Proto-Future 7: Interview with Tom Barbalet

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, club inclusivity, and public outreach.Please consider donating at https://www.patreon.com/bgtmrring

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.

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 found here: https://pittsburgh.citycast.fm/podcasts/spend-the-night-at-the-silence-of-the-lambs-houseGo support my friends at City Cast if you’re in any one of their 13 (soon to be 15) cities!

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 next to the layout and podcast? Listen on...A final reminder to support CAN: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org

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 the environment, our health, and our economic prosperity.The Centre County Highway Revolt is a citizen-led organization opposing any new automobile spending in Pennsylvania, and instead promotes building a fast, frequent, regional rail system out of existing, government-owned infrastructure for intercity travel, daily car-free commuting, and transit accessible nature.Learn more at https://www.centrecountyhighwayrevolt.org

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 reminder to support CAN: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org

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 kits and glues are discussed, as well as scratch-building and kit-bashing, painting with an airbrush, and how to affix structures on the layout in a realistic manner.

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.

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, DC, NYC, and Philly.

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: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/model-rail-radio/id335536272?i=1000634820061