Around The Layout - A Model Railroad Podcast

If you're looking for proof that it's never too late to get started in model railroading, look no further than Marty Jenkins. Contrary to the stories we typically hear, Marty got his start in the hobby in his 40's and has seemingly made up for lost time, diving head first down the rabbit holes of the ever expanding technology. Marty shares with us how model railroading has led him to several trips to the United States and talks about his involvement in development of NMRAx.
Check out Marty's Train Shed on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@martyn1107
Support the podcast and get yourself signed up for free giveaways by becoming a member of the ATLP Operating Crew!
patreon.com/AroundTheLayoutPodcast
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released July 4, 2023
On this episode of Around The Layout, we head to Central New York State to chat with Drew James. Drew is the owner of the Canada, Spokane and Pacific HO scale model railroad; an outstanding railroad for its amazing scenery and outstanding operations. Drew tells us the events leading up to this current layout and how the NMRA Central New York division is chock full of talented members willing to help each other create awesome layouts.
Check out this CNY Division produced video of Drew's incredible layout:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QOvXbgCH_Q
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]

They say "It's all in the details" and that's what Kevin Norman from Notch 8 Customs is all about. Kevin stops by to tell us how he developed an interest in DCC installs and customizing locomotives and rolling stock into a growing part-time side hustle. Additionally, he shares his dream for a layout that captures the rich history of railroading in the Chicagoland area in the 1960's.
Check out Kevin's work and schedule your next project with Notch 8 Customs on their website:
https://www.facebook.com/notch8customs
Thank you to our show sponsor, Weather My Trains:
https://weathermytrains.com/
Support the podcast and get yourself signed up for free giveaways by becoming a member of the ATLP Operating Crew!
patreon.com/AroundTheLayoutPodcast
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released December 5, 2023
What does it take to start a model railroad company and lead it to the position of the "Cadillac" of the industry? On this episode, we get to hear from ScaleTrains president Shane Wilson as he tells us about his model railroading journey that led to entrepreneurship at a young age and set the trajectory to a career in the hobby business. Learn the reasons why Shane and his team took the risk to create a new, innovative approach, taking lessons from his past and combining it with their passion for creating an exceptional customer experience. Shane then previews some up and coming projects at ScaleTrains and explains their recent acquisition of Virtual Railfan.
Check out all of the great product offerings from ScaleTrains:
https://www.scaletrains.com/
Watch the ScaleTrains, Big Dreams documentary on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/41Ge5rr7p4M?si=t9F8I98Sf0Xouvgd
Support the podcast and get yourself signed up for free giveaways by becoming a member of the ATLP Operating Crew!
patreon.com/AroundTheLayoutPodcast
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]

Stephen Priest is our guest on this month's What's Happening In Model Railroading and we get to hear about Class One Model Works and the process behind creating the highly detailed and prototype accurate models they produce. Stephen gives us some insight into the selection process for these projects and hints at some upcoming announcements. Later, Tony and Ray talk about news from Rapido, Walthers, Smokebox Graphics and more.
Check out all the offerings from Class One Model Works on their website:
https://classonemodelworks.com/
Be sure to check out Ray's interview on TSG Multimedia's Live Talking Trains:
https://www.youtube.com/live/NXezMjU0p18?si=0cUDFy4oPEzFgxIG
If you're in the Northeast US, catch the ScaleTrains Road Trip event near you!
https://www.scaletrains.com/roadtrip
Ask Tony your question for next month's What's Happening In Model Railroading Show:
https://www.aroundthelayout.com/asktony
Take a trip through model railroad history on Tony's Model Train Resource:
https://modeltrainresource.com/
Subscribe to Model Railroad News and keep up with all that's happening in model railroading:
https://modelrailroadnews.com/
Support the podcast and get yourself signed up for free giveaways by becoming a member of the ATLP Operating Crew!
patreon.com/AroundTheLayoutPodcast
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released October 11, 2022
There are some folks who aren’t afraid to take on a challenge, and Scott Thornton is one of them. Join us as Scott tells how he’s not only building his first layout, but also writing about it in an ongoing series in the hobby’s leading publication, Railroad Model Craftsman. Scott also shares his passion for enhancing operations with takeaways from the fantasy board gamer world and how he’s developing a theatre aspect to his layout. From his involvement with Iowa Scaled Engineering and his own Scotty’s Model Shop, this is one interesting guy with a lot to share.
Check out more on the Milan Branch here: http://milanbranch.com/
Take your operations to the next level with a ProtoThrottle and check out the other creations from Iowa Scaled Engineering. https://www.iascaled.com/store/
Subscribe to Railroad Model Craftsman to catch Scott’s ongoing "Branch Line on a Shelf” series. https://rrmodelcraftsman.com/
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]

We're off to Scotland to get to know Alan Aitken, the owner of the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Scottish Division Model Railroad and the creater of the YouTube channel of the same name with an amazing amount of subscribers. We learn how Alan gets his start in the hobby and why he left the British prototype for an American railroad with a quick detour though the Alps. Alan also shares his experiences with modular clubs and gives advice on how to better engage with show attendees.
Check out the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Model Railroad on YouTube:
youtube.com/@BPSDMRR
Follow the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Model Railroad on Facebook:
facebook.com/BuffaloPittsburghMRR
Thank you to our show sponsor, Weather My Trains:
https://weathermytrains.com/
Support the podcast and get yourself signed up for free giveaways by becoming a member of the ATLP Operating Crew!
patreon.com/AroundTheLayoutPodcast
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]

ALTP Rewind - Originally Released December 20, 2022
On this episode, we head down to Decatur, Texas and head above the garage to check out Dean Ferris’ Oregon Joint Line in N scale. Dean tells us how railfanning as a youth and as a college student played a major role in his decision to model the Pacific Northwest. He also discusses how his current layout has changed and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Additionally, Dean shares how he’s met Chris Atkins, Greg McComas, Chris Palmieri and many others that have become regulars at his operating sessions.
Subscribe to the Oregon Joint Line Model Railroad YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125
Visit the Oregon Joint Line group on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361988240533232
Check out Dean’s article in the October 2021 Railroad Model Craftsman
https://shop.whiteriverproductions.com/products/rmc-202110
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]

On this episode of Around The Layout, we meet Bruce Ryan, who grew up in New York City and now finds himself in the Finger Lakes region of New York recreating railroading in the West Side of Manhattan where he grew up in the 1960's. Bruce shares how early influences led him to model Albany before a trip to Baltimore resparked an interest in the marine and railroad history of the Big Apple.
Check out more on Bruce Ryan's Manhattan Terminal Railroad on his YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@manhattanterminalrailroadh9776
Thank you to our show sponsor, Weather My Trains:
https://weathermytrains.com/
Support the podcast and get yourself signed up for free giveaways by becoming a member of the ATLP Operating Crew!
patreon.com/AroundTheLayoutPodcast
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released April 1, 2023
Welcome to another dimmension, where Joe Mammay is the host of Around The Layout and is interviewing Ray Arnott. Come along as we hear about Ray's start in model railroading, from a TYCO set to an attempt at N scale. Ray tells us how the prototype led him back to the hobby, and how joining a club introduced him to his mentor who helped open his eyes to the concept of operations.
Thank you to Joe Mammay who did an outstanding job hosting this April Fools edition of Around The Layout. We hope you enjoy!
Check out Ray's P&W & NECR Interchange Model Railroad on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/PWNECRMR
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]