Proto-Future and the Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading

Proto-Future and the Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading

G4

Episodes 53
Avg. Duration 44m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 3.7 (53)
Since Feb 2018
Latest Episode Apr 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Monthly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
81%
Hosting
www.bgtmrring.org

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

This is a joint feed for the Beginner’s Guide to Model Railroading (BGT) and the Proto-Future Podcast (PFP), a fresh take on model railroading which covers modern transit, intercity passenger rail, and walkable, climate-just, and racially equitable urban environments.

Explore Statistics

Recent Episodes

S2E17 Proto-Future 17: Interview with Tyler Trahan Part 2

Apr 30, 2026 1h 20m

Part 2 of an interview with modeler savant, Tyler Trahan, talking about passenger trains, modeling, politics, news, and urbanism.Link to the WTYP Bonus Episode Preview on Dining Cars:…

S2 PFP Bonus 4: Autism in STEM

Mar 31, 2026 27m

A bonus narration of my sole-author peer-reviewed scientific literature review in mBio:…

S2 PFP Bonus 3: Transit is Not Euclidean, a Mini-festo

Mar 15, 2026 17m

A bonus discussion on urbanism, advocacy, and completely banning cars.Please consider donating at https://www.patreon.com/bgtmrring

S1E27 BGT Episode 27: [Railroad History Miniseries 6] Mid-Atlantic Class IIIs

Feb 28, 2026 28m

This episode covers the history of the Class III shortline and narrow-gauge railroads in the Mid-Atlantic Region, including the Camden and Amboy, Ma&Pa, and Surry, Sussex, and Southhampton.Please…

S2E16 Proto-Future 16: Interview with Lucid Stew on High Speed Rail Politics

Jan 31, 2026 1h 30m

A discussion on Low, Higher, and High Speed Rail, infrastructure politics, and Lucid Stew's history and growth as a creator.Check out Lucid Stew’s channel here:…

S2E15 Proto-Future 15: How to Ride Amtrak Part 2: Reserving and Riding a Train

Dec 31, 2025 36m

Part 2 of how to ride Amtrak, finding a train, understanding service classes, booking a ticket, waiting at the station, and the onboard experience, recorded from the Coast Starlight.

S2E14 Proto-Future 14: Interview with Tyler Trahan Part 1, Urbanism, Train Clubs, Railroad Museums, and Equity

Nov 30, 2025 1h 16m

Part 1 of an interview with modeler savant, Tyler Trahan, covering his history in model railroading, museum, and steam railroading, and his thoughts on manifestos, passenger trains, virtual modeling,…

S2E13 Proto-Future 13: How to Ride Amtrak Part 1: The Entire Timetable

Oct 31, 2025 1h 15m

Part 1 of how to ride Amtrak, giving a brief history and describing the destinations and operations of every single route on the timetable, recorded onboard the Sunset Limited.

S2E12 Proto-Future 12: GAP Pilot, Part 2

Oct 13, 2025 1h 40m

The second part of a pilot episode I recorded in 2023, exploring Pittsburgh and biking on the GAP trail back to Connellsville.The City Cast Pittsburgh episode on the Silence of the Lambs house can be…

S2E11 Proto-Future 11: Layout, Life, and Podcast Update, 2025

Jul 31, 2025 1h 5m

This episode is a layout construction progress update amid some pretty major life changes: writing my and defending my Ph.D. dissertation, and looking to move overseas for safety. What will happen…

S2E10 Proto-Future 10: Introducing the Centre County Highway Revolt

Jul 08, 2025 1h 15m

In this episode, I describe a project I've been working on with some friends to end car-dependency all across America, not just in cities, and details the many reasons why cars are always harmful to…

S2E9 Proto-Future 9: GAP Pilot, Part 1

May 31, 2025 1h 3m

The first part of a pilot episode I recorded, testing out the concept of PFP before I released the Manifesto, where I Amtraked from Connellsville to Pittsburgh, explored Pittsburgh, and biked back.A…

S1E26 BGT Episode 26: Structures

Apr 30, 2025 36m

This episode finally gets us around to the "model" part of model railroading, teaching you how to prepare, paint, glue, brace, and detail either plastic or laser-cut wood kits. The different types of…

S1E25 BGT Episode 25: [Railroad History Miniseries 5] Mid-Atlantic Class IIs

Mar 31, 2025 30m

This episode covers the history of the Class II railroads in the Mid-Atlantic Region, primarily the Reading, Central Railroad of New Jersey, Penn-Reading Seashore Lines, and Northern Central.

S2E8 Proto-Future 8: I heart New York???

Feb 28, 2025 43m

G4's take on NYC's Congestion Pricing, just in the nick of too late. Plus a report of a recent trip to a live show between City Nerd and the War on Cars in NYC, as well as bicycling around Baltimore,…

S1E24 BGT Episode 24: Q&A 4, Requiem

Jan 31, 2025 45m

Much thanks to all those whom asked a question! Feel free to reach out here: https://www.bgtmrring.org/contactLink to the subsequent interview with Tom Barbalet on Model Rail Radio found here:…

S2E7 Proto-Future 7: Interview with Tom Barbalet

Dec 31, 2024 1h 10m

A one(-ish) year checkup with Tom Barbalet, talking about his incredibly enduring perspective of model railroading, how the hobby has changed over the years, the direction of modeling, transit,…

S2E6 Proto-Future 6: It's up to us now

Nov 30, 2024 38m

This episode addresses the elephant in the room: that America is a now a fascist, dying country. What do we do now, and how do we fight back against the racist conservative idiots that are stealing…

S2 PFP Bonus 1, 2024 Election Rerelease, G4 Imitates Noah Lugeons

Nov 01, 2024 6m

In case you all forgot what it was to live like under Tronald Dump. Vote correctly!Once again, if you want to know more, you can Extra-special thanks to Puzzle in a Thunderstorm and all their…

S1E23 BGT Episode 23: [Railroad History Miniseries 4] Mid-Atlantic Class Is

Nov 01, 2024 40m

This episode covers the history of the Class I railroads in the Mid-Atlantic Region, primarily the New York Central and Erie-Lackawanna.Roundhouse Podcast M497 Black Beetle Episode:…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Proto-Future and the Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading have?

Proto-Future and the Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading has published 53 episodes since February 2018, covering topics in Education, Hobbies.

Is Proto-Future and the Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading still active?

Proto-Future and the Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 44m.

How do I contact Proto-Future and the Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading for sponsorship or guest appearances?

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