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Model Trains for Beginners

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The Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading (BGTMRRING) is a free podcast comprehensively explaining the marvelous hobby of model railroading.

For nearly one hundred years, the pastime of using modeling techniques to recreate railroads in miniature has captivated enthusiasts around the world, but, as time has gone on, methods have increased in complexity and the scope of the hobby has broadened, causing the learning curve to shallow (yes, you've been using that epigram incorrectly). 

To help learn how to build better model railroads, BGTMRRING gives brief, free overviews to all major topics required to start having fun with model trains in the form of semi-regular episodes (I'm busy) on specific topic in the hobby. Additional Q&A episodes answer common questions asked by listeners.

Each episode is a broad overview, an introductory orientation that will familiarize you with the hobby before you do your own investigations. However, the very nature of an audio medium being used to describe a visual hobby precludes comprehensiveness. All hobby practitioners will recommend beginners get their own magazine subscription or buy a book or three hundred. Local libraries can often be treasure troves of information, harboring free magazines and books from the heyday of model railroading; so, if you're on a budget, check there first.

Q&A episodes will be released on regular intervals, allowing listeners to get specific answers to their particular quandary. Whether you're a beginner with a question or an expert with a comment, please contact me via the buttons left; I would love to hear from you!

Check out the list of links to BGT episodes below to help you navigate all the topics:

 

Links to BGT episodes:

Topic

Podcast Introduction

Introduction to Model Railroading

Scale and Gauge

Train Sets and DCC

Beginner’s Bible (major tips)

Track Plan Workshop, Part 1: Operations

Track Plan Workshop, Part 2: Space

Track Plan Workshop, Part 3: Prototypes

Tools and Terminology

Benchwork

Laying Track, Part 1

Laying Track, Part 2

Scenery, Part 1: Lithosphere

Scenery, Part 2: Pedosphere Part 1

Scenery, Part 3: Pedosphere Part 2

Structures

Listener Questions

Q&As Part 1

Q&As Part 2

Q&As Part 3

Q&A Part 4

Railroad History

North American Railroad History

Northern New England

Southern New England

Mid-Atlantic Class Is

Mid-Atlantic Class IIs

Mid-Atlantic Class IIIs

 

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Have a Thought? 

Proto-Future is attempting to do something which has never been done in model railroading before. I am here to ruffle feathers, seed ideas, get rusty gears turning, and help the hobby escape the transition-era worshiping rut we’ve been in for 30+ years, thereby better appealing to younger generations and improving the world around us along the way. If you have any thoughts at all – good or bad – pause for a second, think them through, make sure they’re logical, then email me, and we’ll see where it goes.

While the podcast is transitioning to Proto-Future, I still happily accept beginner questions and will address them on-air every now and then. Feel free to email me via the contact form, and I’ll do my best to help you in your quest.

Please consider Donating

This is an expensive endeavor, not just in money, but in emotional expenditures. Any amount you could donate, even a dollar a month, is reason enough for me to keep going. Your generosity would be very appreciated.