The Crossing Gate. Model railroad discussion.

The Crossing Gate. Model railroad discussion.

Discussion of model railroading and operations.

Episodes

June 7, 2025 38 mins

What is it like to be invited to an Regional Operations Weekend? Joe Binish, David Hamilton MMR, and Thomas Gasior MMR discuss attending an event. These events are held every month all across the country, and you can join in. 

Check with the National OPSIG community and your local operating groups for information. You can check out the event held in the Twin Cities area ever yother year called MinnRail.

www.MinnRail.org

Our sponsor th...

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Our podcast crew has been asked to show their latest projects and share them with you. We examine various items on everyone's layout and examine what it takes to bring these models to life. 

April starts with a fun-filled podcast for most of our crew, except Mike Jordan, who suffered from technical issues for most of the recording. It's a good thing he has the full support of the cast.

This episode's crew is Joe Binish...

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February 23, 2025 24 mins

Operations are supposed to be fun. This episode discusses the social aspects of hosting and being a guest. 

This episode's crew is Joe Binish, Mike Jordan, and Thomas Gasior MMR. 

Our sponsor is the Foam engine, which you can throw across the room.


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February 1, 2025 42 mins

In this episode, we discuss hosting an Operations weekend. How do we pick layouts, how are guests invited, and what can a host do to prepare for time visitors?

The crew in this episode is Joe Binish, David Hamilton MMR, Ken Zieska, and Thomas W Gasior MMR as the host.

Our show is sponsored by the Jordan-Walker Bowling Ball Factory kit.

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November 29, 2024 44 mins

This episode we discuss how busy we want to be at an operations session, and how busy do we want our crew members when we host a session?

The crew this episode is Mike Jordan, William Sampson Jr, Ken Zieska, and hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR

We are sponsored this episode by "The Sleep Inducing Clinic".

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This episode we are joined by Lee Caulkins and Brett Issacs. The main force behind the huge, and we mean HUGE, N-scale modular set up. This past year it was held in Evanston Wyoming at the Historic Union Pacific Shops. 
Ken Borowski MMR and Thomas Gasior MMR help our guests explain what it takes to run this event. 
It may be N Scale, but it is open to all modelers of any scale. It might be time to build that T-Trak or FreeM...

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November 1, 2024 37 mins

In this episode, we discuss layouts with no mainline. One, if any yards, and minimal staging. Can you create a fun, operational layout that will stand the test of time? We discuss how a smaller layout can be more nimble, or accommodating to operators of any skill level. No clearing up for the express, no Train orders to decipher, no dispatcher to boss you around the railroad.

Greg Dahl, Dan Dossa, and Thomas Gasior MMR dis...

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In this episode, we discuss the operations of a freight house. We also discuss Cold storage and security storage facilities. Joe Binish has one of the best-run operations for working the freight house on his Central of Minnesota layout.

The crew for this episode is Joe Binish, and Ken Zieska, and hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR.

This episode is sponsored by: The Operations Day Soldering Iron

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In this episode, we discuss evolving operations for layouts and car forwarding systems. What have we done to upgrade or detail our operations? 

The crew for this show is Joe Binish, and Ken Zieska, and hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR


Our sponsor is: Scale Weather

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This episode is about changes to our modeling. What has evolved and made us better modelers or operators? Think about the changes to technology in your lifetime, and the new techniques being tried to achieve better models and layouts.

The crew for this episode is Joe Binish, Mike Jordan, and Ken Zieska, and hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR.

Our show is sponsored by: Questions to ask during a livestream.

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August 30, 2024 36 mins

Do models have to be exact replicas for you to enjoy them? Are the manufacturers being pushed too far into the museum quality construction? 
Our panel discusses the effect of prototype modeling on our layouts. 

The crew of this episode includes Ken Borowski MMR, Mike Jordan, William Sampson Jr, and Thomas W Gasior MMR.

Our sponsor is the YouTube channels that claim to be the greatest.

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August 16, 2024 38 mins

This episode is a discussion about modeling the 1970s era.  What was good about it, plus how we conveyed to our visitors that the layout is set in the 1970s. The era before the mega-mergers and the caboose and boxcars could still be found in every train. 

David Hamilton MMR models the CB&Q/BN mainline between the Twin Cities and Galesburg during the 1970-74 timeframe.
Ken Borowski MMRi models the Clinchfield in the...

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Internet anonymity has encouraged trolls to make snide comments about people's modeling. How can we handle that issue? Also, how can we process advice from our crew? Does the source of the suggestions matter?

Greg Dahl, Mike Jordan, and Thomas Gasior MMR discuss this issue.

Sponsoring this episode is the infamous saying: Two out of three ain't bad!

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In this episode, we discuss options for operations that go beyond CC&WB/Switchlists. Adding some nuance once in a while could be a great addition to any session. 

The crew in this episode are Joe Binish, David Hamilton MMR, and Ken Zieska, and hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR.

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Most operating layouts deal with off-spotting cars—the twenty pounds of mud in a ten-pound sack.  How do you deal with this? Our crew discusses the good, bad, and ugly portion of moving excess freight cars. 

The crew for this episode includes Joe Binish, Greg Dahl, Mike Jordan, William Sampson Jr, and Ken Zieska, and it is hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR.

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April 11, 2024 40 mins

In this episode, we discuss what makes us anxious. What fears do you have that keep you from building that layout or model? Is there not enough room? Do you not want to waste material or time? Do you not have the skills?

This episode's crew includes Joe Binish, Ken Borowski, and Greg Dahl, and it is hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR.  

Sponsored by: The person who models stuff no one cares about.

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April 1, 2024 14 mins

In this episode, the crew discusses how to improve operations Cog Railway.    What customers do you need? What makes a great Cog Railway engine? How do you handle interchange? And how big should your cogs be?

The crew in this episode is Joe Binish, Ken Borowski, Mike Jordan, and Ken Zieska, and hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR

Enjoy our annual April Podcast

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March 22, 2024 36 mins

Operations with a two-person crew on a train.  Have you tried it? Do you like it or dislike it? What job would you prefer and why?
All these questions, plus more, are answered by our panel.

Ken Borowski, David Hamilton MMR, Mike Jordan, William Sampson jr, Ken Zieska, and host Thomas Gasior MMR round out the crew in this episode.

Let us know your thoughts on a two-person crew. Will the Iowa Scaled Engineering ...

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This episode discusses how layout owners can inform their operators of specific rules or nuances.

The crew for this episode is Ken Borowski, Dan Dossa, David Hamilton MMR, Mike Jordan, and Thomas Gasior MMR.

The sponsor for this show is A Track Too Far.

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January 26, 2024 41 mins

If you are going to model a Freelance railroad and make it believable, we have some rules you could follow.

This episode features Joe Binish, Ken Borowski, Mike Jordan, and William Sampson Jr. and is hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR .

This episode is sponsored by the Model Railroad One-Upper guy.

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