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 means to him.

Listen to Part 2 to hear more about the legacy of Thomas’ music and find out the Question of the Day!

Related Episodes

Thomas and Rail Preservation

The Scrapper who Saved Steam

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, share this episode with at least one person today, and remember that The Roundhouse is Our House!

The post Mike O’Donnell: Thomas the Tank Engine Composer appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

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 type of locomotive, and what it will take to get it running.

Related Episodes

Pennsylvania Railroad K4 Restoration

Railroaders Memorial Museum

Question of the Day

What locomotive would you build from scratch? Let me know and I will respond to your comments in our next episode.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, share this episode with at least one person today, and remember that The Roundhouse is Our House!

The post Pennsylvania Railroad T1 Trust appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

N&W 611 rests between runs in the yard 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 rolls through the Lancaster countryside.

This episode is sponsored by Streamliner Media, providing video and digital media services to the freight and rail preservation industries.

Related Episodes

Strasburg Rail Road Freight Traffic

Steampunk unLimited

Question of the Day

What guest mainline steam locomotive would you like to appear at Strasburg Rail Road? Let me know and I will respond to your comments in our next episode.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, share this episode with at least one person today, and remember that The Roundhouse is Our House!

The post 111: Visiting N&W 611 at the Strasburg Rail Road appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

Photo provided by Rick Kfoury.

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 this unique history with us, debunks myths, and draws parallels between rail preservation then and now.

You can buy the book from here.

Related Episodes

The Great Train Robbery

Steamtown National Historic Site

Question of the Day

What commuter rail service has impressed you the most? Let me know and I will respond to your comments in our next episode.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, share this episode with at least one person today, and remember that The Roundhouse is Our House!

The post Monadnock Steamtown & Northern – Early Steamtown appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

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 shares his thoughts on why fighting this ongoing systemic issue matters to the future of the industry.

Survey Results Part 1

Survey Results Part 2

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, share this episode with at least one person today, and remember that The Roundhouse is Our House!

The post Sexism in Rail Preservation appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

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 that future.

Related Episodes:

Amtrak and its Heritage

Amtrak CEO Wick Moorman

Question of the Day

What commuter rail service has impressed you the most? Let me know and I will respond to your comments in our next episode.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, share this episode with at least one person today, and remember that The Roundhouse is Our House!

The post 109: Rail Advocacy in Vermont appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

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 Ward your questions!

Learn more about the Railroaders Memorial Museum and Wick Moorman from our previous episodes.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, share this episode with at least one person today, and remember that The Roundhouse is Our House!

The post PRR K4s #1361 Will Be Restored appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

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 car storage business, their Bed & Breakfast trains, and other pieces of equipment the railroad is restoring.

Learn more about the Mark Twain Zephyr restoration.

Related Episodes:

CVSR Observation Car Adventure

Museum of Science and Industry

Question of the Day

What is your favorite streamliner? Let me know and I will respond to your comments in our next episode.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, share this episode with at least one person today, and remember that The Roundhouse is Our House!

The post Mark Twain Zephyr and the Wisconsin Great Northern appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

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 of the Fairweather Manor event which created a Downton Abbey-like world for a weekend for its participants, and why this could be applied to railroad history.

Related Episodes:

Steampunk unLimited

WWII Train Battle

Videos about LARP

Question of the Day

If you could experience a LARP, when and where would you like to set it? Let me know and I will respond to your comments in our next episode.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, share this episode with at least one person today, and remember that The Roundhouse is Our House!

The post LARP – Live Action Role Play and Historic Railroading appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

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 makes Cincinnati Scenic Railway a special operation and what is needed to be taken seriously in rail preservation.

Related Episodes:

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Mighty Trains

Question of the Day

Where have you found success in rail preservation? Let me know and I will respond to your comments in our next episode.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, share this episode with at least one person today, and remember that The Roundhouse is Our House!

The post 105: Becoming a Chief Mechanical Officer under 30 appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.