The Naked Railroader - Going Off The Rails

The Naked Railroader - Going Off The Rails

thenakedrailroader

Episodes 22
Avg. Duration 30m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (3)
Since Jul 2025
Latest Episode Mar 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Consistency
83%
Hosting
feed.podbean.com

About This Podcast

I became fascinated by trains as a young’un when I saw my first steam locomotive and train being used on a movie set in Inglewood, CA. I have worked on 4 railroads for over 40 years and I have a lot of stories to tell. Trains would always be a part of my life, even after I retired as an Amtrak Engineer in 1994. I have also worked on the tech side in live theater for more than 20 year, most of them with my wife, Susi who is the actress. I will be sharing these stories with you as well every so often.

Explore Statistics

Recent Episodes

22 The Desert Wind And My Good Friend Peter Robinson

Mar 31, 2026 32m

Today, I talk about the utterly boring Union Pacific run from LA to Las Vegas. Well, I did get to meet a dragon, learn what to do with a run away train, drink Dr Peppers with Frank Sinatra Jr., and I…

21 The Union Pacific And Their Damn Red Flags

Mar 15, 2026 32m

Tommy talks about qualifying to work on the Union Pacific section of the Dessert Wind. He also tells a typical Tommy story about a Red Flag.

20 How Did You Learn How To Run An Engine?

Mar 01, 2026 29m

Once you take all the written and oral tests or attend Choo Choo U, you are qualified to run a train. But how do you actually learn how to make it move? Today, Tommy shares how he learned to actually…

19 Third Time's A Charm

Feb 01, 2026 40m

Tommy received a question from a listener: Why did you become a Santa Fe locomotive engineer three times and were the procedures and examinations the same each time?    Intro and Outro: Sounds of…

18 A Day With Engineer Barney 1953

Jan 18, 2026 32m

Tommy tells a story of winning over the heart of one grumpy engineer.

17 Colorado Blvd and the Rose Parade

Jan 04, 2026 48m

Many people watch the Rose Parade on TV and we know that a lot of work goes into this event. Most people don't know that there is an active railroad track that goes right across the parade…

16 All Aboard The Polar Express!

Dec 21, 2025 54m

Tommy and Susi volunteered for almost 20 years at Railtown in Jamestown, California. For five of those years, they worked on the Polar Express, Tommy as a conductor and Susi as the Hobo. It made for…

15 And That's Show Biz!

Dec 07, 2025 40m

Tommy continues to share his experiences and reveals who he liked working with the most.  #MitzyGaynor #SammyDavisJr #LeslieUggams # Liza #BillCosby #Rockettes #SteveMartin #BottomsUp…

14 How Did Tommy Get Into The Theater After The Railroad?

Nov 23, 2025 0m

Tommy had two loves in his young life; railroading and theater. His parents raised him on ballet, opera, and musical theater. But Tommy realized his true love was Railroading. After a few years of…

13 I left the Santa Fe for love

Nov 10, 2025 21m

Tommy answers the often asked question of why he left the Santa Fe in the early 50's.    Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950,…

12 What do railroad engineers and fishermen have in common?

Oct 26, 2025 28m

Tommy continues talking about the Harbor District with a few more stories.    Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2 1369…

11 28 Miles, 102 Street Crossings, 4 SP Crossings, 3 Pacific Electric Crossings, 7 LA Trolley Crossings, 1 UP Crossing--The Harbor District

Oct 12, 2025 31m

Welcome to the Harbor District. Before it was dismantled by the Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Union Pacific, the Harbor District was like the wild west of the railroad. There were no crossing gates…

10 We Still Don't Have A Timetable

Sep 28, 2025 24m

Employee timetables are a required piece of running a train. Find out what happens when Tommy doesn't have a time table.   Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track…

9 Steam Engines Are Like Tea Kettles

Sep 14, 2025 31m

Tommy talks about what it takes to get a train over Tehachapi using steam engines.   Intro and Outro:Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16 1950, 4-6-2…

8 Hostler Jobs...What in the world is this?

Aug 31, 2025 49m

Tommy talks about what a hostler job is and a few good times he had when he worked them.   Intro and Outro: Sounds of Santa Fe Steam Locomotives by Stan Kistler Track 14 At Riverside, October 16…

7 Learning How To Fire A Steam Engine

Aug 17, 2025 28m

How do you learn how to fire a steam engine? Well, according to Tommy, you stand outside the Train Masters door until he hires you. Then you find Engineers who will take you out on training trips. In…

6 Movie Trains!

Aug 03, 2025 33m

When you see trains in the movies, they are run by railroaders like Tommy. He always managed to figure out when the movie trains were running and position himself so that he was available. Tommy's…

5 Cab Cars

Jul 20, 2025 32m

In the late 80's, Amtrak started using Cab Cars on their trains so that the train wouldn't have to be turned around at the end of the line. In the beginning, they had many problems and you could…

4 The Caboose and Crew Dynamics

Jul 06, 2025 23m

What was the purpose of a caboose? They haven't always just sat, abandoned, in train yards or used as restaurants or B &Bs. In this episode, Tommy will tell you who used the caboose and what it…

3 Who runs the train?

Jul 06, 2025 32m

It takes many people to run a train. Passenger trains take additional people that you might not think about. What are their titles and the jobs they do? Tommy tells us in the episode of the Naked…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Naked Railroader - Going Off The Rails have?

The Naked Railroader - Going Off The Rails has published 22 episodes since July 2025, covering topics in Hobbies, Leisure.

Is The Naked Railroader - Going Off The Rails still active?

The Naked Railroader - Going Off The Rails is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 30m.

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