We’ve said it before and we’ll say again, social media, the digital age and access to so much more information through the wonders of the internet is changing model railroading at supersonic speed. One of the leaders in all of this is TSG Multimedia and John Abatecola, a very talented videographer and storyteller based in San Jose, California.

With an impressive catalog of over two thousand YouTube videos featuring an extensive series with Jack Burgess and his Yosemite Valley Railroad, product reviews, plenty of trackside action, chats with the always lovely Michelle Kempema, Wiley’s Wanderings and a host of other great videos, there’s more than enough to keep you busy while munching down a hastily thrown together hoagie at lunch time. So get ready to enjoy another great podcast.

It’s time for another victim errr… We mean guest, to put on the tin foil hat and get ready to test their skills in the Kelly Questions. This time we travelled out west to the beautiful state of Oregon to find one of our favorite guests taking a nap deep in the forests of the Rogue River Valley. From doing a stint in the Navy, his roots of building architectural models, scale ships and whatever caught his fancy, Joe finally ended up at Micro-Trains in the booming metropolis of Medford with his faithful companion “Kelly.”

This round of the Kelly Questions was more difficult to score as Joe had trouble staying awake through the entire process. Constantly referring to scenery techniques as landscaping, convinced the only beer that mattered was Fosters, discussions of teaching “Kelly” how to properly take a photograph and singing Supremes hits from the sixties it was a long and difficult process. Get comfortable in your favorite chair with big bowl of shredded pine needles, a tall glass of standing water and enjoy!!!

The Penn Central Transportation Company is and was, one of the most maligned and disrespected railroads to ever grace the rails in the lower forty-eight. The result of a merger in 1968 with three different railroads, Pennsylvania, New York Central and New Haven it was a disaster from the start, filing for the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history just two years later in 1970.

But miracles do happen, the Penn Central is once again alive and well in the basement of the Homoki home in Central New Jersey. Jim has built an impressive layout highlighting some of the operations of the PC while combining it with the Central of New Jersey and Reading Railroad. This is a great podcast with lots of info on a variety of topics that we’re sure you’ll enjoy. So, sit back with steaming hot mug of joe in your favorite PC mug and enjoy!!

Variety is the spice of life, and this All-Star variety Hour is the spiciest one yet, with multiple introductions, on the spot reporting and a visit to the world scanning championships it sure to put you to sleep before you know it.

After a poor attempt at an introduction, Kelly is brought in to help out, then Bruce the Mailboy and the Evil Overlord recount the fun they had with Hard Part in downtown Toronto. Next up is some excellent reporting from the S-Scale convention in beautiful Buffalo, New York.

Finally, we visit the World Scanning Championships in Reading, Pennsylvania with three-time scanning champion Kevin Marks. It’s an action-packed podcast that’s sure to bring a smile to your face with plenty of opportunity for introspective look at why raccoons prefer to be night owls.

So, you‘re asking yourself, how does a guy from Austin, Texas end up modeling the Port of New York or more specifically the Hoboken Shore Railroad?? The answer is simple… Bananas, plus the desire for something different offering a lifetime of research and modeling. Long before modern day railroading there were so many railroads running into New York with lots of ports and barges etc., it seemed like a natural for our next guest to model.

But that’s not all, this layout uses the CVP Products “Airwire” to control the trains, it’s DCC but there is no power to the track. Each locomotive has a receiver and a battery. There is no wiring on the layout at all. But wait, there’s more… Riley is also the NMRA’s publisher and played a major role in getting the magazine to its digital format. This a great episode and one that we’re sure you’ll enjoy!!

So, you can’t find a ski rack tall enough to hold your Batman snowboard, still trying to figure out why the engaging essence of your deodorant called “Salt of the Sea” smells more like worms in a can, or perhaps you’re trying to match the color of your 70’s avocado green refrigerator to paint your newly restored AMC Pacer.

We can’t help with any of these problems, but we can help you waste another ninety minutes listening to the latest edition of “Kelly” Questions. This time we’ve managed to lure in another unsuspecting model railroad manufacturer with the promise of increased sales based on his ability to get the highest score possible. Chris Costello of JL Innovative stops by the studio to try his luck under the tin foil hat. Grab yourself a big bowl of shredded packaging tape, a tall cool glass of acrylic caboose red and enjoy.

Milestones are often times something to be celebrated and here at the ole’ AML Network we think Episode 200 is something definitely worth getting excited about. Thanks to the persistence of “Bruce the Mailboy,” the dedication of folks like the modeler simply known as “Kelly” and a host of others, we’ve arrived at a place many didn’t think was possible.

Model Rail Radio played a significant role in the birth of this podcast and with that in mind we decided there was no one more suitable to be part Episode 200 than its creator Tom Barbalet. Tom was always available during the infancy of “a ModelersLife” ready to answer questions and offer advice. So, with that in mind it’s time to find a comfortable place on the couch with a refreshing beverage and enjoy!!

It’s time once again for another exhilarating round of the Kelly Questions!! In this episode we travel to the shores of Lake Erie and the snowbound village of Fairview, Pennsylvania to visit with our favorite retired navy doctor.

It’s an exciting episode with all the twists and turns you’ve come to expect from the Kelly Questions. Find out why Mike’s favorite spoken word song and Star Trek are one in the same. Grab yourself a big bowl of shredded snowblower drive-belts, a tall glass of melted yellow snow and enjoy!!!

It’s always fun to talk with folks who are enthusiastic about the hobby but when you stop to think about it, I’m not sure we’ve ever talked to anyone that’s not excited about being involved in this great community of model railroading. Are next guest is no stranger to regular listeners and certainly doesn’t lack enthusiasm.

This edition of Waz’ Happenin’ features the one and only Chris “Fitness.” Whether he’s fretting over the next section of backdrop, finishing up another great magazine article or trying to figure out what color to paint the fascia it’s always fun to hear why he’s doing what he does.

So, grab yourself a big bowl of shredded discarded backdrops, a tall cool glass of old Pullman green paint and enjoy!!!

It’s always fun to occasionally check in with manufacturers and find out what’s new or what plans there are for the future. So, we here at AML headquarters decided it was time for a return visit to Arrowhead Models to see what our buddy Blaine had been up to and aside from announcing his latest project, the ACF 4600 covered hopper, he’s also about to release a new book, “One Hundred Ghosts” documenting the last of grain elevators across the west.

You can find out more about both projects here: https://arrowheadmodels.com

As always Blaine strives to make the products delivered by Arrowhead Models to be some of the finest models available to the general model railroading public. It’s a great interview that as usual has some interesting twists and turns. Plus, there’s an interesting discussion about the restoration of a steam locomotive in downtown Sheridan, Wyoming.

What’s that you say??... The NMRA is dying, and membership continues to decline?? Well sir on this podcast we have two gentlemen that would very much respectfully disagree. Gordy Robinson a.k.a. “Young Master Robinson,” a.k.a. “the Prez” and board member John Doehring are here to present a case for just the opposite, in fact they are convinced the NMRA can grow and surpass all-time high membership numbers.

If you’re not enthused about the future of this great organization after listening to this podcast you probably should check yourself for a pulse. These guys are deadly serious about growing the NMRA and making it a place for all model railroaders to gather and grow together. So, get behind the wheel of your 1978 AMC Gremlin shove a cassette into the tape deck and get ready to be excited about the future of the NMRA.

There are so many great folks to talk with in the AML Nation and one of the best, is our very own Jim Scorse the owner NCE. Jim has spent over twenty years building NCE into one of the most important companies in the hobby while he continues to innovate and improve his products year after year.

But like so many of our guests Jim isn’t just NCE, he’s passionate about model railroad operations along with his many outside interests such as trivia nights at the local pub, online racing, and his love of music. It’s a great interview and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy, so grab yourself a big bowl of shredded car cards, a steaming hot mug of melted solder and enjoy!!

There’s nothing like going to an NMRA “Gateway 2022” convention to get the most out of the hobby and this year’s national convention is no different. With over a hundred different clinics, dozens of layouts to visit and operate on, lots of prototype tours, this is going to be a great event for all to enjoy. Plus, the St. Louis Cardinals baseball stadium is just down the street from the hotel.

Brad Joseph stops by for another visit to give us an update on all the comings and goings of this great convention, Brad’s full of energy and if his enthusiasm is any indication of what this year’s edition of the national convention is going to like you won’t want to miss it. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded tour maps, a tall cool glass used decal solution and enjoy!!

After numerous phone calls, several neutral site meetings, mountains of email and having our people talked to their people. It’s finally gonna happen, the editorial staff of Railroad Model Craftsman stopped by the AML studios in Busted Knuckle for an in depth interview. Now that Otto Vondrak is the editor of RMC he wants to promote the staff and let the world who’s behind some of the pages you’ve been reading.

This is a great interview and really helps everyone listening realize that RMC has some of the most knowledgeable people from the industry. So, sit back with a big bowl shredded expire Christmas cards a tall cool glass of printers ink and enjoy !!

Third time’s a charm or at least that’s what the gang at ScaleTrains world headquarters in Benton, Tennessee are thinking. When Shane Wilson and his wife set out on the third leg of, their journey across America, towards the southeast and a whirlwind trip through Florida.  Visiting several clubs and private layouts while meeting new friends and catching up with old. This was much more than just an opportunity to sell more product but more to discover just how vast the model railroading landscape is.

They also managed to visit the Daytona International Speedway and take in the Daytona 500, visit with old friends from Shane’s Athearn days while taking in an Indy car race from the balcony of a condo twenty floors up. It’s a great recap of this latest leg of the ScaleTrains journey across America and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy !!

Some modelers stand head and shoulders above the rest, our next guest has proven time and time again that he takes the hobby seriously while getting as much enjoyment as possible from every aspect of model railroading. Scott’s Milan Branch of the Iowa Interstate Railroad is quickly becoming one of the most recognizable model railroad layouts in the hobby.

So, we here at the ole’ AML World Headquarters decided it was time to swing  back and find out what Scott’s been up to. We decided to include Bernard Hellen of Miniprints because it was Scott who introduced him to us in the first place. This is a fun episode with lots of twists and turns, so grab your favorite 3D printed chair, a big bag of pork rinds and enjoy!!

What’s the deal with guys named Dave?? Every Dave we’ve interviewed on the ole’ AML has a passion for model railroading that almost can’t be described in words and when you think about it, that’s why the Evel Overlord decided to start this podcast. Not only is he one of the most capable French horn players in the world, but our next guest also has limitless enthusiasm for the hobby.

This is a great discussion describing how the hobby helps David cope with the day-to-day pressures of a job that requires him to perform his best at all times. Plus, he describes the joys of friendship, some cool new products and how he eventually intends to replace the lawn in front of his home with static grass. Grab a big bowl of shredded musical scores, a tall cool glass of horn spit and enjoy!!

We try to interview everyone here at the ole’ AML Network but sometimes one or two important members of the hobby slip through the cracks. In this episode we discover a someone that’s been a major contributor to the hobby for quite a while now. Our very own “Bruce the Mailboy” has been moderating some valuable discussions in the Groups io and we’ve only just now found out.

Plus, we have a great interview with Eric Hansmann who’s been researching and compiling as much information as possible about railroads from more than a century ago, “Uncle” Dave helps host this segment and brings us his perspective as only “Uncle” Dave can. Sit back in the lazy-boy close your eyes and before you know it your wife Dolly will yelling at you about cutting the grass. Enjoy!!

They say variety is the spice of life and we here at the ole’ ModelersLife headquarters feel the same way. In this podcast we get an update from Ron Klaiss of Mine Mount Models and news of his latest kit, McQuirk Coal and included with this kit is a coal conveyer Ron designed and built. If you ask Ron nicely and tell him the crew at the AML Nation sent you, he might just sell the conveyor separately.

After the subway chimes, we meet up with Keith Revell who fills us in on the progress of his HO scale Shay locomotive, gives us an update on how his company KR Models continues to grow and how to start a model railroad manufacturing company simply by Googling it. There’s a whole lot of info in this podcast, so don’t get started unless you have a pen and paper handy.

So, you’re wondering what it’s like when a fully qualified heavy truck mechanic and a world class chef decide to start their own 3D printing company?? Well as luck would have it, we found two such guys and learn their story from the ground up. Steve and Dan are a couple of lifelong model railroaders with an itch to improve the hobby for as many folks as possible.

Yelton Models is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with, with such products as the HO Scale replica of AC Tower in Marion, Ohio. There was unfortunately a little bit of ugliness when the Evel Overlord discovered they’d yet to create a website for their wonderful products, but after some negotiations and careful thought it was decide that it would be best for all if one was created post-haste. This is a great episode to be enjoyed well sipping margaritas on the beach in St. Maarten. Enjoy !!  

What better way to find out what’s happening with your friends than getting them on the ole’ AML podcast?? We haven’t heard from our resident 7 ½” gauge expert Adam for a quite a while and there’s been plenty of changes at Prospector Models with a new 2 ½” scale gondola kit ready to be released and there’s plenty of news about building steam engines.

Then of course there’s our little buddy “the Mayor of Hornepayne” with all his adventures as a full-time employee of the Canadian National Railroad. There’s plenty of discussion about being trackside to see our very own “Boy George” at the controls of Train 451. Get comfortable in your favorite chair with a big steaming mug of cocoa, a large bowl of crushed ballast cereal and enjoy !!

It’s time for another exciting round of the Kelly Questions and this show’s featured victim…Errr… Guest, is none other than Jim Lincoln, railroad conductor, track laying expert, NASCAR fan… Actually, check that. He’s purchases used trucks, built by well-known NASCAR race teams. Aside from his many other interests Jim, is a lover of all things Disney and even named his model railroad the Carolwood Pacific.

A fan of all different aspects of railroading Jim’s love of the hobby easily comes to the fore-front as he’s grilled with question after question and then finally falling asleep at the end of the couch. It’s time to get yourself a big bowl of shredded mouse ears, a tall cool glass of melted amusement park ice and enjoy !!

It’s finally happening, our long AML Nation nightmare is finally coming to an end and TomStock 2020 is literally just weeks away. One of the greatest gatherings in AML history is about to take place with four days of peace, love and little trains !! It’s a jam pack festival with your fellow AMLer’s coming from all over the globe for this special event.

Starting with dinner at the Shady Maple restaurant on Wednesday evening, a Budd Car ride on Thursday to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania via the Reading and Northern Railroad, a bus tour on Friday to Strasburg Railway, a hobby shop, Dairy Queen and Ken McCorry’s fabulous Conrail layout. Saturday is the sometimes-annual AML BBQ followed by an evening game of double “A’ baseball with the Reading Fightin’ Phils taking on the Portland Sea Dogs.

This is gonna be an AML event to remember, so pack plenty of sunscreen, your favorite AML t-shirt and get ready for the time of your life !!

Every once in a while, we meet a model railroader that brings more to the table than most and our next guest fits this description perfectly. With three personal layouts, several books, dozens of articles in the model railroad press and a successful private layout construction business, Lance Mindheim is a true asset to the hobby of model railroading.

This is a great podcast about one individual’s dedication to a hobby that’s provided him with a lifetime of enjoyment and in recent years a steady source of income. Along with Tom Klimoski and William Sampson, Lance answers our questions, provides plenty of thoughtful commentary, lots to think about and most of all makes his enthusiasm for the hobby well known. Enjoy!!  

It’s back!! It’s back!! After a long and lonely absence, one of the best RPM meets in the country is alive and well. The New England or Northeast (honestly, it’s been so long they can’t remember the name exactly) Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet has been revitalized and is back for another great gathering with lots of fabulous models on display, dozens of clinics and as always, the best model railroad raffle east of Trout Run, Pennsylvania!!

Dave Owens and the crew have found a new hotel in Springfield, Mass., enlisted the help of Amherst show director John Sacerdote and rounded up some of their favorite model railroad vendors. You can pay in advance online, $40 bucks, or $45 bucks at the door and this year there’s a one-day registration for just $25 bucks!! So toss those beautiful models in a box, gas up the Subaru and head on out to the next great NERPM (‘cuse me) meet !!

What is it they say…?? All good things must come to an end, after years of work and enjoyment model railroads are most often subjected to the same fate, total destruction with hopefully structures, locomotives and cars being saved for a future layout. Our next guest has already experienced what it’s like to take down a beautifully crafted model railroad but in it’s place he built a newer and better version of the Denver & Rio Grande Western. The website can be found here: http://drgwrr.com and you can follow along on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/LexParkersModelRailroad

There’s only one thing that could possibly make this story have a better ending; the layout has been sold in its complete form to a gentleman on the other side of the word in Tasmania. Lex’s layout will live on and continue to bring hours of enjoyment folks in the Southern Hemisphere.  It’s a great story, so get comfortable in your favorite chair, throw another shrimp on the Barbie, cuddle up with your favorite Tasmanian Devil and enjoy!!

There are some people in this world that just can’t help but make you feel good about life and so it is with our next contestant under the tin foil helmet. She’s been spreading happiness and joy throughout the model railroading community for several years now, whether it’s flying all over the lower forty-eight checking out the latest in railroading, both model and prototype, or holding down the fort at one of the country’s top model railroad attractions.

This was one of the toughest versions of the Kelly Questions to score and after several large pads of scrap paper, boxes full of erasers and enough pencils to outfit your local high school Bruce the Mailboy was able to finally establish a score. It’s a great episode, so grab yourself a big bowl of leaded pencil shavings, a tall cool glass of melted museum floor wax and enjoy!!

Ever wonder what it’s like to be the president of a model railroad club with a long and storied history in southern Louisiana after a hurricane?? Our next guest is that very person and after Hurricane Ida decide to cut a path of destruction through New Orleans it was time to inspect the damage.

The Crescent City Model Railroad Club sustained serious damage after a neighbor’s roof came off his home causing multiple holes in the club’s permanent home, but the problems didn’t stop there. With insufficient insurance and a mountain of government regulations to overcome, Greg decided it was time to roll up his sleeves and do the best he could to save the club. It’s a great story of perseverance against what some might see as insurmountable odds. Enjoy.

It’s time for another exciting edition of the Springfield show report with a few of the same characters and some folks who’ve never heard before on the podcast. After the big Geep-30 announcement from ScaleTrains we wandered back into their booth to talk with Bailey the human ball of energy, Todd Arnett a long-time contributor and Norfolk & Western devotee. We of course talk to the big cheese Shane Wilson and Jesse the winner of the paint scheme contest.

Next up is a great interview with Jeff Springer of Custom Model railroads and Tom Jacobs the “Queso Cowboy.” Finally, two fellows who made their first ever appearance of the big show, Tom Schmieder and Ralph Heiss, regular operators on the Onondaga Cutoff. It was fun to talk with everyone but Ralph’s discussion about Uncle Dave’s ability to play the triangle is classic AML material. Sit back and relax with a big bowl of shredded OC bulletins, a tall cool glass of melted cheese and enjoy !!

For years we were told the possibility of having the NMRA’s monthly magazine going digital just wasn’t possible, it just didn’t pencil out, there just weren’t enough electrons in the universe for such a thing to even consider doable. It seemed as if all was lost and the vision of taking the NMRA into the digital age would be gone forever, until one day a stranger sitting tall in the saddle, rode into town with little more than a sack of dreams and a trusty sidekick named Riley.

People came from far and wide as the stranger stood on a mountain of blue boxes telling them not to be afraid, he’d round up the electrons and soon, they’d be able to load it on their tablet, phone, laptop, or tabletop computer without fear of the apocalypse. It’s a great story, so warm up the Motorola and gather round for another exciting tale of life in model railroading’s wild west.

Its back, it’s back, the Springfield, Big “E”, Amherst train show is back and we sent a crack team of reporters to find out what’s new in the world of model railroading. After closing down the show last year, John Sacerdote and his team decided it was full speed ahead, fighting mother nature as the snowstorm of century arrived just as the doors opened to the general public.

Despite less than capacity crowds, several vendors missing in action, there was still plenty to see and do as folks from all over stopped by the ModelersLife booth to say hello and spend time in the hot seat answering questions. So grab yourself a big bowl of leftover week-old coleslaw, a tall cool glass of melted slush and enjoy!!!

The AML Nation is pretty well acquainted with Dave Abeles and his model railroad. Turns out his 37-part Trilogy was just the beginning with big news from The Onondaga Cutoff.  "Uncle" Dave finally decided to go ahead with it, “OC” has started its very own Patreon page!  

After creating his very popular Facebook Live 'Trackside on the Onondaga Cutoff' shows during the pandemic it felt like something was missing so Dave decided to produce a channel dedicated to the story behind what you've seen in those Live videos and numerous articles in both Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman. 

So grab a seat and ride along through Central New York as we listen to how Dave is working to create videos that take you backstage to one of today's most popular model railroads.  

Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/onondagacutoff

The old cliché of: if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again has never been more appropriate than for the gang of the NMRA’s 2020 convention. After the disheartening decision to cancel because of a worldwide pandemic and the subsequent cancellation of the national convention scheduled for Birmingham, England this group of tenacious volunteers has decided to pick up where they left off.

Brad Joseph came by the AML studios to give us the low-down on what’s planned for the  Gateway convention 2.0 and there’s no doubt this convention will be well worth the trouble of attending. Headquartered downtown at the Marriott St. Louis Grand with reasonable rates and an excellent location within walking distance to many of great attractions in the center of St. Louis this promises to be a first-rate affair. So get comfortable in your favorite chair, warm up the Motorola and enjoy!!

One of the most popular model railroad gatherings these days is any Railroad Prototype Modelers meet. (RPM) You can find these meets just about anywhere and they are open to all modelers, regardless of their abilities or interests. Most of the time these meets have plenty of vendors displaying their products, modular layouts, and large areas to display current and finished modeling projects.

The Cocoa Beach, Florida RPM has been a popular destination of modelers for decades looking for relief from the winter and this year was a welcome relief from all the difficulties of Covid over the last two years. We sent our crack staff to interview some of the movers and shakers of the hobby in an attempt to keep our loyal listeners up to date with everything that’s occurred at least two months ago. So, sit back with a big bowl of beach sand, a tall refreshing glass salt water and enjoy !!

The Midwest, Mid-Central, and North Central Regions of the NMRA along with the Chicagoland Railroad Prototype Modelers, are joining together this year to host Indy Junction 2022, an NMRA Tri-Regional Convention, in the beautiful city of Indianapolis, Indiana. Registration covers both the NMRA’s Tri-Regional convention as well as the RPM meet and is open to any and all modelers.

Scott Kremer stepped up to the plate to chair this convention along with a capable group of volunteers, with reasonable hotel rates, clinics from both NMRA and Chicagoland RPM, over fifty layouts on a self-guided tour, this promises to a great convention with lots to do and see. This convention is AML certified and here’s a direct link to the convention website:  https://www.indyjunction2022.org/

Have you ever wondered what’s it’s like to buy a gift certificate from Otter Valley Railroad, it’s easy, unless of course you’re the Evel Overlord who usually gets frustrated trying to purchase a quarter pounder at the local McDonald’s drive-through on a blustery Saturday afternoon. This edition of the “Variety Hour” features our favorite hobby shop owners, Lorne James who knows more cliché, buzzwords and more acronyms than anyone else in the hobby.

We also hear from our much-loved NMRA president who’s quickly becoming known as simply “Gordy.” It’s a great discussion about how to connect the NMRA with so many others and how the community of model railroading is becoming as much about brotherhood as it is about the newest freight car release from your preferred manufacturer. So grab yourself a bowl of shredded hamburg wrappers, a tall cool glass of salt water from the North Atlantic Sea and enjoy!!   

We’re checking back in with Chris from Homeshops.net for progress report and to discuss the possibility of creating a PS-1 boxcar from the Allegheny and Lackawanna Southern. All of the cars that come HomeShops are manufactured by Tangent one of the finest freight car manufacturers out there.

There’s also a rather long-winded discussion as Chris tries to school the Evel Overlord on the advantages of embracing social media and why the A&LS so desperately needs a Facebook page. Find yourself a comfortable seat, grab yourself a steaming hot bowl of shredded unnecessary discussion notes, a shot of your finest whiskey, (make it a double) and enjoy!!!  

So you’ve watched “Uncle” Dave doing his Facebook live updates from the Onondaga Cutoff and can’t figure out how he manages to concentrate with all the action going on around him or wonder if he ever stops to catch his breath. Well here at the ole’ AML we’ve done some investigative reporting, digging up all the dirt that goes on behind the scenes with the help of our buddy Rich Wisneski.

But wait there’s more… You’re wondering how it’s possible that Midwest Model Railroad is quickly becoming one of the premier hobby shops in the country and do they offer their customers fresh donuts on arrival?? It’s another great podcast, so grab yourself a big bowl of shredded take-out boxes, a steaming hot mug of electrons and enjoy!!!

Have you ever ever wondered what would happen if you tried to power your layout using Mother Nature and 1.21 jigiwatts of electricity?? Well as we all know the first thing, you’d have to do is change the flux capacitor, then carefully run some heavy-duty wire from the tallest tree in your backyard to a spot on your layout with the most electronic equipment and wait for the next thunderstorm coming down your street.

It's only been a few short months since Mother Nature wreaked havoc on Jerry’s PRR Middle Division and with the AML Nation cheering him on and an unwavering determination, things are slowly getting back to normal. Find yourself a comfortable chair and get ready for an inspiring  tale of one modeler’s perseverance to not let anything stand in his way of enjoying this great hobby. Enjoy!!!

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be big man on campus, constantly worried if your hair is just right, which pretty girl to out with this week, the decisions would be endless?? Well, multiply those problems by a hundred and you get an idea of what it’s like to be the NMRA’s Director-at-Large.

Martyn Jenkins has been doing a stellar job in this position for some time now and it’s time for re-election, so what stump is better to explain his vision for the future of the organization than right here at the AML Nation. Martyn has been a great supporter of the NMRA for decades and has decided to dedicate even more of his time to making it better. This is a great podcast with a great guy, so get comfortable in your favorite chair and find out what the future holds.

Tillsonburg, Tillsonburg… My back still aches when I hear that word. But these days if you’re a model railroader, Tillsonburg and a stop at the Otter Valley Railroad store has become an absolute must see destination, our pal Lorne James has created a great shop with plenty of stock and lots of courteous staff to go along with it.

Not long-ago Lorne produced a manufacturers day and the AML crew was on the spot with our portable recording equipment to found out what’s new in the fast paced world of model railroading. So, grab yourself a big bowl of shredded cash register receipts, a steaming hot mug of packaging tape glue and enjoy!!

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be the Director of Operations and Maintenance System Integration, Digital Systems Program Rail Delivery Infrastructure and Place Transport of New South Wales in Australia?? Well here at the ole’ AML Nation we were curious and decided to go right to the source and find out.

Australia is a hot bed of modelers with all sorts of enthusiastic participants, our next guest has spent a lifetime loving trains and all that goes with them. He even started a Facebook page devoted to shelf layouts with over seven thousand members. The is a great episode with tons of information suitable for modelers of any level, so sit back with a refreshing beverage and enjoy!!

Not much is known about ScaleTrains fearless leader Shane Wilson, other than both he and Willie Nelson have a lot in common, because neither one of them can wait to get on the road again. Travelling the highways and byways of America along with is wife and trusty sidekick Bear the dog they’re spreading the word of this great hobby to anyone that will listen.

This podcast reveals some stops at some great clubs, museums, inspection stations and camping spots. So sit back and relax with a big bowl of shredded road maps, a tall cool glass of windshield washer fluid and enjoy!!!

Not so long ago, purchasing a brass model could as exciting as buying a new Chevrolet for the family chariot. Over the last few decades plastic models have become almost as exquisite as imported brass models but nothing will ever replace the magic of opening the box and removing a scale model that rivals the finest of jewellery.

This episode features the expertise and excitement of someone that’s always cherished the rich tradition of brass models in our hobby, so much so, he created his own company for refurbishing some of the finest models ever produced. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded packing foam, a tall cool glass of gear lubricant and enjoy!!

This last virtual chat of the year is open to all of the AML Nation.

Just open up Zoom and type in the meeting ID and Password.

Meeting ID: 813 1965 8126

Password:   764073

The presents have been opened, the turkey consumed and now all that’s left is waiting for the new year to start. The week between Christmas and New Year’s always seems like halftime at the big game when we gather our thoughts and get ready for the new year. If you’re like all of us at the ole’ AML world headquarters in Busted Knuckle, a change of pace is as good as a rest and with that in mind we’ve brought in our favorite magazine editor to discuss the miracle of Christmas through television.

If you thought Tony was an encyclopedia of knowledge when it came to all things model railroading wait till you hear him talk about TV and especially his favorite network NBC. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded TV Guides, a tall cool glass of left-over egg nog and enjoy!!

There’s always something going on down at Otter Valley Railroad and even on Christmas day Lorne is getting the Evel Overlord all worked up. This is a special announcement of a very limited-edition locomotive and the AML Network slides in for the scoop, after a lengthy discussion about hamburgers and chicken the news is released. OVR in conjunction with Rapido Trains is producing this special release model and telling the AML Nation before anyone else.

Grab yourself a big bowl of shredded pine needles, a steaming hot mug of day-old hamburger grease and enjoy!!!

It’s part two of our annual “State of the Hobby” and this time we hear from Model Railroad News editor Tony Cook, Rapido president Jason Shron and our very own Gordy “Action Man”  Robinson president of the National Model Railroad Association. The future of the hobby is so bright you’ll need double strength sunscreen and the coolest sunglasses you own just to renumber your favorite locomotive.

We even got our very own “Uncle” Dave to spot by to help with introductions, so grab yourself a big bowl of shredded superhero utility belts, a tall cool glass of reusable printing ink and enjoy!!!

And so, this is Christmas and what have you done in the hobby of model railroading this past year. Perhaps you got benchwork started, finally completed the plan for your dream layout, tackled your first craftsman kit or just simply made new friends. With another year over and a new one just about to begin it’s time for our annual state of the hobby, interviewing folks who spend most of their days trying to make the hobby more exciting for all of us.

These are difficult times for everyone, but the community of model railroading gets stronger with folks like Joe Fugate and Shane Wilson leading the way. So sit back with a big bowl of shredded wrapping paper, a steaming hot mug of egg nog and enjoy!!!

Road trips are always fun unless Aunt Mable insists on coming along with her soggy egg salad sandwiches and collection of 8-track tapes to play the entire audio soundtrack from War & Peace. Fortunately, this podcast takes us on a trip to Chama, New Mexico with our good friend Rich Wisneski, proving once and for all that anybody can be interesting.

Rich has been part of a group called “Friends of Cumbres and Toltec” for quite some time and he along with hundreds of others have volunteered their time and services to keep the railroad well maintained and running so that future generations can enjoy this slice of history for decades to come.

So, grab yourself a big bowl of dusty coal ash, pour yourself a two-finger old-fashioned and enjoy!!

What can we say, what is there to say but simply thanks? Along with the hundreds of articles, dozens of books and countless hours editing magazines, Tony Koester has been kind enough to spend more than twelve hours across six podcasts patiently answering our questions and telling us all sorts of interesting stories about his journey through the decades as one of the hobby’s leaders.

It’s time to wrap up this series of great interviews and we here at the AML Network feel extremely fortunate to have this opportunity to share with our listeners and give them an opportunity to look behind the curtain. So, sit back and enjoy another interesting podcast with one of the hobby’s most interesting personalities.

It’s an exciting time in the hobby and nothing is more exciting for us down at AML Nation headquarters than Gordy Robinson becoming president of the NMRA. It’s so great to see someone with so much enthusiasm and energy lead this great hobby of ours into the future. As we like to say up here on the forty-eighth floor of the Stewart Sterling building… Model railroading, it’s younger than you think and Gordy’s here to prove it.

With some new directors in place, new department heads, a full-scale effort to produce a digital copy of the magazine and a hopper car full of other great ideas, the sky’s the limit for the new NMRA. So, grab yourself a big bowl of old shredded paper membership forms, a steaming hot mug of envelope glue and enjoy !!

Our long national model railroad nightmare is over, well actually, it’s more like just calmed down enough that things can finally start going back to normal. More importantly our friend John Sacerdote can get back to doing what John does best… Running the Annual Amherst-Springfield-Big E, fourteen building on 200 acres annual train show.

Once again, the annual pilgrimage to West Springfield, Mass. can take place. Friendships can be renewed, new products can be announced, hot dogs can be consumed, and all will be right with the world. Even our very own “Mr. Fitness” (Chris Adams) will be there to make sure you eat right and lead us in a series purchasing exercises.

So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded blue boxes, a tall cool glass of warm two-year-old soda and enjoy!!

Social media and model railroading is a match made in heaven and our next guest is a classic example. Since his mid-teens he’s been providing a source of free learning, community, and entertainment for the hobby through his YouTube channel “NSmodeler24.”

Along with his father Tom together they’ve been building a Norfolk Southern HO scale layout for nearly eight years loosely based on the "S-Line," which runs between Charlotte, NC and Knoxville, TN. This is another great example of how the hobby is growing and modelers from all over the world are finding each other. Get comfortable in grandpa’s rocker and enjoy listening to a fantastic modeler describe his journey.

Yes, we were wondering the same thing… What’s “Snookums” up to now??  This podcast spans the globe as we teach an Aussie how to end each segment, Don and Mark stop by to tell us about HO scale derails and we find out about all the progress that’s been taking place on the Greenville and Northern. We even get a guided tour of the workshop with our very own Seth Gartner. 

We also learn about the South-East Narrow Gauge Museum and everything you’d ever want to know about Hickory, South Carolina. So, grab yourself of a big bowl of shredded paperwork, a steaming hot mug of scenery goop and enjoy.

How many episodes will it take to interview what many say is one of the most influential model railroaders of all time. Here at the ‘ole AML headquarters we fired up our IBM 5150 trying to come up with a reasonable number and decided this could be part three of a forty-seven-part Tony Koester Trilogy.

Tony had lots of stories to share about his travels with Jim Boyd whom he worked alongside during his days at Railroad Model Craftsman. We’re also joined by our very own magazine editor extraordinaire, Tony Cook who plans to someday release a book of Jim Boyd’s night photography. It’s a great episode filled with lots of interesting, fun and adventurous anecdotes from years past. So, get comfortable in your favorite pjs and enjoy!!  

The world is starting to wake up again, just like Bert the Bear after a long winter’s hibernation and one sure sign is that model railroad shows are beginning to open up. We here at the ole’ AML Network pride ourselves on bringing you the latest news from around the hobby several weeks late. Our old friend Ron from Mine Mount Models is so excited about finally getting a chance to display his fine products in person again, he’s dancing around the workshop listening to his favorite Pointer Sisters album.

So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded shingles, a steaming hot mug of Titebond 2 glue and enjoy !!

It’s part two of the “Koester Chronicles,” covering lots of interesting topics such as the origins of “Trains of Thought” and all those unpublished versions. We even found out where the puff ball  tree got its start and discover how a youthful “Uncle” Dave decided that cutting up one of his mom’s pillows to create an HO scale forest, probably wasn’t the best idea he’d ever had.

Pull up your favorite easy chair, grab a big bowl of dried foliage clusters, a steaming hot mug of scenic cement and enjoy !!

We here at the ole’ AML Network constantly strive to bring you all of the latest up to the minute news in the world of model railroading. Unfortunately, we don't think that's actually ever happened except for once, when “Kelly” drove off his driveway and give us an on-the-spot report, but all he said over and over is that he's the safety officer for the Medford Railroad Park.

This podcast is over a year old, but fortunately we keep all our podcasts in the fridge, so they have that just recorded freshness. It's another exciting round of the Kelly Questions so you the listener can learn as much about our next victim errr… I mean guest.

So, grab yourself a big bowl of shredded newspapers, a tall cool glass of printing ink and enjoy!!

When it comes to the world of model railroading our next guest literally needs no introduction after decades in the hobby, literally hundreds of articles, different magazines edited under his watchful eye, a monthly column read by tens of thousands, Tony Koester is simply an icon in the hobby. An alumnus of Purdue University, co-founder of the Nickel Plate Historical Society and some would say along with his good friend Allen McClelland, he popularized the idea of proto-freelancing.

This is part one of a five-part series in which Tony graciously takes the time to answer our questions, tell great stories and give us his “Trains of Thought.” Enjoy !!

We need a guy that’s spent quality time with the Secretary of Transportation, befriended a full-sized one-to-one railroad, worked with the governor of New Jersey to bring rail service in the Tri-State area to an exceptional level and stood knee deep in flood waters from Hurricane Ida.

In all of AML land there can only be one guy to fill this void and of course we speak of our very own “Uncle” Dave. When troubles a brewin’ there’s a job to be done, a cat to be rescued … Wait look, what’s that up in the sky, is a bird, is it a plane?? No… it’s “Super” Dave here to save the day and make your railroad big or small, operate the way it should.

So sit back with a big bag of movie theater popcorn, a large paper cup full of nearly flat soda and enjoy !!

This episode features a well-respected modeler from the northeast that runs his own detail parts company, spent time as an associate editor at Railroad Model Craftsman magazine, wrote numerous articles for the model railroad press and authored one of the premier books for anyone wanting to learn how to detail model railroad locomotives. Scott shares experiences from over thirty years of building exquisite models.

When he’s not building models or selling detail parts, he’s a full-time locomotive engineer with New Jersey Transit running on some of the same lines other family members worked in the past. You can find his company KV Models here: http://kvmodels.com/

We here at the ole’ AML World Headquarters have been concerned for quite some time that the Kelly Questions weren’t very popular anymore… Kinda boring and uninteresting, so we decided it was time to test the waters again. We held a series of meetings to determine who might be the most boring person in all of AML land and let him or her take a stab at these this hard hitting, investigative questions for a chance to find out what makes an AMLer’ tick.

So, grab yourself a big bowl of shredded score sheets, a tall cool glass of tattoo ink and enjoy !!

It’s always fun to visit with old friends and catch-up with folks who’ve been on the podcast before so on this episode we visit with Tom and Bill who discovered each other through their YouTube channels. It’s a great example of the friendships that are being created through social media. They’ve become great friends and learn a lot from each other, so we thought we’d share it with the rest of the AML Nation.

Grab yourself a big bowl of shredded note pads, a tall glass of refreshing freshly squeezed electrons and enjoy!!

So, you're asking yourself, “what should I do with those unbuilt kits sitting on the shelf above the cheeseballs for the last thirteen years??” Well friends, we here at the ‘ole AML Network have discovered the perfect solution, Railroad Model Craftsman’s Dremel Kitbashing Award. Each month Otto Vondrak scours the globe for suitable submissions for the award and he’s joined us in studio to tell us all about it.

So, get yourself a new number eleven blade, a fresh tube of glue, some paint and before you know it, you too could be a SuperFan!! Enjoy!!

There’s nothing like catching up with old friends and this edition of the “Variety Hour” gives us the opportunity to do just that!! It’s always fun to find out what weathering guy extraordinaire Rob Arsenault has been getting dirty and our favorite emergency room doctor (retired) is always got something going on and this time was no different. Whether you’re interested in painting an Argus aircraft or visiting the Queso Cowboy’s layout, this podcast has it all.

So, grab yourself a big bowl of shredded paint brushes, a steaming hot cup of paint thinner and enjoy !!

Just a quick thank you for all those folks that unselfishly help with Lionel’s “One More Year” campaign to help those dealing with the mental stress of cancer. It’s the eve of another 100km/60mile walk so who better to share it with than the Moderately Agitated Mailboy and the modeler simply known as “Kelly.” Every dollar donated goes directly to the Psychosocial Oncology Clinic at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Here’s a link to the webpage:  supportthepmcf.ca/ui/OneMoreYear/participant/6990129

“We’re building an HO Scale two-truck Shay.” This was our introduction to a fireball who answers to the name, Keith Revell. Ever wondered how to start a model railroad manufacturing company?? You google it of course.

If you haven’t heard of KR Models before, you’re about to, they’re already well known in Great Britain and primed to burst onto the high-end scale model scene in North America plus other locales around the world. Tighten up your chin straps and hang on, we’re about to set off on a journey we won’t soon forget. Enjoy!!

There’s always somebody interesting dropping into the AML Studios in Busted Knuckle, Kentucky and this week is no different when Mike Deverell of the Colorado Front Range stops by to tell us all about the big move, he and his wife are making cross country to be closer to family and start a new chapter in their life. Plus, we get to hear from Rodger Coleman a knew modeler and railfan learning all about this great hobby of ours.

So, grab yourself a big bowl of shredded moving boxes, a big steaming hot mug of luke warm travel center coffee and enjoy!!!  

Like so many of us our next guest’s interest in the hobby began at the young age of four when he got his first cab ride in a Southern FP7 locomotive and after a chance to hold the throttle on a KCS NW2 at the tender age of eleven he was hooked. With his father being an avid historian, photographer and accomplished modeler, Chris was exposed to many aspects of the hobby. With over twenty-five years working as a full-time railroader and a love for model railroading “Home Shops” was born.

Freelance railroading in HO scale is big a part of the hobby and now you can own equipment from some of the finest layouts around. This is an exciting new idea we’re sure you’ll want to hear about. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded dee-cals, a tall cool glass of Solvaset and enjoy!!

Road trips have been part of the American fabric as soon as Henry Ford rolled the first model “T” off the assembly line. Model railroads have been part of American family life for well a hundred years. What would get if you combined both of these iconic symbols of the American life??… Shane Wilson pulling the biggest RV you ever saw from town to town promoting model railroading and ScaleTrains.

Shane is about to set out on the journey of a lifetime travelling from one club to another across all 50 states and he wants to take the AML Nation along with him. So, grab yourself a big bowl of shredded road maps, a tall cool glass of gas station soda and enjoy !!

The model railroad industry is more vibrant today than it’s ever been, with new manufacturers popping up almost every day. In this episode we talk to Greg McComas one who, like so many before him has created a business simply out of the need for a particular product. We first learned of Greg and his new business from our friend Stephen Atwell, owner of the very successful Midwest Model Railroad who has managed to create a destination hobby shop in a very short period of time.

It’s a great episode with a look into the future of how vibrant and exciting this hobby is going to become for all of us. So grab yourself a steaming hot plate of ground foam, a cool glass of packaging glue and enjoy !!

No one could ever dispute that model railroaders can be very resourceful when it comes to filling a need for their layout and this story is no different. With the need to find a realistic beaver for a small pond on his layout, Bernard Hallen has created one of the most complete 3-D printing resources in the hobby. With his imagination and suggestions from modelers around the word the possibilities are endless.

So, grab yourself a big bowl of shredded beaver tails, a tall glass of warm pond water and enjoy!!

Image if you will, a magical town with cobblestone roads, beautiful shade trees, quaint homes, friendly folks and a large model railroad store so well stocked it wouldn’t seem out of place in any of the big city’s across America. It’s not a dream or fantasy, it’s Spring creek Model Trains in Deshler, Nebraska just twenty-seven miles from Strang, Nebraska, less than three hours from Omaha and barely two hundred miles from the AML’s own Tony Cook.  

This episode we chat with Jeff and Mike Zucker about the upcoming model railroad show that takes over the town of Deshler, for an entire weekend. Over the past decade the Zucker’s have hosted a biennial train show with many of the major model railroad manufactures represented.

So pack up your favorite AML t-shirt, your most comfy pajamas and get ready for a great weekend of home cooking, model railroading and down home fun !!

Well, it finally happened, Hard Part and LaFawnDuh have a new addition to the family and we here at HQ couldn’t be more excited. There was much rejoicing throughout the AML Nation as this wonderful news spread across the land and picking just the right name was made priority number one. There were all sorts of great suggestions and BBQSteve was certainly one of the frontrunners but after much deliberation, hand wringing and a few choice words, the newest addition to the family has been christened.

So, grab yourself a big bowl of shredded winter wipers, a tall cool glass of windshield washer fluid and enjoy!!

We've met an awful lot of interesting people here at the ole’ AML Network and our next guest is no exception. With a background in the railroad industry and a love railfanning from an early age, plus a long career in the trucking industry, two hours was really not enough time to find out everything there is to know about Chris.

But that's not all, he's one of the most prolific railfan videographers you'll find trackside just about anywhere in the lower forty-eight with dozens of great videos at Green Frog productions.

So get comfortable in your favorite folding chair with a bowl of shredded trackside weeds, a tall glass of warm puddle water and enjoy !!

In the words of Ed Sullivan, in the heart of Manhattan, on any Sunday night half a century ago, it’s time for a “really big shoe.” This week we talk with one of the AML Nation’s favorite artists who’d just released a new print.

Check out Bob’s latest work here: https://www.olddepotgallery.com 

Plus we chat with our old friend “Mr. Fitness,” as we criss-cross the nation looking for the latest news that’s only a few months old.

So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded artist canvas, a tall cool glass of burnt umber and enjoy!!

Everybody needs a video guy in today’s new world of social media, video plays a major role attracting customers and keeping everyone up to date on all the comings and goings of your favorite train manufacturer.

Rapido Trains has a guy and we here at the ole’ AML decided to get all the behind-the-scenes scoop on what it takes to create great videos, unfortunately we couldn’t find that guy, but we did find Rapido Jeremy.

So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded videotape, a tall glass of lens cleaning fluid and enjoy !!

Can’t get enough of ViewerMail, still trying to recover from last week’s flight. You’ve wanted to discover the deeper meaning of life and always wondered what “Uncle” Dave thinks. Still trying to figure out if Neil Erickson is Erik Neilson’s long-lost brother. Thinking about sneaking past  Michelle Kempema into the museum. Dreaming of spending a day trackside with Rodger Coleman. Hoping you’re on Ken Zieska’s Christmas list. Waiting for James Henry to give you a ride to Deshler, Nebraska??

We’ll talk to management but won’t make any promises until Andy Ambrose promises to write shorter posts with smaller words but in the meantime here’s a special episode of ViewerMail just for you. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded manila envelopes, a tall glass of washer fluid and enjoy !!

Model railroading has a strong presence in New England along with seafood, the once mighty Patriots, ghosts of the Hartford Whalers, Springfield Train Show, Steaming Pile restaurant and a couple of guys named Mark and Don, although one of them left because the snow was getting too deep.

These two guys are a great example of how this hobby creates lasting friendships and utilizing today’s technology to enjoy the hobby together, plus what the NMRA can do for you by simply making the effort to get involved.

So grab yourself a big bowl of week-old chowder, a tall glass of warm lobster tank water and enjoy!!  

Not many things in life are more gratifying I life than achieving a goal or finishing a big project that’s well received by the intended audience and this couldn’t be truer for one of the AML Nation’s favorite sons. Our very own “Uncle” Dave has written what some are already calling the definitive book on railroad signalling and how it pertains to the hobby of model railroading. Dave’s excitement is infectious so we thought it would be fun to chat with Dave on the very day he received his first actual copies of “Guide to Signals and Interlockings.” It’s a great discussion, so get comfortable in your favorite easy chair with a big mug of cocoa, some of grandma’s world-famous apple pie and enjoy !!!

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!!

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, reads 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 !!

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 things 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.

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!!

We here at the AML Nation are always look for the sunny side of the street, the positives in life, turning that frown upside down, the sun behind every dark cloud, in other words the silver linings of life. Once again, the “Nation” will pull together and keep each other’s spirits up as we patiently wait for the model railroading event of the century. Lawn-tractor pulls, hot tub activities, baseball games, barbeques and bus trips are going to make TomStock 2020 well worth “Twice the Wait for Twice the Fun.” It’ll be the “Nation’s” greatest moment bringing together AMLer’s from across the globe to meet and rejoice and most importantly…

Third time’s a charm !!!

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!!

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 getting ready to listen to a romance of the ages.

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 !!

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 !!

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 !!

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 !!

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!!

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.

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.

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 !!

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 of shredded air hoses, a tall cool glass of spent diesel fuel and enjoy !!

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!!

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 !!

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 to make time 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 !!