Best Thomas Gasior Podcasts (2025)

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#84 - Modeling tips to show a specific place and time 41:35

Play Pause

12d ago41:35

41:35

This episode we discuss how to make your layout show it's location and era. The use of buildings, trains, cars and signs help give visitors the feel of your railroad. Joe Binish, David Hamilton MMR , and Thomas Gasior MMR are featured in this episode. Our sponsor is Uncle Dan's Rastafarian Smoke Fluid.…

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#83 - Project priority. Choosing what projects to work on next. 37:32

25d ago37:32

37:32

This episode features a discussion about how we choose what projects to work on. Needs versus wants, fun versus chores. Tell us how you choose your next workbench filler. Greg Dahl, Mike Jordan, and Host Thomas W Gasior MMR discuss their ideas for picking the next project that needs attention. This episode is sponsored by the Gerrymandered NMRA Div…

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#82 - It's not where you start, but where you end - Operations 42:49

3M ago42:49

42:49

You may have had a rocky start to your layout operations, but as long as you can adapt and improve, you'll be okay. Mike Jordan, Ken Zieska, and Thomas Gasior MMR discuss their changes in operations over the years, including feedback discussions, making changes to paperwork before track, and what the future holds. The Local Modular Club sponsors th…

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#81 - Changes for the better 44:04

3M ago44:04

44:04

This episode we chat about making changes to our layouts, our operations, and how to suggest to others some changes that might improve operations. Ken Borowski MMR, Greg Dahl, and Thomas Gasior MMR are featured on this podcast. This episode is sponsored by "Back in MY Day".By Twin Cities Division NMRA

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#80 Participating in an OPSIG weekend 38:44

4M ago38:44

38:44

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…

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#79 - April edition of What's on our workbench 57:15

6M ago57:15

57:15

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…

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#78 - Having fun with operations 24:59

7M ago24:59

24:59

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.By Twin Cities Division NMRA

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#77 - Operations Weekends - The Hosts 42:46

8M ago42:46

42:46

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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#76 - Keeping busy during operations. 44:17

10M ago44:17

44:17

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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#75 - Running the Evanston N-Scale FreeMo/T-Trak set up 41:23

10M ago41:23

41:23

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 t…

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#74 - Who needs a mainline? 37:00

11M ago37:00

37:00

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 b…

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#73 - The lowly Freighthouse. Best industry you can model 33:39

12M ago33:39

33:39

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 sponsor…

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#72 - Evolving Operations. How have operations changed as a layout owner, or a guest operator 40:37

12M ago40:37

40:37

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 WeatherBy Twin Cities Division NMRA

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#71 - What changes have you experienced in the hobby? 42:05

1y ago42:05

42:05

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 …

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#70 - Prototype Overhype? 36:25

1y ago36:25

36:25

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 chan…

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#69 - That 70's Model Railroad Show 38:43

1y ago38:43

38:43

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 …

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#68 - Handling criticism. Trolls and out of pocket comments 34:05

1y ago34:05

34:05

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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#67 - Choose your own story. The future of operations. 40:37

1y ago40:37

40:37

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.By Twin Cities Division NMRA

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#66 - Operating with off spots. Cars that won't fit at an industry 57:09

1+ y ago57:09

57:09

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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#65 - Model Railroad Anxiety 40:48

1+ y ago40:48

40:48

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 pe…

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#64 - Operations on a Cog Railway 14:13

1+ y ago14:13

14:13

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 Podcas…

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#63 - Two person operation crews 36:50

1+ y ago36:50

36:50

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 th…

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#62 - Operations instructions beyond the safety brief 45:43

1+ y ago45:43

45:43

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.By Twin Cities Division NMRA

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#61 - Freelance does not mean Free-for-all 41:51

1+ y ago41:51

41:51

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.By Twin Cities Division NMRA

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#60 - What is your catalyst for starting or finishing a project? 48:22

2y ago48:22

48:22

In this episode, we discuss specific catalysts to make us finish a project. It could be visiting another layout, watching a video, listening to a podcast, or just plain old shame. We also learn what crew members talk about when the host drops off the call. Crew members in this episode are Joe Binish, Greg Dahl, and William Sampson Jr. Hosted by Tho…

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#59 - What would you do if you could start over? 50:43

2y ago50:43

50:43

Are you going to start over with your layout, or have you been thinking of modeling something else altogether? We discuss those options in this podcast. We asked our panel what changes they would make. Different scale? Era? Railroad of choice? Our panel for this episode is Ken Borowski, Joe Binish, Mike Jordan, and your host, Thomas W. Gasior MMR. …

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#58 - What makes an operating layout go from good to great? 58:14

2y ago58:14

58:14

Have you ever wondered how to take your operation sessions to the next level? Our Guest Alan Saatkamp shares his five points to bring a layout up to greatness for guests. These simple steps improve all areas of the session. This discussion evolved from the sessions recently held in the Twin Cities for the MinnRail Operations event. The crew this ep…

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#57 - The advantages of small layouts 54:09

2y ago54:09

54:09

In this episode, we chat with three layout owners who have created fantastic stories in a small footprint. Dan Dossa talks about his multilevel Minnesota Commercial. Jonathan Jones is making a slice of the Central of New Jersey Newark Branch. Heath Hurwitz is bringing a proto-freelanced Riverside Transfer to life in N scale. These layouts include e…

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#56 - What do layout owners and their crews expect from each other? 55:31

2y ago55:31

55:31

A recent post online about the expectations of an operations crew to make the layout come to life for the owner has created some ripples in social media. We discuss this post and what we as layout owners expect from our crews. We also look at it from being an operator/guest. How do you feel about this line of thought? Do you think your crews should…

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#55 - OPSIG discussion with Dispatcher Editor Eric Smith 58:10

2y ago58:10

58:10

The crew gets together with Eric Smith to discuss the benefits of operations. Eric is the editor of the OPSIG magazine, The Dispatcher. We learn that operations are more than rules and paperwork. Eric and the crew bring up some great ideas and discuss what has worked for them. The OPSIG is only $10/year for the electronic e-zine. They feature a mag…

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#54 - Yardmaster - The hardest job in Model Railroad Operations 55:18

2y ago55:18

55:18

In this episode, we discuss what it takes to be a Yardmaster at an operation session. Our crew has years of experience in this role. Sometimes, they do great, and sometimes not so great. Why is this such a difficult job to fill, and what are some ways to make it easier? The crew on this episode is Joe Binish, Ken Borowski, David Hamilton MMR, and M…

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#53 - Pre-operations briefings: What to say, and what to edit. 58:19

2y ago58:19

58:19

In this episode, we discuss the pre-operations session job/safety briefings. Why are they so long? Why are they so dull? Why can't we change them? The crew discusses their job briefings and ones they have endured at other layouts. Maybe you can tell us what you want and what needs to be left out. The Crew in this episode is Ken Borowski, Greg Dahl,…

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#52 - Challenge yourself. What do you consider a challenge your current skills in Model Railroading. 52:47

2y ago52:47

52:47

The crew discusses ways to challenge yourself and improve or learn new skills. Is it DCC, scratch building, operations, or using an airbrush? Many aspects of this hobby are challenging, and the crew gives their stories on accepting these challenges. They describe how they improved and give a little advice on you can deal with your challenges. The c…

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#51 - Yards, are they necessary for operations on your layout? 47:49

2y ago47:49

47:49

In this episode, we discuss how an operations designed layout does not need a yard. We talk with three layout owners who either do not have a yard, or use them in a non-traditional manner. Their layouts are fun to operate and have run hundreds of sessions, all without a yardmaster. We also discuss the costs of a big yard. The extra track, switches,…

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#50.5 TCD events this summer, and more convention reports. 42:35

2+ y ago42:35

42:35

A different podcast. Not a topic-driven discussion this time. This podcast discusses events and activities we worked on at the Regional Convention. We then shift gears and discuss all the activities the TCD has planned for this summer and fall—picnic socials, railfanning, modeling, clinics, operation sessions, etc. Wayzata Depot Social is soon, so …

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#50 - Operations discussion with William Sampson and crew. 1:03:06

2+ y ago1:03:06

1:03:06

This episode is about operations. We discuss fast clocks and the changes they bring to operations—the effect of passenger trains on a schedule, why we are rebuilding portions of our layouts to improve operations, and the research of prototype practices to follow, plus roll-away sections of layouts and much more. The crew in this episode is Joe Bini…

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#49 - Car Cards against Human[c]ity - Step 1 with CC&WB operations 58:06

2+ y ago58:06

58:06

In this episode, we discuss Car Cards and Waybills. Not a new subject, but we talk about the portion that no one wants to explain. How does a modeler start to use a waybill on an existing layout if they have never set up waybills before? Heath Hurwitz from Human[c]ity Junction and Joe Binsh walk us thru the steps needed to fill out your first waybi…

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Episode #48 - Why do we add details that no one might notice? 52:45

2+ y ago52:45

52:45

In this episode, we discuss why we add specific details to our layouts that any visitor probably won't notice unless we point them out—for example, adding mirrors on cars, putting birds in the trees, and having simulated rail joint bars on the mainline. Do we do it for ourselves? Probably. Does it help make the layout look right in our eyes? The cr…

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Episode #47 - Modeling Grain Elevators 54:08

2+ y ago54:08

54:08

The grain elevator is on 99% of the layouts. How do you use and operate your elevators? Do you have a small country elevator or a large milling complex? The crew discusses their elevators and how they model and serve them. The crew on this episode is Joe Binish, Greg Dahl, David Hamilton MMR, Mike Jordan, William Sampson, Ken Zieska, and Thomas Gas…

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#46 - Narrow gauge modeling with the Eau Claire Crew 57:27

2+ y ago57:27

57:27

We invite he Narrow Gauge mafia from western Wisconsin to talk about modeling non standard gauge layouts and the operations. Discussions range from switching to narrow gauge, to operations, plus taking things slower but with more detail. The crew on this episode is Joe Binish, Jack Gutsch, Mike Jordan, Pat Thoney and hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR. Th…

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Episode #45 - Operations Feedback 47:36

3y ago47:36

47:36

Do you give or receive feedback after an operations session? What are some ideas you have implemented after being informed by a crew member that they have a better idea? We discuss this topic and detail the changes we have made and suggested. The crew for this episode is Joe Binish, Mike Jordan, and ken Zieska, and is Hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR. W…

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Episode #44 - Animation for your layout. Lighting, sound and motion. 53:16

3y ago53:16

53:16

In this episode, we discuss the addition of animation to a layout: lighting, sounds, and more. Many products are available, and we discuss the ones we have used. From structure lighting to hobo campfires and welders. Sounds from defect detectors to birds and more in your woodlands. The crew in this episode is Larry Eggering, David Hamilton MMR, and…

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Episode #43 - Changes. Why is it so difficult to change our layouts? 45:50

3y ago45:50

45:50

In this episode, we discuss the painful realization that changes to our layouts will be for the better. Modelers might not want to rip up scenery, track, wire, and more to improve their layout. We talked about our changes and why they helped our layouts and operations. This episodes cast is Joe Binish, Greg Dahl, Mike Jodan, and Thomas Gasior MMR T…

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Episode #42 - For the love of small layouts. 44:44

3y ago44:44

44:44

This episode of The Crossing Gate discusses the advantages of smaller-size layouts. Less cost, less work, easier to detail, plus many other features. The crew of this episode is Dan Dossa, Heath Hurwitz, William Sampson, and Thomas Gasior MMR. Heath joins us from his highly successful YouTube channel Humancity Junction, where he hosts weekly Livest…

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Episode #41 - Rabbit Holes. How far do you dig into researching your models and operations. 47:56

3y ago47:56

47:56

In this episode, we discuss some current rabbit holes and when to stop digging. The Interweb has done research as close as our keyboard, but is it good to keep digging and digging? The crew of this episode is Joe Binish, Dan Dossa, Larry Eggering, David Hamilton MMR, and William Sampson, hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR. This episode is sponsored by tho…

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Episode #40 - The Operators Retreat 1:02:13

3y ago1:02:13

1:02:13

The Twin Cities Division is trying a new event. We call it the Operators Retreat. It will be a weekend where division members with established layouts host operation sessions for those new to operations. We provide the opportunity to operate on two different layouts. We are also open to experienced operators that want to meet like-minded people. A …

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#39 - For the love of Passenger Trains 44:41

3y ago44:41

44:41

The crew discusses the advantages of operating passenger trains. From sleek streamliners that run from end to end of a layout to the local and milk runs that work every stop. The idea of adding a Flag Stop is discused and Mike Jordan describes how he flagged down the passenger train to go see his grandmother. Do you run passenger trains or are thin…

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#38 - Modular railroading with Minnesota FreeMo 44:21

3y ago44:21

44:21

In this episode, we talk with members of the Minnesota FreeMo group. Bob Sterner and John Zacharias join us to discuss modular model railroading. We talk about the start of Minnesota FreeMo and some stories from past setups. We discuss the standards, plus what it takes to join a local FreeMo group. The podcast is only part 1 of a series. We hope to…

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Episode #37 - Virtual Model Railroading 53:13

3y ago53:13

53:13

In this episode, the Crew discusses the advantages of virtual meetings and clinics. From YouTube to Zoom, model railroading has changed for the better. Layout tours, clinics, conferences, and even entire conventions are online. What does the future hold, and can these events be held and make a profit? This episode is sponsored by: How many engines …

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Episode #36 - Resin Car Kits for everyone. 46:16

3y ago46:16

46:16

This episode, we dive into the world of Resin Car Kits. We invited fellow TCD member and Master Model Railroader Lester Breuer to answer our many questions about these unique kits. So if you are thinking of trying a resin kit, or an old veteran in prototype-specific specific rolling stock, take a listen. We discuss many tips and ideas as well as to…