The Roundhouse

By Nick Ozorak

What's The Roundhouse about?

Do you find trains and railroads interesting? The Roundhouse brings you the most exciting news, stories, and interviews about the railroad industry, the hobby, history, and more.

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The Roundhouse episodes:

05.30.2024
144: How Broadway Limited Imports Produces Model Trains
We’re talking to Curtis Koch, Director of Marketing and Social Media for Broadway Limited Imports, about how they view the model railroading business, their process for their projects, and some of their upcoming products. This episode is sponsored by Strasburg…
04.30.2024
143: Understanding the EPA Rules with Diesels (w/ Roger Fuehring)
Lake State Railroad CMO Roger Fuehring provides clarity on the EPA’s regulations concerning diesel locomotives and how they affect tourist railroads and museums. Related Episodes Puffing Billy Railway – Sustainability and Success Marketing in Rail Preservation Question of the…
03.28.2024
142: Allegheny Portage Railroad
Why were canal boats being hauled by train over mountains? Park Ranger Elizabeth Shope provides an overview of the Allegheny Portage Railroad of Pennsylvania, its role in westward expansion, and how the National Park Service has worked to preserve what…
03.08.2024
The History of Hospital Trains
We interview Alexandra Kitty, author of “A Different Track: Hospital Trains of the Second World War”, about the forgotten history of hospital trains, their role in WWII, and the healthcare workers who staffed them. This episode is sponsored by the…
01.25.2024
140: Short Line Railroad History Meets Classical Music
Mark Rheaume, composer of “That’s the Way the Railroad Went” discusses how he created a 38 minute piece of music incorporating interviews documenting the Central Iowa Railway Company, a short line with a brief existence in the 1970s. Related Episodes…
12.20.2023
139: Lionel Artist Angela Trotta Thomas
What is it like to paint official portraits of Lionel Trains? We are talking to Angela Trotta Thomas about her Lionel and real railroad paintings, her process of creating a scene, how she infuses her work with nostalgia, and her…
11.21.2023
138: Behind the Scenes of N&W 611 Excursions
How did the idea for the 2023 excursions in Central Virginia come about? What logistics are required to put excursions together? Is converting Norfolk & Western 611 to oil burning being discussed? How can you become involved in future excursions?…
10.24.2023
137: The Future of the NMRA
National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) President Gordy Robinson and Social Media Manager Lucy Dormont join us for a full conversation about the challenges facing the organization and the work they are involved with to bring it into the future. This…
09.20.2023
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum
Learn about the preservation work that Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum is involved with, the opportunities and challenges of being based in central Portland, and how they use events to maximize their community outreach. This episode is sponsored by Strasburg…
08.30.2023
135: Reading 2100 – American Steam Railroad
Rob Gardner, President of American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, provides updates on the restoration of Reading Railroad T-1 2100 and what is planned for the future. This episode is sponsored by Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services and Rail and Road Auctions. Related Episodes…
08.02.2023
Puffing Billy Railway – Sustainability and Success
The Puffing Billy Railway is a world famous tourist railway near Melbourne, Australia. CEO Peter Abbott speaks with us about the importance of the people connected to it (staff, volunteers, and community), how the railway works to overcome challenges, and…
06.21.2023
133: Yosemite Valley Railroad – Modeling a Historic Rarity
The Yosemite Valley Railroad was a connection between the Southern Pacific and Yosemite National Park that brought tourists in by the thousands, and it also hauled a considerable amount of freight. Jack Burgess is dedicated to understanding the history and…
05.16.2023
132: Train Time! Interview with Director Stephen Low
IMAX film director Stephen Low talks about the process of making Train Time, a documentary looking at the operations of BNSF Railway. He shares how this project was different from Rocky Mountain Express, the methods used to capture some of…
04.18.2023
131: Flour by Rail Project
The Flour by Rail Project is a unique effort to present Buffalo NY’s industrial history in conjunction with its railroads. Charlie Monte Verde, VP of Genesee Valley Transportation and Luke Irvine, Director of the Buffalo USA Foundation, talk about this…
03.21.2023
130: Marketing in Rail Preservation
How can you market your tourist railroad, museum, or non-profit organization more effectively? Eric Mencis, Operations Manager for Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, Joey Bryan, Communications Manager for Nashville Steam Preservation Society, and Hal Raven, Owner of the Saratoga Corinth &…
02.22.2023
129: Volunteering in Rail Preservation
Do you have questions regarding how to get volunteers into rail preservation? Where to find them? How to make them feel like part of a team? Our panel consisting of Wiscasset Waterville and Farmington Railway Trainmaster Ed Lecuyer, Fort Wayne…
01.24.2023
128: Cass Scenic Railroad
Cass Scenic Railroad is a gem of a tourist railroad in West Virginia. Director of Communications Walter Scriptunas II talks about the history of the line, how they keep their steam logging locomotives operational, and what the future holds with…
12.27.2022
127: Pentrex Narrator Dave Drui
Do you remember watching Pentrex? The company produced many hour-long videos showcasing different railroads around the continent. One consistent and crucial element of these was the narrator who would describe the history and scenes unfolding. Dave Drui is that narrator,…
11.16.2022
126: Pennsylvania Trolley Museum – Founder Art Ellis
At 102 years old, Art Ellis shares many memories from living in Pittsburgh, riding trolleys, working for Pittsburgh Railways, and helping to found the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Related Episodes The Scrapper who Saved Steam Railroad Photographers Lucius Beebe and Charles…
10.21.2022
125: California State Railroad Museum
We’re continuing to trade spaces with the California State Railroad Museum. Coordinator of Exhibits and Interpretive Programs Kim Whitfield shares some highlights of their impressive collection, how they are embracing digital tools to showcase it, and the significance of storytelling…
09.15.2022
Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad Returning to Operation
Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad is returning to operation. Western Forest Industries Museum Executive Director Bethan Maher shares her vision of reopening the railroad, how it can represent the history of the Pacific Northwest, and why it’s important to so many…
08.17.2022
Railroad Photographers Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg
We are “trading spaces” with the California State Railroad Museum’s “The Roundhouse Crosstalk Podcast” by featuring their episode on noted railroad photographers Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg. Tony Reevy, author of “The Railroad Photography of Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg,”…
07.21.2022
West Coast Railroaders Group
How does one use railroading in meaningful ways to make people happy and strengthen communities? Ken Marty, President of West Coast Railroaders Group, discusses how his company uses speeder cars for everything from fire suppression to partnering with the Make…
06.22.2022
Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train
The Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train is a premiere dining experience in New Hampshire. Owners Ali and Michael French are here to describe the experience of dining on rails, explain how they prepare meals on the train itself, and share why…
05.25.2022
Port Jervis Transportation History Center
Port Jervis NY will soon be home to the Port Jervis Transportation History Center. Carolyn Hoffman, President of Operation Toy Train, discusses this new site, what it means for rail preservation in the region, and what you can expect to…
04.19.2022
New Age Album Created on Amtrak Train Trip
What does it take to create an entire musical album on a train? Musician and composer Cheryl B. Engelhardt created her latest album “The Passenger” on a cross-country Amtrak adventure and shares her process with us. Learn more about Cheryl…
03.15.2022
Kelly Lynch: Fort Wayne, Headwaters Jct., and FMW Solutions
We talk with Kelly Lynch about his involvement in Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Headwaters Jct., and FMW Solutions, along with the importance of inclusivity and looking out for others. Related Episode Joliet Rocket Nickel Plate 765 Adventure Question of…
02.16.2022
Dr. Robin Coombes’ Thesis on Heritage Railways
Dr. Robin Coombes returns to the podcast to discuss earning his Ph. D in Railway Heritage from the University of Birmingham and the thesis he developed as part of his program. He shares the successes and shortcomings of rail preservation…
02.07.2022
MINI 07: Saving Auto-Train #3
A rare auto carrier caboose from the Auto-Train is in danger of being scrapped. FLAIRR President Mark Frazier explains how his organization is campaigning to save the car and transport it from California to Florida. Learn more about how you…
01.19.2022
Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington Railway
The Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington Railway is one of the sole-surviving “Maine Two Foot” railroads. Director of Marketing & Visitor Interaction Coordinator Stephen Piwowarski discusses the restoration of the railway, their current projects, and what has led to their successes.…
12.21.2021
Railroads Online
In its first two months on the market, Railroads Online has generated a great deal of interest for its multiplayer gameplay, mixture of business management and operations, and focus on steam and narrow gauge railroading. We talk to the developers…
11.17.2021
Mike O’Donnell: Thomas the Tank Engine Composer
Mike O’Donnell, composer for Thomas & Friends, joins us to discuss how he became involved with the TV series, his process for developing music that would fit the characters, collaborating with Junior Campbell, and what the legacy of the show…
10.19.2021
Pennsylvania Railroad T1 Trust
What happens when a group of guys get together and say “We should build a Pennsylvania Railroad T1 from scratch”? General Manager Jason Johnson walks us through the history of the Pennsylvania Railroad T1 Trust project, the selection of the…
09.21.2021
111: Visiting N&W 611 at the Strasburg Rail Road
Come along for the ride as we visit N&W 611 during its 2021 visit to the Strasburg Rail Road. We’ll interview crew members regarding the operation of the locomotive and experience the sights and sounds of the engine as it…
08.17.2021
Monadnock Steamtown & Northern – Early Steamtown
Steamtown National Historic Site is well known today, but what led to its creation? Who was F. Nelson Blount, and what exactly was his vision? Rick Kfoury, author of “Steam Trains of Yesteryear: The Monadnock, Steamtown & Northern Story”, shares…
08.03.2021
Sexism in Rail Preservation
It’s time for those of us in rail preservation to put an end to sexism. Host Nick Ozorak released a survey for women to anonymously share their stories of sexism, harassment, and discrimination. We hear from these women, and Nick…
07.20.2021
109: Rail Advocacy in Vermont
What does passenger rail advocacy require? We talk with Christopher Parker, Executive Director of Vermont Rail Action Network, about what is helping passenger rail expand in Vermont and how the ‘hybrid’ Budd Cars of AllEarth Rail may be part of…
06.26.2021
PRR K4s #1361 Will Be Restored
The Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona PA has announced that they are initiating a campaign to restore Pennsylvania Railroad K4s #1361 to operation. Join us as we attend the press conference and ask Wick Moorman and FMW Solutions President Davidson…
06.15.2021
Mark Twain Zephyr and the Wisconsin Great Northern
The Wisconsin Great Northern is restoring the Mark Twain Zephyr trainset, but there’s more to this operation than meets the eye. Director of Passenger Development Robert Tabern and CMO Nick Turinetti talk about this historic trainset, the railroad’s freight and…
05.18.2021
LARP – Live Action Role Play and Historic Railroading
What is LARP, and what does it have to do with rail preservation? Claus Raasted, an experienced organizer of Live Action Role Playing events, discusses what it is and how it “places you inside a movie”. He shares the history…
04.22.2021
105: Becoming a Chief Mechanical Officer under 30
Scott Jarrett became the Chief Mechanical Officer of the Cincinnati Scenic Railway while under the age of 30. He reflects on his journey which includes time with the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus Train and Amtrak. He shares what…
02.19.2021
God’s Wonderful Railway
God’s Wonderful Railway is a BBC TV series that tells the history of a Great Western Railway branch line through the perspective of children who lived and worked in each era. Avril Rowlands, the author and screenwriter for the series,…
01.13.2021
Harrisburg Lincoln & Lancaster Railroad
The Lincoln Funeral Train returns to the podcast. General Superintendent Steve Torrico discusses the plans for this new railroad showcasing the Leviathan steam locomotive and how these replicas showcase 1860s railroad technology. Related Episodes David Kloke & Lincoln Funeral Car…
12.16.2020
The Legacy of the Ski Train
Rail historian Steve Patterson explains the history of the Ski Train, a Colorado railroad legacy. We’re celebrating the train’s 80th Anniversary with Railfan and Railroad Magazine. Related Episodes CVSR Observation Car Adventure Iowa Pacific Hoosier State Question of the Day…
11.13.2020
101: Learning from a Traveling Railfan Family
What makes a tourist railroad or museum appealing to the general public? Elizabeth Newcamp, family blogger at Dutch Dutch Goose, shares stories about her family’s experiences with train travel and her Top 5 tips for tourist railroads and museums. Consider…
10.21.2020
Episode 100: Panel Discussion with Selected Guests
We brought together past Roundhouse guests as chosen by you and asked them your questions. Amtrak Engineer Mike Huhn, Strasburg Rail Road Director of Business Development Andrea Biesecker, and East Broad Top Foundation Board Member Bennett Levin join us for…
10.06.2020
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad President John Bush talks about this Colorado Narrow Gauge Railroad, restoring vintage equipment, and preserving the authentic west. Check out this incredible short film about the railroad and John: This episode was sponsored by Age…
09.10.2020
098: Dennis A. Livesey: Railroad Photographer
Railroad photographer Dennis A. Livesey discusses his career in film production, how that translates to his hobby of railroad photography, and what led to creating his book “Smoke over Steamtown” documenting scenes from Steamtown National Historic Site. Related Episodes Center…
08.31.2020
Wick Moorman: Amtrak CEO Interview
In Part 2 of our interview with Wick Moorman, the former CEO of Amtrak discusses his philosophy with managing the passenger railroad, why he largely agrees with the business practices of Richard Anderson, and his hopes for the East Broad…
08.26.2020
Railroaders Memorial Museum, Altoona PA
Executive Director Joe Defrancesco talks about this Altoona treasure, the Horseshoe Curve, PRR K4s #1361, and why preserving the stories of railroaders is a key component of the Railroaders Memorial Museum. Related Episodes Railfan Bed & Breakfast – Station Inn…

What's The Roundhouse about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Roundhouse episodes:

144: How Broadway Limited Imports Produces Model Trains

143: Understanding the EPA Rules with Diesels (w/ Roger Fuehring)

142: Allegheny Portage Railroad

The History of Hospital Trains

140: Short Line Railroad History Meets Classical Music

139: Lionel Artist Angela Trotta Thomas

138: Behind the Scenes of N&W 611 Excursions

137: The Future of the NMRA

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum

135: Reading 2100 – American Steam Railroad

Puffing Billy Railway – Sustainability and Success

133: Yosemite Valley Railroad – Modeling a Historic Rarity

132: Train Time! Interview with Director Stephen Low

131: Flour by Rail Project

130: Marketing in Rail Preservation

129: Volunteering in Rail Preservation

128: Cass Scenic Railroad

127: Pentrex Narrator Dave Drui

126: Pennsylvania Trolley Museum – Founder Art Ellis

125: California State Railroad Museum

Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad Returning to Operation

Railroad Photographers Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg

West Coast Railroaders Group

Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train

Port Jervis Transportation History Center

New Age Album Created on Amtrak Train Trip

Kelly Lynch: Fort Wayne, Headwaters Jct., and FMW Solutions

Dr. Robin Coombes’ Thesis on Heritage Railways

MINI 07: Saving Auto-Train #3

Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington Railway

Railroads Online

Mike O’Donnell: Thomas the Tank Engine Composer

Pennsylvania Railroad T1 Trust

111: Visiting N&W 611 at the Strasburg Rail Road

Monadnock Steamtown & Northern – Early Steamtown

Sexism in Rail Preservation

109: Rail Advocacy in Vermont

PRR K4s #1361 Will Be Restored

Mark Twain Zephyr and the Wisconsin Great Northern

LARP – Live Action Role Play and Historic Railroading

105: Becoming a Chief Mechanical Officer under 30

God’s Wonderful Railway

Harrisburg Lincoln & Lancaster Railroad

The Legacy of the Ski Train

101: Learning from a Traveling Railfan Family

Episode 100: Panel Discussion with Selected Guests

Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

098: Dennis A. Livesey: Railroad Photographer

Wick Moorman: Amtrak CEO Interview

Railroaders Memorial Museum, Altoona PA

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