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All about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm

COWCATCHER MAGAZINE

2008 Cowcatcher Round Up

All Issues Priced at $2.95 unless otherwise noted

ANTHRACITE BLENDS CNJ, LV – Jan/Feb 2008: The Tulsa, OK-based Anthracite Lines offers a unique perspective of freelance and prototypical industrial options on Tom Fausser’s HO-scale layout. PLUS, the “Moccasin”, the Texas & Pacific 2-8-2 Mikado, gets a new home in Marshall, TX; Waco’s Warden Shops kept freight and passenger trains moving across the Katy and the Southwest; and Houston METRO celebrates a milestone with the 40 millionth rider boards.



HAVE YOU MADE YOUR RESERVATION? – Mar/Apr 2008 – Publisher’s Choice Special $2.75 ea.: The model railroad industry plays a numbers game to juggle supply and demand through requiring dealers and consumers to make reservations before runs begin. PLUS, the Rock Island’s Twin Star Rocket had one of the longest passenger runs in North America at 1,363 miles; a father-son duo in Oklahoma load up their G-scale layout and hit the show circuit; and robbers leave their mark on a Dallas train store.



ARKANSAS HILLS ALIVE WITH TRAINS – May/June 2008: Modelers migrate to a Northwest Arkansas community to set up some big-time model railroad operations with Hog Rails. PLUS, model maker Athearn and the Trinity Railway Express sign a licensing agreement and production will resume on the popular commuter rail models; a long-time piece of the model railroad landscape in Oklahoma City shutters its doors; and today’s high-energy refrigerator cars ensure dependable delivery of perishables.



PRESERVATION ON THE MOVE  – July/Aug 2008: A pair of East Texas steam locomotives are relocated, sending preservation on the move. PLUS, a vintage railroad car will be home to an O-scale group’s permanent layout; Atlas adds the its GP30 locomotive line with its latest Phase I release; the Texas & Pacific Westerner rolled through the night to destinations west; and the green light is given to Houston METRO’s Phase II plan.


OPERATIONS ON THE KCS IN HO – Sept/Oct 2008: Plenty of detail and operations awaits on Jim Norwood’s Kansas City Southern HO-scale layout in North Richland Hills, TX. PLUS, a North Texas modular club builds its image and membership; columnist Steve Willis continues his series on building the Rocky Mountain; ridership on Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer climbs; and the Rock Island’s Choctaw traveled 762 miles from Memphis to Amarillo.


 

MOTORING ON DOWN THE LINE – Nov/Dec 2008: A group of North Texas motor car enthusiasts take to the rails and show off how railroad crews moved down the line in the day. PLUS, Hurricane Ike slammed into the Texas coast and takes out the Galveston Railroad Museum; Atlas delivers gold with a finely detailed HO-scale model of a GP40-2 locomotive; and Athearn’s Blue Box bay window caboose is transformed into a Missouri Pacific transfer caboose.



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VIBRANT FUTURE

A G-scale train weaving in and out of foliage, across rocky terrain and over bridges spanning water features in the backyard is a sight to behold. Yet it ranks behind its smaller counterparts. The NMRA lists the scale behind the more popular HO, N and O, respectively. Some say G-scale, which was introduced in the 1960s, doesn't have enough staying power, but many believe the future is vibrant. The scale is appealing to families in hopes of encouraging younger generations to get involved.

CSO KEEPING THE NE CLEAN

The Connecticut Southern Railway is moving plenty of waste in and out of New England, setting the pace in a growing commodity segment - transporting America's refuse to landfills by rail. 

BRUSHING UP ON THE SANTA FE

Well-known railroad artist John Winfield is using the canvas to help raise money for restoration of a Santa Fe No. 93.

PLUS

With its flexibility in design, Walthers' N-scale Modern Lumber Transload is a good fit for the Whitehurst & Pine Ridge Railroad. Also, JL Innovative Design has new owners who are expanding the company's product offerings; 'common sense' drives the Federal Railroad Administration's final rule on train crew size; a former Milwaukee zoo locomotive returns home and more!