane.
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains:
www.springcreekmodeltrains.com
Learn more about this episode and find direct links on our website:
aroundthelayout.com/episodes/105
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.

Lonnie Bathurst, Scott Thornton & The 2024 St. Louis RPM Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

Saint Louis, Missouri - home of the Gateway Arch, and just about in the shadow of this national landmark resides the granddaddy of all railroad prototype modelers meets. Lonnie Bathurst, show producer, and frequent attendee Scott Thornton, tell us what makes the STLRPM a show that draws so many to the midwest in July to share models, knowledge, skills and, most importantly, comradarie. Lonnie shares this year's show theme, highlights the must-see events and tells us what we need to know to attend and display models at the show.
Thank you to our episode sponsor, Scale Modeling by Kevin J. Tully:
https://steelmillmodelerssupply.com/
Learn more about this episode and find additonal links on our website:
aroundthelayout.com/episodes/104
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.

John Farrington and the Somerset & Raritan Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

It's been way too long since we've heard from John Farrington and there was quite a bit to catch up on. Since the last time we talked, John has not only gone bigger with his layout, he's also gone freelance with a great railroad name and an awesome logo thanks to a very talented graphic artist that's a familiar name here on the podcast. John also talks about doing custom work for others, including myself, and debunks the old Mark Twain saying "good fences make good neighbors" when it comes to getting guidance and support with his model railroad.
Learn more about this episode on our website. Click the link below:
aroundthelayout.com/episodes/103
Follow Around The Layout on social media:
aroundthelayout.com/social
Support the podcast and get the chance to win free stuff by becoming a member of the ATLP Operating Crew:
aroundthelayout.com/crew
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.

ATLP Rewind - Matt Freix & The Gateway Western Subdivision 6 - March 28, 2023 Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released March 28, 2023
The Around The Layout (less than) six degrees of separation has led us to Matt Freix. A friend of past guests Dave Oppensano and Isaac Fabris, Matt joins us and tells his model railroading story; from his childhood modeling with a shovel of dirt on a 4x8 sheet of plywood to a beautifully finished basement where his Gateway Western's Subdivision 6 resides. Matt tells us about the prototype of his current layout and how friends, both in human and quick clamp form have helped him along his journey to recapture the glory of 1995. Matt also talks about the decision process of farming out tasks and how it has helped him focus on the parts of the hobby he enjoys.
Learn more about this episode and check out images of the Gateway Western Subdivision 6:
https://www.aroundthelayout.com/episodes/34
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.

Alex Mantle and the Chicago, Denver and Northern Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of Around The Layout, we meet Alex Mantle and learn about his model railroading journey. From California to Alaska to London and eventually on to Wyoming, Alex tells us how an attic find boosted his model railroading journey, his "practice layouts" and how he's gone big with his freelanced Chicago, Denver and Northern, sharing how he developed his backstory, paint scheme and chose the industries on his layout.
Check out the Chicago, Denver & Northern on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@chicagodenvernorthern999
Follow Alex and the CD&N on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/chicago_denver_northern/
Support the podcast and get yourself signed up for free giveaways by becoming a member of the ATLP Operating Crew!
patreon.com/AroundTheLayoutPodcast
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on social media: aroundthelayout.com/social
Send us an email: aroundthelayout@gmail.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.

ATLP Rewind - Dave Oppedisano & the BNSF Lakeside Subdivision - August 16, 2022 Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released August 16, 2022
Dave Oppedisano joins us to talk about his BNSF Lakeside Subdivision layout. Ray and Dave met at the New England/Northeast Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet in Springfield MA, and they discuss this event and Dave's presentation during NERPM. Dave tells us about the Lakeside Sub area and the parts he's incorporating into his layout. He also shares advice about choosing backdrop materials and shares his passion for all things electronics.
Support the podcast and get yourself signed up for free giveaways by becoming a member of the ATLP Operating Crew!
aroundthelayout.com/crew
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Connect with us on social media: aroundthelayout.com/social
Send us an email: aroundthelayout@gmail.com
Thank you to our show 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.

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