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

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Rating
★★★★☆
3.7
from
53 reviews
This podcast has
49 episodes
Language
English
Publisher
G4
Explicit
Yes
Date created
2016/05/11
Latest episode
2026/01/31
Average duration
57 min.
Release period
33 days

Description

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.

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Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from Proto-Future and the Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading podcast


Proto-Future 16: Interview with Lucid Stew on High Speed Rail Politics
2026/01/31
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: https://www.youtube.com/@LucidStew Stew’s original two videos on CAHSR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBjsW19jak8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG_DLyxQP14 Stew’s recent video on CAHSR between LA and Orange County: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7wZs5-r-VI Stew’s old video on Chicago to Detroit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzdKDIrBeAM Stew’s recent video on Lake Shore Limited HSR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cQbqCrVTig Stew’s older video on Pennsylvania HSR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFq1zwuJq8o&t=10s Please consider donating at https://www.patreon.com/bgtmrring
Proto-Future 15: How to Ride Amtrak Part 2: Reserving and Riding a Train
2025/12/31
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.
Proto-Future 14: Interview with Tyler Trahan Part 1, Urbanism, Train Clubs, Railroad Museums, and Equity
2025/11/30
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
Proto-Future 13: How to Ride Amtrak Part 1: The Entire Timetable
2025/10/31
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.
Proto-Future 12: GAP Pilot, Part 2
2025/10/13
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-house Go support my friends at City Cast if you’re in any one of their 13 (soon to be 15) cities!
Proto-Future 11: Layout, Life, and Podcast Update, 2025
2025/07/31
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
Proto-Future 10: Introducing the Centre County Highway Revolt
2025/07/08
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
Proto-Future 9: GAP Pilot, Part 1
2025/05/31
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
BGT Episode 26: Structures
2025/04/30
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.
BGT Episode 25: [Railroad History Miniseries 5] Mid-Atlantic Class IIs
2025/03/31
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.
Proto-Future 8: I heart New York???
2025/02/28
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.
BGT Episode 24: Q&A 4, Requiem
2025/01/31
Much thanks to all those whom asked a question! Feel free to reach out here: https://www.bgtmrring.org/contact Link 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
Proto-Future 7: Interview with Tom Barbalet
2024/12/31
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, urbanism, geopolitics, artificial life simulations, and exobiology. Model Rail Radio/Video Listen to the original interview, from last year: Model Rail Radio November 13th, 2023: Tom Barbalet Talks with John Gardiner IV www.barbalet.com London 1940
Proto-Future 6: It's up to us now
2024/11/30
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 our freedoms? Please, please donate to: The Freedom from Religion Foundation Nova Ukraine Anera Black Lives Matter The Rail Passengers Association The High Speed Rail Alliance The Sierra Club The Parking Reform Network
PFP Bonus 1, 2024 Election Rerelease, G4 Imitates Noah Lugeons
2024/11/01
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 podcasts. You can find their website here: https://scathingatheist.com and their podcasts following: And the diatribe in question can be sourced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW2k4qf_0mc&t=5s&pp=ygUdc2NhdGhpbmcgYXRoZWlzdCAxOTUgZGlhdHJpYmU%3D

Podcast reviews

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


3.7 out of 5
53 reviews
★★★☆☆
T.Nashwills 2022/12/13
Good information
I am just starting model railroading, and this show has really good information. However, the very informative presenter throws his voice and it makes...
★★★★★
Toddff 2025/08/12
Packed with info and wit!
G4 brings lots of info to each episode, filled with fun and wit. May not be everyone’s tea, but they bring a love of trains and transit like none I’v...
★★☆☆☆
828292929292 2025/03/23
About extremist political beliefs, not trains
Used to be a model railroading podcast, now a place where the creator rants about his crazy political beliefs. Hates all Christians even more open min...
★★★★★
Robots walk the earth 2024/12/11
Model railroading with a conscience
This is one of the few model railroad podcasts I listen to. I am absolutely here for its unapologetic stance and thought provoking episodes. I support...
★★★★★
BNSF 533 productions 2023/01/22
Q and A
I have a layout under construction Ryan
★★★☆☆
Techn0Nut1996 2021/05/27
Good show but not perfect.
Great information and very well presented but the host is a little pompous and the intros are unnecessarily long. Despite the flaws I still listen hap...
★★★★★
Mammon1836392 2022/10/17
Hmm
Oh, the people calling people snowflakes and screaming “freedom of speech” are the same people whining about someone expressing their political opinio...
★★★★★
The right margin text 2022/10/04
Seems good, well stated
I find the content very well thought out and even though it is read after having been written out I’m sure, it really doesnt feel like it takes away f...
★★★★★
UP SD70ACe 1983 2021/11/22
Q&A #2 question
Where will you most likely find CSX?
★☆☆☆☆
Sunshine Dave 2020/12/18
Don’t waste your time.
He has some knowledge about railroads. He goes on and on about politics. He hates cars, baby boomers, any University not named Penn State and anythi...
check all reviews on apple podcasts

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