StackTalk

Join Bill, the photo brother, and Dan, the video brother, on this episode of Stack Talk as they dive deep into the diverse world of railfans! Whether you're a train enthusiast or just curious, you'll discover the many "flavors" of railfanning that go beyond just watching trains. In this episode, we discuss:The Documenters: From serious photographers and videographers who capture trains for posterity, to dedicated trainspotters who log every detail. The Riders: People who prioritize the experience of riding trains, seeking out special "rare mileage" trips on unique routes. The Historians & Collectors: Those who study railroad history, search for remnants of old rail lines, and collect memorabilia. The Modelers: Fans who recreate the world of trains in miniature. The "Lazy Boys": The joy of simply sitting and watching trains go by. We also talk about the gear we use, the unspoken rules of a photo line, and some of our own experiences in the hobby. Leave a comment and let us know: What kind of railfan are you?

In this episode, the Video Brother (Dan) and the Photo Brother (Bill) discuss their current model railroad layouts they are working on. Dan shares his progress on his "Spaghetti & Western" layout, which is a big spaghetti bowl of N scale Kato Unitrack that will roughly simulate something like the NEC, involving 3-4 levels of track. Bill shares his version of the classic "Inglenook Shunting Puzzle" (aka a switching puzzle for us yanks), which is designed to be a small, simple layout that can easily be transported and is being built on a door! The brothers couldn't be working on more opposite train layouts!

The Video Brother and Photo Brother are back with a special trip report episode! 🎙️ This time, we’re covering two unique rail adventures—one through the lively streets of New Orleans and another aboard a luxury northern rail experience. From classic trains to unexpected discoveries, we break down the highlights, mishaps, and best moments from the journey!  🛤️ Timestamps:New Orleans Streetcars: Reading & Northern Railroad: 👕 Check out our merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Railbrothers👍 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share! What are your favorite rail travel experiences? Let us know in the comments!

In this episode, the Video Brother and the Photo Brother go head-to-head on one of the greatest train station debates of all time—New York Penn Station vs. Grand Central Terminal. From architecture and urban planning to train operations and historical significance, we break down what makes each station unique. Did Penn Station’s demolition doom it forever, or is it still the king of rail travel? Is Grand Central just a pretty face, or does it have the substance to back it up? Tune in as we explore the past, present, and future of these iconic rail hubs!

The Rail Brothers are back! In this New Year’s special, the Video Brother and the Photo Brother review the biggest rail stories of 2024. From the historic CP 2816 Final Spike Tour and cutting-edge transit upgrades in Philadelphia to the environmental shift toward oil-burning locomotives, this episode covers it all. Plus, we discuss exciting restorations like East Broad Top Railway and reflect on the challenges of rail manufacturing in the U.S. Join us for rail news, nostalgia, and a celebration of all things trains!

The Rail Brothers talk about trains and their favorite holiday traditions. They discuss why there is such a strong connection between trains and the holidays. They review iconic Christmas movies with trains, as well as their own Christmas layouts. They also explore different regional holiday traditions which includes SEPTA's "jolly trolleys".

The railbrothers explore train "chases" and discuss the various ways and techniques they use to record and document trains. they also discuss recent train news as well as an update on their various model railroad projects.

The Railbrothers talk about the namesake of their podcast - Stacktalk - the distinctive "Chugga Chugga" of the "Choo Choo" , its technical description, as well as a more phenomenological exploration of steam trains and their meaning to us. They also discuss their recent trip to the Strasburg Railroad in Pennsylvania to see their Thomas locomotive at the "day out with Thomas" event .

Explore the world of model trains through the lens of the RailBrothers. The duo has had the fortune to experience every major scale from N to G. Listen as they explain ,and argue over, the finer points of model railroading by sharing our family history with each gauge. They start with our father's S gauge, our young experience with HO, then G guage, then three rail O gauge, then again our more mature view of HO scale in a club setting, and then our current layouts. Billy has two outdoor G gauge garden railroads, and a HO model railroad in his attic, while Dan has a portable N scale layout, and a temporary S gauge Christmas layout.

In the Railbrother's first episode, they ask the important questions.. what exactly is a train, and what isn't? We discuss transportation systems as diverse as resort trams to rubber-wheeled metro lines to American mainline fright trains. In this, we explore and discuss (argue) over what is the "trainiest" train.

On this episode of Stacktalk with the Railbrothers, Bill and Dan discuss the different nicknames that railfans and crews have given to different railroad engines. Locomotives discussed are the HHP-8 (Hippo), AEM-7 (Toaster), Geeps, and more! Of course, it's hard to stay on track, so the conversation wanders from there!

A very STALK TALK Podcast! LIVE! As a fundraiser for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The Rail Brothers joined the Model Train People's TRAIN A THON! We will be talking about the Layouts that Got Away. Make sure to donate to CHOP here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-chop-trainathon-2025