BGT Episode 16: Bonus Essay: Westworld

Greetings, Poptarts!

Well! It has been a while. You know, as I do.

This episode is a bonus essay on the philosophy of model railroading, one of my favourite subjects. It covers the ethos of narrative and autonomic artificial intelligence in building and operating a model railroad. Tell me how you like it!

The next episode will be a return to the railroads of the Northeast! For realizes, this time. Maybe only Northern New England. I don’t know! We’ll see! I’ve learned to not make plans! I give up!

~G4

BGT Episode 15: Track Laying, Part 2

Hello Poptarts!

In this episode, after four long years, you will finally be able to lay track and run trains! This episode covers:

• Transcribing track centerlines

• Cutting and gluing roadbed

• Cutting, wiring, and laying track

• Wiring the track feeders to a bus wire

• Testing it all to ensure smooth running

• And some general tips, techniques, and advice for derailment-free operation

I know it has been a long time, but thank you for sticking around! The next episode will be a return to the railroads of the Northeast! Happy modeling!

BGT Episode 14: [Major Railroads Miniseries 1] A History of North American Railroading

Hello Poptarts!

In this episode, I’ve decided to start a new miniseries, wherein I will cover all the major railroads throughout history. In this first episode, however, I will give you a brief overview of the entire history of North American railroads, from the 1820s to the present! Hopefully, as this series goes on, you will be inspired by a railroad or two to research more and maybe even start building a model railroad thereof!

BGT Episode 13: Track Laying, Part 1

Hello Poptarts!

In this episode, after who knows how long, we will finally get ready to lay track! This episode covers all the background information you will need to actually put track to table.

Also, don’t forget to vote correctly!

BGT Episode 12: Listener Questions 2

Well, it seems the world has changed a tad since I last released an episode. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy out there. I, myself, am definitely putting a lot of time into building a model railroad, and I hope you all are too!

In this episode, I answer another round of listener questions, covering topics from layout design to turnouts and wiring. I also issue a correction from a previous episode and introduce you to a new scale, OO.

If you have any questions of your own, feel free to drop me a line. Good luck with coronapocalypsemageddonocaust!

BGT Episode 11: Benchwork!

Hello everybody! Dear gods, it’s been a while!

Anyways, in this episode, we finally get to start construction on our model railroads by discussing how to build benchwork. I break down all the parts of benchwork, including the support system, frame, surface, and subroadbed. I also discuss all the techniques, tools, and safe practices required to build good benchwork.

If you just found the podcast as a result of the Winterval holidays, then I issue you a hearty welcome to the world’s greatest hobby! If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a line and ask any questions you may have!

BGT Episode 10: Terminology, Tools, and Trainiacs

In this episode, I wrap up a few loose ends before we finally get to layout construction. First, I finish off explaining a wide variety of railroad-related terminology, going into all the depth you would need to know about what most major railroad components are and how they work. Then, I list off and describe all the tools you would need to build a model railroad. Importantly, I then follow this up with modeling safety, and close out the episode with a little bonus, proving that model railroading is not just for nerds.

BGT Episode 9: Prototype Research (Track Planning Workshop, Part 3)

In this episode, I wrap up the unintentional trilogy of Track Planning information episodes by giving you the strategies you can use to research a prototype railroad for the purpose of realistically modeling it.

To compliment this episode, I have created a new section of the Links page called Prototype Resources, inspired by listener Skyler, which has links to and details about all the resources I use when researching a prototype railroad. I highly recommend checking it out.

The website that I reference in the episode is here: https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=262:1:19084355468963::::: and contains downloadable archives of every USGS map ever made. It has been an invaluable resource to me for over 1/3 of my lifespan, and I hope it brings you as many hours of fascination as it has myself.

BGT Episode 8: Listener Questions 1

This episode is the first episode of listener questions! Wahoo! In this episode, I answer questions about track laying, scales, manufacturers, clubs, and small layouts.

Don’t forget, if you have a question of your own, you can ask it through the contact page.

BGT Episode 7: Designing for Space (Track Planning Workshop, Part 2)

In another mammoth episode, I am covering track planning once again, but this time from the perspective of the model railroader designing the railroad. Subjects covered include your modeler personality and preferences, fitting your layout into a room, the merits of a 4X8 layout, space use tips, layout orientation, human accessibility, operational concerns from a preference perspective, artistic presentation, and track plan design software. 

Just a note, sorry for the delay in episodes; I have been Amtraking across the country, moving from Wrong Island to Pennsylvania, and spending the summer with my family in Seattle. Next, I will be Amtraking back across the country and starting Graduate School, so, yeah... my life is, and will continue to be exceptionally busy.