Bungalow Heaven Railroad

Unreal Backyard Railroad! Bret Iwan & the Thompson Railway

What’s it like to run a real steam locomotive? In this episode, I find out.
 
Today, we’re flipping the script.
 
Instead of welcoming a guest to the Bungalow Heaven Railroad, I’m hitting the road and visiting Bret Iwan (https://www.instagram.com/bret_iwan) at his private railroad: the Terbeau Ranch & Thompson Railway (https://www.instagram.com/thompson_railway).
 
If you’ve been listening to the show, you might remember Bret as one of our very first guests… and the official voice of Mickey Mouse. But outside the recording booth, he’s built something truly incredible: a full-scale, working steam railroad, and he’s restoring a historic locomotive while preserving the legacy of its original builder, Tommy Thompson.
 
In this episode, we start with a tour of Bret’s ranch, filled with vintage Americana, hidden storytelling details, and railroad history, before climbing into the cab of a real steam locomotive.
 
Believe it or not: I’ve never done this before.
 
So if you’re thinking “I don’t know anything about trains”… perfect. You’ll be learning right alongside me.
 
🚂 In this episode:
Touring the Terbeau Ranch and its one-of-a-kind private railroad
The story behind the Thompson Railway and Tommy Thompson’s legacy
Inside a real steam locomotive: fire, water, pressure, and power
How steam engines actually work (explained for beginners)
The responsibility and emotion of restoring and running historic machinery
Why these machines feel less like equipment and more like living things
 
This is part engineering lesson, part history, and part pure childhood wonder.
So whether you’re watching or just listening, settle in.
It’s going to be a fun ride.
 
Follow Bret Iwan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bret_iwan
Railroad: https://www.instagram.com/thompson_railway
Terbeau Ranch: https://www.instagram.com/terbeau_ranch/
https://www.thompsonrailway.com/
 
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bungalowheavenrailroad
Web: 1058studios.com

This is the Bungalow Heaven Railroad

What started as a passion project in the front yard of a 100-year-old Pasadena home has grown into a miniature world seen by over 100 million people online. Now, that world becomes the backdrop for something new.
In this video podcast, host Nick Johnson invites special guests to step into the garden, learn how the railroad works, drive a train, and then sit down for a conversation about creativity, storytelling, and the joy of building things that move people.
From legendary voice actors to unexpected guests, each episode blends hands-on experience with thoughtful conversation, all set against the sound of trains rolling through the garden.
If you’re listening, imagine you’re sitting on the porch with us.
New episodes available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen and watch.

Nancy Cartwright & Bart Simpson Visit the Garden Railroad

What happens when the voice of Bart Simpson gets behind the controls of a garden railroad?
In this episode of the Bungalow Heaven Railroad, Emmy Award-winning voice actress Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson, Ralph Wiggum, Nelson Muntz, Maggie Simpson, and more) visits my hand-built garden railroad in Pasadena… and yes, we let Bart crash a train.
Nancy explores the railroad, shares her personal connection to model trains growing up, and takes the controls to run a train through the garden. Along the way, we talk about creativity, storytelling, and what it takes to bring one of the most iconic animated characters in television history to life.
After the railroad run, we head up to the porch for a conversation covering:
• How Nancy discovered her voice acting talent as a kid
• The origin of Bart Simpson’s voice and how it’s evolved over 30+ years
• Behind-the-scenes stories from The Simpsons (including the legendary monorail episode)
• The art of voice acting, sound effects, and character work
• Why The Simpsons is still going strong after 800+ episodes
• The surprising emotional connection people have with trains • Advice for anyone pursuing a creative career
There are also some unforgettable moments along the way… including Nancy improvising as Bart while running the railroad, rapid-fire Simpsons character questions, and a chaotic (and very on-brand) train crash.
If you’re a fan of The Simpsons, voice acting, or just love trains and creative storytelling, this is a really fun one.
 
https://www.youtube.com/@officialnancycartwright
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Web: 1058studios.com

KTLA’s Andy Riesmeyer Runs A Live Steam Train

KTLA reporter and anchor Andy Riesmeyer visits the Bungalow Heaven Railroad to run a miniature live steam train and talk about his journey through media, storytelling, and his lifelong love of model trains.Andy shares how he went from intern to on-air reporter at KTLA, his experience creating digital content and what it takes to build a career in today’s media landscape. Along the way, we dive into his past working with brands like Hot Wheels: why practical, hands-on creativity still matters in a digital world through miniature filmmaking shooting toy cars & trains.We put Andy in control of a live steam locomotive: a fully functional, hand-built train powered by real fire and pressure, to see if he can make it around the railroad.Watch as the worlds of broadcast news, digital media, and model railroading collide in the front yard of a historic Pasadena home.If you’ve ever loved trains, toys, filmmaking, or just building something from the ground up, this episode is for you.https://www.instagram.com/andyktlaSupport our content! https://buymeacoffee.com/bungalowheavenrailroad Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bungalowheavenrailroad TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bungalowheavenrailroad Web: 1058studios.com

Infamous Train Robberies & Railroad Mysteries with Carter Roy

Carter Roy (host of Conspiracy Theories and Murder: True Crime Stories) joins me at the railroad — and we’re going off the rails in the best way.
We’ve worked together for years covering mysteries and true crime, so this time we brought those stories to the tracks. Under the lights, with trains rolling behind us, we get into some of the most legendary train robberies in history — the outlaws, the schemes, and the stories that still don’t quite add up.
It’s a little eerie, a little historical, and a lot of fun.
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Web: 1058studios.com

Bret Iwan and Mickey Mouse visit the Garden Railroad

In this episode of Bungalow Heaven Railroad, Nick welcomes a very special neighbor and lifelong train enthusiast — Bret Iwan, the official voice of Mickey Mouse.
Since 2009, Bret has carried on the legacy of one of the most recognizable characters in entertainment history, following in the footsteps of Walt Disney, Jimmy MacDonald, and Wayne Allwine. Over the past 16+ years, Bret has voiced Mickey across television, film, toys, video games, and Disney parks around the world.
But Bret’s connection to trains runs just as deep as his connection to Disney.
Growing up in Altadena, Bret was surrounded by model trains and garden railroads thanks to his father. That early fascination eventually led him to his current project: restoring and operating a real working steam train, preserving the legacy of a historic railway built by engineer Tommy Thompson.
In this episode, Bret visits the garden railroad in Pasadena to:
🚂 Run one of the trains 🎙 Share the incredible story of how he unexpectedly became the voice of Mickey Mouse 🏗 Talk about restoring a real steam locomotive 🎨 Discuss creativity, storytelling, and preserving legacy 🌲 Reflect on Walt Disney’s love of trains and imagination
If you're listening to this as an audio podcast, just imagine you're sitting on the porch with us while the trains roll peacefully through the garden below.
Follow Bret Iwan
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/bret_iwan⁠ 
Railroad: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thompson_railway⁠
Terbeau Ranch: https://www.instagram.com/terbeau_ranch/
Support our content! ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/bungalowheavenrailroad⁠ 
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/bungalowheavenrailroad⁠ 
TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@bungalowheavenrailroad⁠ 
Web: ⁠1058studios.com⁠ 

Jim Cummings & Winnie the Pooh visit the Garden Railroad

Legendary voice actor Jim Cummings stops by the Bungalow Heaven Railroad… and he brings along a few familiar friends. 
You may know Jim as the voice of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck, Hondo Ohnaka, Smokey Bear and many others. As he visits the garden railroad in Pasadena, he learns how the trains work and takes a turn running one through the garden. Then Jim joins Nick on the porch for a conversation about creativity, voice acting, and the art of bringing unforgettable characters to life.
It’s a relaxed afternoon of trains, stories, and a few voices you probably grew up with.
Follow us on social!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bungalowheavenrailroad
TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@bungalowheavenrailroad⁠
Web: ⁠https://www.1058studios.com/