Lets Talk Trains

This week, the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation's Let's Talk Train's program takes a look at the Metropolitan St.Louis Light Rail system. We will talk about how the system got it's start and the current two leg operation. We will find out it ties into the other transportation modes that are available in St. Louis. Metro St. Louis and what is on the horizon for light rail in St. Louis.And we will take a peak into a day in the life of an operator.

David Smetko the CN Dispatcher will be our guest this week on this prerecoded episode on LTT. You can not call the show during this interview. We will learn about what his job entails, What segments of railroad he dispatches and then his hobby of rare mileage train riding.  We willl go pack to his Illinois Central railroading beginnings and hear a story about him meeting Muhammad Ali. His days as a tower opertor with be discussed. A good show for sure!

As 2013 comes to a close, please join all of the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation's Let's Talk Trains hosts as they each take over a segment to talk about their best show that the hosted and and the best show that listened to by from each of other hosts. The chat room www.letstalktrain.com will be open to give your views as well. If you listen later, comment on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/letstalktrains.

On our last “On The Road Segment” of 2013, we visit the railroad town of Jackson, not Mississippi but the other Jackson located in the State of Tennessee. We visit with the Mayor to Jackson, Tenn. to find out about Jackson and what they are doing to make railfans and their citizens interested in rail tourism. We also chat with the Casey Jones Village and Museum director, then travel across town to visit with the city’s Park and Recreation Director, who’s department owns the NC&STL railroad depot. The museum director will also be on hand to describe the exhibits. Plus, our usual band of regional reporters keeping us up-to-date on happenings around the country. Join us won’t you?  

This week, Kansas City Nathan hosts, as we follow up with the Regional Roundup Crew, as we discuss recent events around the country---including new and ongoing projects, and noteworthy derailments. During the second half of the show, we will replay the Special Edition report of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) public meeting for the Illinois High-Speed Rail (HSR) Chicago to St. Louis Project. At this meeting, the study team will present information regarding the Springfield 3rd Street Corridor.

This is your chance to ask the Amazing Chris Guenzler any railroad related questions about his train riding. This show got a little crazy from some off the wall callers but your host took care of it. It was the hardest show I had ever hosted but I did it. This was the highest listenship show we had ever had join our LTT History. We did have some really good phone calls too. Join us for this fun and eductional show.

Thanksgiving weekend is the traditional start of the holiday season. Join Bob and Elizabeth at 12-noon (Central) / 10:00 A.M. (Pacific) for their annual review of holiday, Santa and Christmas trains throughout the Country. Please let us know about the holiday trains in your area by calling (646) 716-7106, on the web at http://www.letstalktrains.com

This week, the Let's Talk Trains host, ShuttletrainTED, visited the Memphis, Tenn. Railroad & Trolley Museum. We learn about how the railroad help shape the past and present Memphis. The Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum allows visitors to learn about railroading and what the future holds. ShuttletrainTED will speak with the regional round-up reporters and take a quick look at what is going on in Rochelle, Ill.

Let's Talk Trains visited the town of Meridian, Mississippi during their WhistleStop Weekend. The Meridian Railroad Museum had their railfest and the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Historical Society had their annual convention and Soule SteamFest had their annual open house. We were also joined by noted author J. Parker Lamb. Sit back and enjoy the visit to the great railroad town of Meridian.

Kansas City Nathan will be hosting the show from the La Plata, Mo. Depot, which host the east & westbound Amtrak Southwest Chief, and the gateway to the APRHF Headquarters, and SilverRails Country. This week, we will welcome Kevin Buck, of LaPlata Riptrack, Jim LeBaron, and possibly others for a turntable---I mean a roundtable discussion about model railroading. This includes the serious modeler who wants to recreate a specific time and place; to a modeler who likes to watch trains go around in a circle.  We would like you to call in a be part of the roundtable discussion, ask questions, and give us your opinions about the topic. ALL ABOARD!!!

Carl Morrison will be our guest, this week, on the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation's The Let's Talk Trains Show. The Amazing Chris Guenzler will interview Carl about his websites on TrainWeb.org and on MoKnows Photos, as well as many other railroad related things.  Carl has many stories plus tips on how to be a good rail photographer. His pictures and mine can be bought from the Silver Rail Gallery in La Plata, Missouri. We will travel from his growing up in Indiana to the present. Please lookat his web sites as we talk on the show. He will really impresss you with his great photography. Join us for a very unique show!

The American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation's the Let's Talk Trains Show visits with an old friend this week, Amtrak Media Relations Manager, Marc Magliari. After Marc brings us up to track speed, we will visit with the Twin City Model Railroad Museum. During the whole second hour will be talking about the Minnesota Transportation Museum.  Join us as we continue to learn about what is available for railfans of all ages. ALL ABOARD!!!

This time, on the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation's Let's Talk Trains Show, we are visiting Silver Rails Country, located in LaPlata, Mo.---home of the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation---and the Silver Rails Train Show for the first hour. The second hour, we turn our attention to the eastern part of the country as we find out about the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Historical Society. We will visit with the founder of the Historical group and the director of the C&O Heritage Center, Clifton Forge, VA. Join in the coversation, by calling in at 646-716-7106 or in the chatroom at www.letstalktrains.com, look for the chatroom in the lower right side of the page.

Mitch Markovitz was Bob and Elizabeth's guest in 2010 when we had a series on railroad artists.  Now Mitch joins us again to talk about his railroad career which included working for the Chicago and North Western, Milwaukee Road and South Shore Line. Please join us at 10:00 AM Pacific / 1:00 PM Eastern at (646) 716-7106, on the web at http://www.letstalktrains.com or in the chat room at http://www.letstalktrains.com/chat.

  This week, the Amazing Chris Guenzler will give a recap of the Alaska NRHS 2013 Convention, which was held in Fairbanks, Alaska, September 14th through September 17th, and Anchorage, Alaska, September 18th through September 22nd. Chris and Elizabeth Alkire will talk about their experiences of the convention in the 50th and largest State in the United States. All of the trips we did at this unique convention and what it was like to be car hosting at this event. Listen to this show about trains trips in our 50th State.