Dave Owens and NERPM
a ModelersLife
Long time friend of the AML Nation, Dave Owens stops by to bring us up to date about this year’s Northeast Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet or NERPM (excuse me) as the regulars call it. For the past three years NERPM has run in partnership with The Amherst Railway Society and provides an opportunity for modelers to participate in a show where modelers of all skill levels are able to exhibit their work, learn about new products, and enjoy the company of other talented modelers. Dave is always quick to point out NERPM (excuse me) is a “MEET” and not a “SHOW.” This is...
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Episode 283: John Gardiner a.k.a. G4
a ModelersLife
This week, we hear from G4, aka Doctor G4, Notch 11, aka John Gardiner IV. G4 is a long-time friend of the podcast and a valued member of the AML Nation. In this sprawling conversation, we hear about G4's travel across nearly the entire Amtrak system from coast to coast to explore and photograph Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs). We discuss G4 biking across commuter rail systems, capturing thousands of photographs to support a future article for Railroad Model Craftsman. There’s also discussion about European and American DMU prototype equipment, currently available as scale models from Europe,...
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Episode 282: Tom Holley
a ModelersLife
When speaking with a third-generation railroader, that usually means he or she comes from a family where railroading has been passed down through the generations, and in the case of our next guest, his grandfather started as a track worker in the very early years of the 1900s and took such pride in his job that his son followed in his footsteps. So it’s no wonder that when Tom Holly came along with a wealth of knowledge from his father and grandfather, the next step seemed only natural. Don’t think it’s unreasonable for us to assume that Tom didn’t choose trains, trains chose...
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A Visit With Gordy
a ModelersLife
Gordy Robinson is a well-known figure in the hobby of model railroading, particularly through his involvement with the National Model Railroad Association. He has served in leadership roles for the organization for several years and as president has led the NMRA out of the dark ages. As a strong advocate for growing membership, encouraging younger hobbyists, and promoting innovation in the hobby and he’s frequently seen at many NMRA conventions, regional meets, and some industry events held by leading manufacturers. But more importantly, unlike some presidents in our past, Gordy is known...
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Whole Bunch of Stuff
a ModelersLife
When you’ve got a whole bunch of stuff and you need someplace to put it, where else would be more suitable than a Monday morning podcast. We get the gang together to introduce two segments that have not yet been heard on the free channel. First, it’s an interview about the “Flying Yankee” being produced in HO scale by Bethlehem Car Works also known as White Rose Hobbies and secondly, we have a segment that’ll leave you on the edge of your seat with Steven Atwell, the owner of Midwest Model Railroad located right there in downtown Independence, Missouri. But that’s not all, we...
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Kooistra Road Trip-Part Three
a ModelersLife
It’s part three of the Blair Koostra epic 37 day journey across the northeast with camera and hand. One can only hope to achieve the mastery with a camera that Blair has done for decades and decades. What makes railroad photography so important is that you’re freezing that moment of a freight train grinding upgrade a sleep passenger train flying by creating a sense of drama you don’t get with many other subjects you’re not just photographing equipment you’re capturing a place and time whether it’s in the Appalachian mountains of the eastern United States small towns in the Midwest...
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Atwell-Midwest Model Railroad
a ModelersLife
The name Stephen Attwell probably doesn’t really resonate very much with most model railroader, but it’s a name in the hobby that folks should take note of because Stephen is the owner of Midwest Model Railroad one of the finest model railroad stores in the lower forty-eight. Located in Independence, Missouri it’s a 15,000 square-foot store that’s similar to walking into the Home Depot of model railroad stores. Stephen started this business with his father in the basement of their home, not so many years ago and now are producing a highly detailed line of N-scale cars starting with a...
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Jon Stackpole Part Two
a ModelersLife
Jon Stackpole is everywhere these days promoting designing, overseeing construction of multiple products for Athearn while appearing in webcasts, manning show booths discussing upcoming projects with customers like the HO-Scale locomotive newest versions of the GE AC4400CW, EMD SW1500, and other Genesis-series models. He’s very excited about the Athearn Genesis Series a high-end model train line produced by Athearn. It’s designed for modelers who want very accurate, highly detailed locomotives and rolling stock compared with the company’s standard Ready-to-Roll models. The...
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Episode 281: Jon Stackpole
a ModelersLife
You’d think when the gang at “a ModelersLife” got the chance to talk with the lead product manager with Athearn we’d have all sorts of questions to ask. Well, you’d be wrong, Jon has travelled such an interesting road to where he is today, Athearn barely came up. Once we discovered his Dad owned “The Hobby Depot,” a small, well-known model train shop in Monroe, Wisconsin, we wanted to know more!! Often times in life the journey is more interesting than the destination as you’re about to find out with our next guest. Besides being a life-long model railroader Jon is also an...
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Springfield Interviews
a ModelersLife
Now that was the show, another year has come and gone at the Springfield train show and this one will be remembered as the great snowstorm of 2026. It was so anxiously anticipated that several vendors never even bothered to show up but those of us who did, had a great time in spite of all the problems created by the weather. It was truly historic, bringing widespread snow across the northern Plains and into New England, impacting travel at airports, railway stations, and of course on the highways and bywaysDespite all this, a very large crowd showed up on Saturday and enjoyed what there was...
info_outlineNot 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!!