Railway Mania Podcast - on YouTube and all Podcast Apps

It thrills me to announce the launch of RAILWAY MANIA, a Podcast aimed at fans of Railways of all kinds. My aim is to provide enthusiasts with something entertaining and maybe even educational. Hopefully it's something you can pop on in the background whilst you are modelling, for example.

The focus is mainly going to be on the UK scene but will encompass the world when the subject demands it.


Railway Mania will cover everything from Model Railways to the Prototype, Mountain to Underground Railways and everything in between.


Episode 1 is around the 12 minute mark to give a light introduction, future episodes will likely grow in length. The main thing is that one should be able to pick it up and put it down at any time.

Click here to go to the first episode on AudioBoom, where there is also the option to subscribe on Apple Podcasts so that it appears on your phone.





Episode 1 focuses on the real ‘Railway Mania’, the craze in 1840s Britain to build as many railways as possible, and the consequences when that bubble burst…

If you would prefer a YouTube link to subscribe to or watch on a one-off, here's the Railway Mania channel


Most of all, I hope it is enjoyable.

Thanks!​

 

Something that made me very happy was that the podcast was approved by Apple podcasts, so if you have an iPhone and use the Podcast App, you can search for 'Railway Mania' and it will appear

Meanwhile, things are getting a little... bendy as episode 2 focuses on the dawn of articulated locomotives and two types in particular - the Meyer and the Fairlie.

Click HERE to listen to the episode on Audioboom

Alternatively click HERE to access the YouTube version​

​

 

'evenin all

In between podcast releases I'd like to fill up the gaps with more videos.This one's actually a re-release but I hope if you haven't seen it before, you enjoy it! It's from back in 2014 at The Great Goodbye in Shildon.

I mixed a bit of classical music in with Joe Duddington's retelling of the steam speed record attempt.

​

 

Episode 3 of Railway Mania features an interview with Pat James, who came in to the hobby as an adult without having had a model railway as a child. The second half focuses on the challenge of coming out to your friends and family as a railway enthusiast, and why some people find it hard to do so.

Click here to listen to Episode 3 on Audioboom

Here's the link to Episode 3 on YouTube​

​

 

Episode 4 is out now!

WAR. Conflict is at the heart of this episode, which focuses on the US Army Transportation Corps and the War Department's railways during the build up to the invasion of Normandy in 1944, and the challenge of how to land hundreds of trains in hostile territory, ready to roll.

Click HERE to listen to Episode 4 on Audioboom

Click HERE to watch Episode 4 on YouTube

For the first time I have added imagery to the YouTube version as a visual aid for those who prefer watching on that channel.

​

 

A little bit of extra content this week, here's a few highlights from the 'District 150' steam specials over the weekend.

​

 

Episode 5

Edward Thompson, Hero or Villain?​

Every story from history has its 'goodies' and 'baddies', but how much of our perception of these events is influenced by the storytellers? Today I'm joined by Simon A.C. Martin, who is working on a book about the engineer Edward Thompson, who took over from Sir Nigel Gresley as Chief Mechanical Engineer on the London and North Eastern Railway at the height of World War Two. Thompson has often been criticised for his designs and decisions, but how much of this is justified? Simon is looking to set the record straight using contemporary reference material.

​

Click HERE for Audioboom link


Click HERE for YouTube (has the added extra of images to show what we're talking about)

 

Episode 6
100mph Tornado (with Huw Parker)


In 2017, 60163 Tornado made history by being the first steam locomotive to officially hit 100mph in the UK since 1967. Huw Parker of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust tells how this came about, what it was like on the night, and what's been going on since the speed run.






Click HERE for AudioBoom audio-only version

Click HERE to watch on YouTube​

 

Every organisation needs a chap who is completely unafraid to take charge...

 

I was very careful to use 'officially' in the description

 

Nice to put a voice to the face/ posts...

 

Episode 7

Best Job in the World? (with Will Stratford)

Steam railways are often run by armies of volunteers, but some people can be paid for it! Today we're talking to Will Stratford, who has been working on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways (often branded as 'best railway in the world') on his day-to-day experiences.



Click HERE to watch the enhanced version on YouTube:



Alternatively click HERE to listen to the audio-only version on AudioBoom​

 

That's right everyone, it's time for another episode of RAILWAY MANIA.

Episode 8

Making a Scene (with Gordon Gravett)



Episode 8's special guest is expert modeller Gordon Gravett, who joins us in this episode of Railway Mania as we discuss scenery on model railways, how to construct a scene, good methods and tips, what to do when a project goes wrong, among many other topics...

YouTube:


Audioboom version here!​

 

RAILWAY MANIA PODCAST
EPISODE 9


Season 2 of Channel 5's Great Model Railway Challenge has drawn to a close. The show has been divisive amongst enthusiasts, with some lauding the appeal to the general public while others criticise the format, but what is it like to be part of such a programme and what do the contestants think of it? I sat down with Callum Willcox and Adam Ashford of The Railway Video Division, runners-up in Season 1, to find out.


Audioboom version here!


​

 

RAILWAY MANIA PODCAST

EPISODE 10 - BEND IT LIKE BEYER GARRATT
WITH HUW JONES



Garratts were one of the most successful articulated locomotive types worldwide. In this episode, we briefly cover the history of Herbert W. Garratt's brainchild, followed by a chat with Huw Jones of the Welsh Highland Railway, who works full time keeping the NGG16s in traffic. Huw tells us about the idiosyncrasies of the Garratt design, and what makes them different to a regular loco.

Audioboom version is HERE​

 

RAILWAY MANIA PODCAST

EPISODE 11 - STEAM LOCOS IN PROFILE IN PROFILE
WITH CHRIS EDEN-GREEN



Audioboom version is HERE

In Episode 11 we sit down with Chris Eden-Green, creator and presenter of long-running series Steam Locos In Profile, and chat about how Chris came up with the show, the production process, views on preservation and volunteering, as well as producing online railway video in general.

Many thanks to Chris for being on RAILWAY MANIA!

Please note: this podcast is audio-only. Visit Chris’s YouTube Channel to see Steam Locos in Profile and many more videos.
​

 

RAILWAY MANIA PODCAST
EPISODE 12 - 009, LICENCE TO BUILD
WITH DAN THOMAS AND PAT JAMES



009, which features 1:76 scale models on 9mm gauge track, has undergone something of a boom in recent years. I sit down with 009 fans Daniel Thomas and Pat James to talk about their personal experiences, and how the fact 009 was not served in ready-to-run form until recently pushed them to build their own stock.

Thanks to Pat and Daniel for coming on the show!

Daniel's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d_j_thomas517/

Pat's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pats.ng.work_bench/?hl=en

A tribute to Pat James: https://www.railwaymania.net/pat-james-a-tribute

Pat James was one of the most interesting and talented people I’ve ever met.

Pat and I interacted online for several years before we met in early 2019, but he was one of those people who you instantly felt like you’d known for years. We’d talk about trains for hours on end and he was kind enough to be the first guest on the Railway Mania Podcast, as well as contributing the artwork for this and the 3rd episode. Sadly, Pat passed away in March 2020, well before his time.

The modelling world lost one of their brightest and most promising people, a loving husband and father, and a good friend. I wanted to keep a record of his work for all to enjoy. I will miss him greatly.
​

 

RAILWAY MANIA PODCAST
EPISODE 13 - KIDS MAKING KITS
WITH MAGGIE GRAVETT





Children are the future of modelling, and we as a community need to nurture their interest. How to help them move up a gear and go from playing trains to building their own models? Maggie Gravett has been running children's modelling sessions for 21 years and joins us to explain how it's done and why it's so important. Thanks so much to Maggie for taking the time to come on the show!

This is one of my favourite episodes so far and it was great to talk to Maggie.


Here is the Audioboom version



​

 

RAILWAY MANIA PODCAST
EPISODE 14 - (You) Tube Trains
with Callum Willcox and Adam Ashford



Callum Willcox (SDJR7F88) and Adam Ashford (82A Studios) return as guests on the podcast! This time we are talking about railway channels on YouTube, Callum and Adam have both been in the game for many years and share their insights on how it came to be, and what the future holds.





​