Around The Layout - A Model Railroad Podcast

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]

On this episode of Around The Layout, we head down under and to the other side of the International Date Line to talk to Darren Lee in Queensland, Australia. Darren tells us about his start in the hobby and how he went from modeling North American railroads to one a lot closer to home thanks to some incredible access to the prototype. Additionally, Darren tells us about the Wattle Flat proto-freelance railroad he's created and how he's using his layout to introduce his model railroad "mates" to the wonderful world of operations.
See more on the Wattle Flat on Darren's YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@darrenlee737
Check out Darren's Blog on the Wattle Flat:
https://nimmitabelextension.blogspot.com/
Thank you to our show sponsor, Highball Graphics:
https://highballgraphics.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 November 22, 2022
What do you get when you combine an art teacher with a love of model railroading? You get Tom Johnson and a spectacular layout filled with super detailed scenes that tell the story of the late 70's in northern Indiana. Listen as Tom tells about growing up around the prototype and how it has influenced him to create a freelance story of his own on a layout perfectly sized for simple, yet realistic operations. Tom also shares the backstory of his recent article in the October 2022 Railroad Model Craftsman and how taking the photographs was a family affair.
Read more about Tom Johnson's Cass County HO Scale Layout in Railroad Model Craftsman: https://rrmodelcraftsman.com/
Join the Facebook HO Scale Shelf Modelers Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/484711889437745
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]

It's been way too long since we've heard Christopher Palmieri on Around The Layout, and with all the projects he's been working on at Home Shops, it was high time we got him on What's Happening In Model Railroading to get us up to speed. Tony Cook and Ray Arnott learn about his project selection process, what goes into creating a great freelance model railroad logo, and how Home Shops is expanding beyond freight cars with a locomotive project honoring a legendary freelance railroad that's inspired so many. Later, Tony brings us the latest news from Rapido, Jacksonville Terminal Company, Walthers, South Platte Press, Funaro & Camerlengo and Broadway Limted, and Ray finally brings something to the table with news from AA Hobbies in Warwick, Rhode Island.
Check out all the great offerings from Home Shops:
https://homeshops.net/
Ask Tony your question for next month's What's Happening In Model Railroading Show:
https://www.aroundthelayout.com/asktony
Subscribe to Model Railroad News and keep up with all that's happening in model railroading:
https://modelrailroadnews.com/
Take a trip through model railroad history on Tony's Model Train Resource:
https://modeltrainresource.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 September 27, 2022
In this episode of Around The Layout, we go deep into the vivid imagination of Chris Palmieri and learn about the alternate railroading reality he has created in the freelance world of "The Meridian Speedway." Chris talks about the how he, from an early age, has been developing his own model railroad story based on his deep and growing knowledge of prototype operations. You'll learn how this has led to the creation of Home Shops, LLC and how his new venture helps spread not only his story but those of fellow freelance modelers across the planet.
Check out The Meridian Speedway website: https://www.meridianspeedway.net/
Shop Home Shops LLC for freelance model railroad cars: https://homeshops.net/
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]

Keeping a long family tradition of railroading, Allen Whitaker comes by to tell us about how, from a young age, he was exposed to the prototype, particularly the Southern Railway which inspired his freelance Tennessee Southern Railway. Allen shares how his career as a railroader has affected operations on his layout, and how knowing too much can be a challenge as a model railroader. Later, Allen shares his experience with having the Tennessee Southern included in a Home Shops run that features some of his model railroading idols.
Check out more on the Tennessee Southern Railway on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/149336988442313
Support the podcast and get yourself signed up for free giveaways by becoming a member of the ATLP Operating Crew!
aroundthelayout.com/atlpoc
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]

ATLP Rewind - Originally Released January 3, 2023
We’re off to the Sunshine State for a visit to Sebastian, the town that might become the capital of model railroading in Florida, and meet up with John Farrington. We learn how his grandfather helped light his youthful passion for model trains and how he rediscovered the hobby through content on YouTube. John talks about creating his own YouTube channel and by doing so, is paying forward the knowledge he’s obtained. Additionally, we learn how John met fellow resident Don Irace and the role he’s played in designing and building John’s Somerset Industrial layout. And be sure to listen carefully for a special guest appearance from Merlin The Cat.
See more on John’s layout and get great modeling tips on his YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@RailserveJohn
Check out our website: www.aroundthelayout.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthelayout
Send us an email: [email protected]