a ModelersLife

Is the hobby growing or shrinking??  If you hang around the AML Studios long enough, there will be no doubt in your mind that we here in Busted Knuckle, Kentucky are convinced the hobby is growing rapidly day after day. But the age-old question remains, how we entice the younger generation to join the old guard in the never-ending quest of introducing model railroading to the world!!

This is a continuation of our discussion with Derrick Magnotta, a lifelong model railroader who as he approaches his mid-thirties can’t find any reason to join the NMRA. However, Derrick is definitely open to new ideas and there’s even a great discussion about the possibility of an entry level free membership. It’s a great podcast and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy!!

So, you’re wondering what’s neat this week?? That’s easy just check out what Ken Patterson and his gang are doing over there on YouTube with the show that’s got its finger on the pulse of the hobby. We wanted to find out more about “the Dude,” Joshua Barton, Mike Budde and James Reiger, so we sat them down in front of a microphone and let the magic happen!!

This is a fun podcast that goes in all sorts of directions, and we find out all about the guys just before they’re about to record another show. Ken is an accomplished, professional photographer, featured in numerous model railroad publications and marketing material over the years and is happy to share some of his secrets. Enjoy!!

John Doehring might be the most enthusiastic man in the National Model Railroad Association, as the Eastern Director he is obviously putting his heart and soul into figuring out how to make the organization and the hobby of model railroading grow. This is part two of a response and discussion about his email pointing out his view of what direction to take the NMRA.

In these changing times of social media, video games and a myriad of distractions in today’s world, John along with his fellow directors want to keep up with changing times. The podcast is a mix of ideas and discussion with plans to double the size of the membership over the coming years. It’s a great podcast and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy!!

It’s time once again for another exciting episode of “Uncle” Dave’s Fireside Chat. On this edition of the “chat” Dave tells the history of the latest New Jersey Transit Heritage unit, a replica of Conrail’s 4208 and the behind-the-scenes story of how it came to be, all the folks involved, and the excitement felt around the railroad as it was rolled out during a very special ceremony.

Plus we talk about Dave’s excitement with the release of his newest book “Designing and Operating Yards,” which is an update on Andy Sperandeo’s original yard book published some years ago. We find out if there’s plans for another book and what the topic or topics might be. As always, it’s a busy time in the Abeles household and fun to be along for the ride. Enjoy!!  

It’s the wonder from down under, visiting from the land of Oz, throwing another shrimp on the barbie, Australia where everything happens tomorrow and home to the one and only NMRA Worldwide Director at Large, Martyn Jenkins. Fresh from his time in the lower forty-eight having a walk-a-bout and here to give us a full report on what was accomplished at the latest Board of Directors meeting at the NMRA’s national convention in Long Beach, California. It’s a great podcast and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy!!

The NMRA has long been the flag ship organization of model railroading, originally being organized in the mid 1930’s serving a critical role through the years in the growth of the hobby. But with everything times change, people change and in today’s world organizations like the NMRA struggle to maintain their membership.

Our next guest Derrick Magnotta who belongs to a generation that’s never known life without the internet, wrote a very insightful email about how people his age and younger struggled to see what value there is in belonging to the NMRA. So we here at the old AML Network decided to gather together in the studio some of our most knowledgeable old guys to understand the problem and perhaps offer some solutions. It’s a great podcast and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy!!

The NMRA Achievement Program also known as the “AP” is a guide to help you master the many crafts and skills necessary in the hobby of model railroading. As you get more proficient in of each of the skills, you can through various means have your work judged by others and if certain standards are met, will be issued a certificate acknowledging your achievement and work towards becoming a Master Model Railroader. 

Getting involved in the AP program is incredibly easy and recently a good friend of the AML Nation was announced as the new chairman of the Achievement Program. Ray Persing, a lifelong model railroader and all-round good guy stepped up to the plate to take over this important role from his predecessor Frank Koch who’d held the position for many years. It’s a great podcast and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy!!

Just like that old bean casserole that you found in the back of the freezer from your Aunt Mildred at Thanksgiving four years ago, or the twenty bucks you find in an old pair of jeans, this version of the “Kelly Questions” has aged like a fine wine.

Emory Lehman III is a locomotive engineer for the BNSF and a longtime member of the AML Nation. After stopping by to remind us we’d forgotten about his attempt at the hobby’s most hard-hitting collection of questions, he tries on the tin-foil hat. There’s also a brief discussion about an upcoming showcase on the Iron City N-Scalers Facebook page. It’s a fun podcast and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy!!

Hey “yinz,” this is a really good podcast but unless you understand Pittsburgh slang you might not understand it all. Fortunately while our next guest is a lifelong resident of the area where three rivers converge to create the once hallowed ground known as “Three Rivers Stadium,” home to the “Immaculate Reception.” Ron Bohin is an avid O-Scale three rail modeler who graduated from school qualified to be aircraft mechanic, which of course explains how he ended up working for U.S. Steel and eventually became a locomotive engineer.

Then after that successful career, it was time to move on to the Port Authority of Allegheny County, now known as Pittsburgh Regional Transit. They needed signal maintainers and when Ron submitted his resume it seemed as though, no one else  could be better qualified. If you’re as confused as we are, it’s time to fire up the Motorola and give a listen to this podcast, it’s actually pretty good!!

Once again, it’s time for another great discussion with “Uncle” Dave, so warm up the Motorola, get comfortable with a warm cup of cocoa as we settle in for a “Fireside Chat” with one of the hobby’s most interesting personalities. There’s lots to talk about and even some friendly fire as “Uncle” Dave takes exception with some of the Evel Overlord’s opinions about the NMRA

Plus, we pay homage to one of the great model railroaders of the modern era, Paul Dolkos whose contribution to the hobby has been extensive over the last fifty years. It’s a great podcast and one we’re sure enjoy.