x

All about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm

COWCATCHER MAGAZINE

2014 Cowcatcher Magazine

All Issues Priced at $4.95 unless otherwise noted

Operations Mecca- January/February 2014: Collaborative spirit inspires building some of the country’s top model railroads for operations in Kansas City. PLUS, we publish the winner’s of the Cowcatcher Gold Rail Awards 2013 contest; the Houston Railroad Museum plans to relocate to Tomball, TX; NTRAK leadership has changed with the appointment of Oklahoma N-Rail’s Bruce Alcock; and staff writer Pat Hiatte takes a ride on the Semo Port Railroad as it moves freight along the Mississippi River.





Getting The Right Shot – March/April 2014: With digital photography, layout photos are easier to shoot but knowing the basics are still just as essential. PLUS, the Texas Central Railway is racing California to become the nation’s first high-speed rail line; the Illinois model railroading community is staying busy with plenty of meets and activities; SGMA-MAC members travel far and away to show their standard gauge models; and Dallas Rapid Transit is joining just a few other cities in the U.S. with service to a major airport.





Cowcatcher May-June 2014 Cover3

Beneath the Katy Trail- May/June 2014: Lessons in timetable and train order operations are gleaned from the tragic past of a once heavy Missouri-Kansas-Texas rail line. PLUS, a strong showing prompts Tulsa Design/Op organizers to reconsider event’s fate; we offer five steps to enhance operating sessions; the Austin Western Railroad gets busy when the Texas weather warms as aggregate business heats up; and Rapido’s second run of HO-scale meat cars promises to be as good as the first one.





Cowcatcher July-Aug 2014 Cover

On the Job- July/August 2014: A North Texas mobile diesel engine service company takes its business model trackside anywhere, anytime. PLUS, after 10 years the Operations Special Interest Group (OpSIG) has become a fast-growing segment of the model railroad hobby; the Timber Rock Railroad is steady as she goes while maintaining a constant flow of forestry and rock business in East Texas; a new design improves Walthers passenger car line; St. Louis and Virginia museums plan to swap steam and diesel locomotives; and the Oklahoma City Train Show banks on change with a new look. SOLD OUT!!

Cowcatcher Sept-Oct 2014 Cover

Renaissance- September/October 2014: The venerable short line railroad is playing a critical role today in the movement of the nation’s freight, enough that some say these are renaissance times. PLUS, the arrival of Dallas Area Rapid Transit to DFW International Airport puts Dallas in a whole new world; the NMRA Nationals packs a punch as crowds descend upon Cleveland for prototype tours and the big train show; a Wisconsin-themed layout offers light-hearted but quality layout operations; demand for rail equipment outweighs supply, leaving some railroads scrambling to keep traffic moving; and Tangent Scale Models’ latest hopper offerings in HO should prompt modern-era fans to come back for more. $5.95





Cowcatcher-Nov-Dec-2014-P11.jpg

Attention to Detail- November/December 2014: Intermountain Railway Co. puts emphasis on quality through an intense inspection process. PLUS, the American Public Transportation Association pitches long-term funding to rebuild what the organization says is decaying transportation infrastructure in the U.S.; grain is big on the Nebraska Central Railroad but a diverse portfolio of commodities is even bigger; Joplin, MO, was never a big rail hub, but the Southwest Missouri city saw plenty of action several decades ago, offering modelers and historians a unique perspective; one of the nation’s largest model railroad shows – Trainfest – has a new attitude.





Pick up the current issue of the Cowcatcher Magazine at a location near you or SUBSCRIBE

Current Issue: March/April 2024

$6.95 (U.S. Orders Only)

NEW CHAPTER

On Jan. 1, 2024, BNSF Railway took over operations on the storied Montana Rail Link after a lease agreement between the railroads dating to the late 1980s was cut short. BNSF says operating as one railroad will bring benefits to customers and opportunities for freight growth in the region through enhanced capacity and stronger service. In some respects, the company views MRL's integration as a reunion.

NEW PRODUCTS HIGHLIGHT AMHERST

Model manufacturers debuted new products before record attendance at the Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show in January. Micro-Trains announced new offerings in HO scale, a first for the company that specializes in N and Z trains. 

DEAL RAIL IS ALIVE

Smaller components and Bluetooth technology are making battery operation for HO scale more plausible. See how the Texas-based CLRR has gone from DCC to deal rail.

PLUS

KR Models' long-awaited skeletal logging cars arrive and make a nice impression. Also, a strong fourth-quarter finish lifts spirits for Class I railroad executives, who believe the momentum will carry over into this year. And the Denver & Rio Grande Western's Royal Gorge traversed mountains, traveled along rivers and glided through tunnels from Salt Lake City to Denver.