The Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading: Recent Episodes
John Gardiner IV
BGTMRRING is a free podcast explaining the basics for how to partake in the marvelous hobby of model railroading.
The first part of a pilot episode I recorded, testing out the concept of PFP before I released the Manifesto, where I Amtraked from Connellsville to Pittsburgh, explored Pittsburgh, and biked back.
A reminder to support CAN: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org
This episode finally gets us around to the "model" part of model railroading, teaching you how to prepare, paint, glue, brace, and detail either plastic or laser-cut wood kits. The different types of kits and glues are discussed, as well as scratch-building and kit-bashing, painting with an airbrush, and how to affix structures on the layout in a realistic manner.
This episode covers the history of the Class II railroads in the Mid-Atlantic Region, primarily the Reading, Central Railroad of New Jersey, Penn-Reading Seashore Lines, and Northern Central.
G4's take on NYC's Congestion Pricing, just in the nick of too late. Plus a report of a recent trip to a live show between City Nerd and the War on Cars in NYC, as well as bicycling around Baltimore, DC, NYC, and Philly.
Much thanks to all those whom asked a question! Feel free to reach out here: https://www.bgtmrring.org/contact
Link to the subsequent interview with Tom Barbalet on Model Rail Radio found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/model-rail-radio/id335536272?i=1000634820061
A one(-ish) year checkup with Tom Barbalet, talking about his incredibly enduring perspective of model railroading, how the hobby has changed over the years, the direction of modeling, transit, urbanism, geopolitics, artificial life simulations, and exobiology.
Model Rail Radio/Video
Listen to the original interview, from last year: Model Rail Radio November 13th, 2023: Tom Barbalet Talks with John Gardiner IV
www.barbalet.com
London 1940
This episode addresses the elephant in the room: that America is a now a fascist, dying country. What do we do now, and how do we fight back against the racist conservative idiots that are stealing our freedoms?
Please, please donate to:
The Freedom from Religion Foundation
Nova Ukraine
Anera
Black Lives Matter
The Rail Passengers Association
The High Speed Rail Alliance
The Sierra Club
The Parking Reform Network
In case you all forgot what it was to live like under Tronald Dump. Vote correctly!
Once again, if you want to know more, you can Extra-special thanks to Puzzle in a Thunderstorm and all their podcasts. You can find their website here: https://scathingatheist.com and their podcasts following:
And the diatribe in question can be sourced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW2k4qf_0mc&t=5s&pp=ygUdc2NhdGhpbmcgYXRoZWlzdCAxOTUgZGlhdHJpYmU%3D
This episode covers the history of the Class I railroads in the Mid-Atlantic Region, primarily the New York Central and Erie-Lackawanna.
Roundhouse Podcast M497 Black Beetle Episode: https://theroundhousepodcast.com/2018/03/19/jet-powered-train-the-story-of-m497/
Well There’s Your Problem Penn Central Episode 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/well-there-s-your-problem/id1487829595?i=1000552027994
Well There’s Your Problem Penn Central Episode 2: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/well-there-s-your-problem/id1487829595?i=1000554232906
Well There’s Your Problem Penn Central Episode 3: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/well-there-s-your-problem/id1487829595?i=1000558986111
David Sotokarlin's Chicago 2040 Plan: https://www.davidsotokarlin.com/chicago2040
Lucid Stew's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LucidStew/videos
And the episode in which I got a shout-out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffdJAM5RZro
Learn more at https://www.bgtmrring.org/
Episode Patreon blog and donations here: https://www.patreon.com/bgtmrring
In this brief episode, I explain why I'm delaying Borealis 4 and offer a bonus essay on a trip to Madison, Wisconsin.
The bicycle in question is here: https://www.ternbicycles.com/us/bikes/473/vektron-s10
The League of American Bicyclists Zoom given by Derrick James and Moriah Morales is here: https://youtu.be/YE6oJ7quCnM?si=CQetZzVpGOMgCHFE
Learn more at https://www.bgtmrring.org/
Episode Patreon blog and donations here: https://www.patreon.com/bgtmrring
Learn more at https://www.bgtmrring.org/
Episode Patreon blog and donations here: https://www.patreon.com/bgtmrring
Learn more at https://www.bgtmrring.org/
Episode Patreon blog and donations here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/proto-future-3-99401021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
Learn more at https://www.bgtmrring.org/
Episode Patreon blog and donations here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/proto-future-3-99401021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
Learn more at https://www.bgtmrring.org/
Episode Patreon blog and donations here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/proto-future-3-99401021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
This episode covers the different ways of making deciduous and evergreen trees, pouring epoxy water systems, ballasting track, and adding scenic details.
Clinics can be accessed here: https://www.bgtmrring.org/clinics
Episode Patreon blog and donations here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/proto-future-3-99401021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
Thank you all for sticking around this long! After over two thousand days of intermittently podcasting, we now finally get to make some scenery! Herein, I discuss ground staining, dirt, grass, and bushes.
So, here’s the story: When I first wrote and recorded this episode, I didn’t know if the sultans of swearing would honor me to share their supreme statements on stateside shame, so I recorded a version of the diatribe, myself, in the event they didn’t get back. Fantastically, they did, and I’m ever so happy for it, but I was, in fact, so proud of my interpretation that I couldn’t let it go to waste. In an attempt to as much as I can further the reach of the Scathing Atheist and Puzzle in a Thunderstorm, I thought it worth putting my own version out in the world, for the entertainment of my listeners and theirs, and to be reminded of the in errantly poignant and enduringly shameful events of that wretched year.
Once again, if you want to know more, you can Extra-special thanks to Puzzle in a Thunderstorm and all their podcasts. You can find their website here: https://scathingatheist.com and their podcasts following:
And the diatribe in question can be sourced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW2k4qf_0mc&t=5s&pp=ygUdc2NhdGhpbmcgYXRoZWlzdCAxOTUgZGlhdHJpYmU%3D
Extra-special thanks to Puzzle in a Thunderstorm and all their podcasts. You can find their website here: https://scathingatheist.com and their podcasts following:
The Scathing Atheist: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-scathing-atheist/id594676720
The Skepticrat: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-skepticrat/id969924303
God Awful Movies: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-awful-movies/id1041876428
Citation Needed: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/citation-needed/id1236993492
D&D Minus: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d-d-minus/id1501850375
And the diatribe in question can be sourced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW2k4qf_0mc&t=5s&pp=ygUdc2NhdGhpbmcgYXRoZWlzdCAxOTUgZGlhdHJpYmU%3D
Much thanks to all those whom asked a question! Feel free to reach out here: https://www.bgtmrring.org/contact
Link to the subsequent interview with Tom Barbalet on Model Rail Radio found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/model-rail-radio/id335536272?i=1000634820061
After far too long of a wait, I’ll examine the history of railroads in Southern New England and the Northeastern Mid-Atlantic states, as well as give you an update on whither I think this podcast will go, hinting at potentially big things later.
In this episode, I explain my absence, then tell you about making scenery landforms with plaster cloth, foam board, and other techniques, then finish with teaching you how to cast rocks. Be sure to visit me at Springfield this year to watch my new presentation!
In this episode, I’ll examine the history of railroads in Northern New England, starting with the Class Is, moving towards regionals and shortlines, and ending with a look at some of the most unique small railroads and operations with long-lasting historical significance.
In this episode, I’ll reward you for my tardiness by reading aloud a personal essay on the subjects of narrative and autonomic artificial intelligence as they relate to building and operating a model railroad, respectively.
In this episode, I’ll show you how to prepare roadbed, lay track, and wire it all up for derailment-free operation. I cover centerline transcribing, gluing roadbed, cutting, wiring, and laying track, and testing it all to ensure smooth running.
In the premier episode of a new miniseries, I will take you through the history of North American railroads, before covering the major railroads in each region in later installments.
In this episode, I will be covering all the track-laying theories and topics required to successfully prepare for track laying.
Don’t forget to vote correctly!
Stay safe and healthy, everybody! Remember, being cooped up is an excellent time to get working on trains!
Hello all! It’s been a while! In this episode, we get around to finally starting construction by discussing all the ins and outs of constructing benchwork.
Wow, hi, you’re actually reading the episode notes. I never do that when I’m listening to podcasts. Whelp, here we are.
I want to formally apologize for taking waaaaaaaaaaay too long to put this episode together. Graduate school is a bitch. I honestly haven’t progressed on model railroading pretty much at all in the past six months. Mount Gretna Narrow Gauge kind of lost my interest; it was too simple, too short-lived, and too demanding to successfully recreate in my space allotted.
I’ve recently started looking into another railroad, the Altoona and Beech Creek (known by half-a-dozen names in its 30-year lifespan). It Is also a nearby narrow gauge railroad, and it also served a pseudo-tourist purpose, delivering them to a resort, overlook, and picnic ground on the top of a mountain (I am quite positive it is the shortest railroad to summit the Allegheny range), but it is different, and more optimal for two reasons. First, it continued past the resort to some coal mines, which add a lot more intrigue than a hilltop-resort-and-back passenger run, and second, it is shrouded in much more mystery, such that there is a good chance I will never be able to fully reconstruct a completely accurate track schematic. This would allow me much more flexibility to accommodate it to the space that I have available. No solid plan yet, but I’ll let you all know on the Patreon blog what happens as things develop.
Anyway, enjoy this episode. It’s one I should have done a long time ago, but I absolutely promise we will get to construction next time!
In this episode, I describe how to choose and research a prototype railroad. The most important take-home message I can give you is that you should never underestimate the value of some good in-person research at a historical society or university library.
The website I reference in the episode is thusly: https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=262:1:19084355468963::::: and contains a complete archive of all the USGS maps ever recorded. Just search by state and quadrat name, and you will get a downloadable list of the files for maps made of that area.
Also please visit the links page of the website, which has a new, very detailed section on resources prototype research.
In this episode, I answer my first listener questions! This is an important part of the show because it helps me to focus in on which subjects you still require clarification on. You can submit questions of your own through the contact page on www.bgtmrring.org. Hope to hear from you soon!
Nobody will ever be able to completely synthesize all the information you will need to build a successful track plan, but these episodes should hopefully give you a good primer. This episode will focus on layout design from a modeler perspective and in the context of a layout room. Other topics also covered are that of modeler personality, track planning software, and making a layout for your own interests.
Nobody will ever be able to completely synthesize all the information you will need to build a successful track plan, but these episodes should hopefully give you a good primer. This episode will focus on railroad operation, and the components there with associated, and the next episode will focus on space usage and design from the human perspective.
This episode gives an overview of and solutions to common beginner pitfalls, with an eye towards the future and planning properly for it. If you have any suggestions or additions that you'd like to recommend, please use the contact page on the website to submit your feedback, and I will make updated versions of this episode. Special thanks to the Scathing Atheist Podcast, found at https://scathingatheist.com or on iTunes
In this episode, I give an overview of what the beginner will find in a train set, and explain the difference between DC and DCC. This will hopefully help the beginner to understand if they should buy a train set or use DCC.
Okay, confession, for as long as I've been in the hobby, it has always driven me nuts when someone says "I model in O Gauge". No. Ultra no. Infinity no. Gauge is the distance between the rails, scale is how small the trains are with respect to the prototype. Several scales use the same gauge track to represent alternate gauges of that scale. For example, F scale uses G gauge track to represent 3ft narrow gauge, and On30 uses HO gauge track to model 30 inch narrow gauge, whereas both G and HO use their respective gauges to represent standard gauge. Thus, saying which gauge you model in can be very uninformative as to what you do with it. Hopefully, this episode will eliminate such confusion in the next generation of modelers.
In this episode, I will give you a history of model railroading as a hobby, explain a few key features about the hobby, and explain the general steps required to build a model railroad. Don't forget to check out our new website at www.bgtmrring.org
In this episode, I'll explain what BGTMRRING is all about and introduce myself. This first new episode is dedicated to the Amherst MA Train show fan that introduced himself to me and encouraged me to start up again!
On this episode of the Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading, Nathan and G4 describe two important facets for beginners in the hobby: train sets, and whether or not you should buy them, and DC vs DCC, and whether or not you should use them.
In this Episode of BGTMRRING, we give an overview of the sub-hobby of garden railroading, describing all the general information you need to know to build one of your own. Garden railroading makes a great summer project for the family, even if you consider yourself mostly an indoor modeler.
On this episode of the Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading, Nathan and I explain the difference between scale and gauge, give a brief history of each modern model railroading scale, and suggest which scales might be best for you when building your first model railroad.
In this Episode of BGTMRRING, we give an overview of the hobby of model railroading, describe the purpose and unique qualities of model railroading, and give a history of the hobby.
In Episode 1 of BGTMRRING, we introduce ourselves and what we want this podcast to be about.