Around The Layout - A Model Railroad Podcast

Ray Arnott

Join us as we bring you stories from model railroaders just like you. We talk to enthusiasts across the hobby and learn about their beginnings, challenges, accomplishments and ultimately what excites and motivates them. Come hang out with us Around The Layout and be inspired to create your own model railroading story to share.

  1. ATLP Rewind - Paul Stamp & The Finger Lakes Railway - February 5, 2025

    1H AGO

    ATLP Rewind - Paul Stamp & The Finger Lakes Railway - February 5, 2025

    ATLP Rewind - Episode Originally Released February 4, 2025 With young modelers like Paul Stamp on the scene, the future of model railroading is looking bright! A rising star in the NMRA Lakeshores Division, Paul takes us on his journey from a youth filled with Thomas The Tank Engine to small layouts in his college apartment to the awesome Finger Lakes Railway model railroad he's building and sharing with all of us on YouTube. Paul gives us a background on the prototype and how he's incorporating the short line's operation into his layout. Learn more about this episode on our website: aroundthelayout.com/rewind Thank you to our episode sponsor, ScaleSigns.com: https://scalesigns.com/ Thank you to our episode sponsor, Oak Hill Model Railroad Track Supply: https://ohrtracksupply.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.

    54 min
  2. 5D AGO

    Introduction to Z Scale with Tim Mills

    We're on a mission to cover the model railroad hobby from A to Z, so let's head to the end of the alphabet and the world of 1:220 scale. Tim Mills of US Z Scale comes by to give us the basics of Z scale, from locomotives and rolling stock to track and scenery. Tim tells us the benefits of modeling smaller, even if your asparations are to build in a bigger scale. Later, Tim and Ray listen to the answers submitted for the Question Of The Month, "Why do you choose the scale you model?" Learn more about this episode on our website: aroundthelayout.com/216 This episode of Around The Layout is Powered By Rapido Trains: https://rapidotrains.com/ Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains: https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/ Thank you to our episode sponsor, ModelTrainBox.com: https://modeltrainbox.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.

    1h 3m
  3. FEB 19

    What's Happening In Model Railroading - Jordan Smith at Rapido Trains

    Here's an episode that "U" should defintely listen to, especially if General Electric U Series Locomotives are your thing! Jordan Smith from Rapido Trains rejoins the podcast to dive deeper into the announcements from the Railroad Hobby Show including the long list of U's along with plastic pellet hoppers and Trenton Works boxcars. Joe from da-joe-trains on YouTube comes by to tell us What's Trending and Eric Hansmann delivers his RPM Report.  Learn more about this episode on our website: aroundthelayout.com/215 This episode of Around The Layout is Powered By Rapido Trains: https://rapidotrains.com/ Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains: https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/ Thank you to our episode sponsor, ModelTrainBox.com: https://modeltrainbox.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.

    49 min
  4. FEB 12

    Talking Ops with Don Irace - Event Operating Sessions with Mark Herrick

    What's better than a train show? How about a train show with local operating sessions to make your trip complete?! That's the topic on this episode of Talking Ops with Don Irace as we talk to Mark Herrick, owner of the BNSF Montana Division HO scale layout. Over the last few years, Mark has opened his layout for muliple local events including the Railroad Hobby Show in West Springfield MA, NER regional conventions and to groups in town for any good reason that are just itching to get their turn on Mark's version of the Northern Transcon. Mark shares how he organizes and prepares for out of towners and gives tips for those who are looking to share their layout with others.  Learn more about this episode on our website: aroundthelayout.com/214 This episode of Around The Layout is Powered By Rapido Trains: https://rapidotrains.com/ Thank you to our episode sponsor, Spring Creek Model Trains: https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/ Thank you to our episode sponsor, ModelTrainBox.com: https://modeltrainbox.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.

    53 min
  5. ATLP Rewind - Talking Ops with Don Irace - Lakeshores Ops Squad with Ed O'Connell - January 14, 2025

    FEB 9

    ATLP Rewind - Talking Ops with Don Irace - Lakeshores Ops Squad with Ed O'Connell - January 14, 2025

    ATLP Rewind - Originally Released January 14, 2026 Having trouble creating operations on your existing layout? Want to create a new layout to host ops but don't know how? Call the Ops Squad! Ed O'Connell from the Lakeshores Division NMRA joins us on this episode of Talking Ops with Don Irace to tell us about the group of operations experts he's helped assemble to help model railroaders in western New York. Ed shares how he got into operations and how the Ops Squad was born of necessity to meet demand for events in their area. Learn more about this episode on our website: aroundthelayout.com/rewind 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.

    55 min
  6. FEB 5

    2026 Railroad Hobby Show Recap

    There was more than just the snow to talk about when it comes to the 2026 Railroad Hobby Show. Although the weather provided an unwelcomed challenge, it surely didn't stop this annual tradition that included new releases, exciting news and the gathering of tens of thousand model railroad enthusiasts. Listen in as we chat with several of the exhibitors that make up the four buildings of fun at the Eastern States Exposition.  Learn more about this episode on our website: aroundthelayout.com/213 This episode of Around The Layout is Powered By Rapido Trains: https://rapidotrains.com/ 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.

    56 min
4.8
out of 5
72 Ratings

About

Join us as we bring you stories from model railroaders just like you. We talk to enthusiasts across the hobby and learn about their beginnings, challenges, accomplishments and ultimately what excites and motivates them. Come hang out with us Around The Layout and be inspired to create your own model railroading story to share.

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