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All about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm

COWCATCHER MAGAZINE

2006 Round Up

All Issues Priced at $2.95 unless otherwise noted

From 2004-06, the Cowcatcher Round Up was published independently by Ballpark Impressions, LLC, as the official publication of the Cowcatcher Division/NMRA.

 

‘TIS THE SEASON – Jan/Feb 2006: Season traffic brings railroads to life. PLUS, modeling North Texas coal trains in N scale are easy using a number of modern-day coal cars that include UFIX Coalveyers, UFIX Coalporters, FPPX Thrall Hi-Side Gondolas and FPPX Coalporters; removing decals is easy with a gel-like product; roots of The Hustler traces to the Houston & Texas Central railroad; and the arrival of streamliners upgrades the collection at the Age of Steam railroad museum in Dallas. SOLD OUT!
 

NEW WAR PAINT – March/April 2006: Plans are announced for the first “24 Hours at Saginaw”, an all-day and night railfanning experience in a railroad-centric community in North Texas. PLUS, model railroad landscapes take shape using papier mache that is produced by a company in Marshall, TX; and staff writer Steve Willis examines why the Santa Fe was the way for passenger travel in the golden era of railroading.




BETTER DAYS GONE BY? – May/June 2006: The venerable SD40-2 once was the hoss of the American railroad, but today it’s seeing a much more limited role and settling into a secondary work life. PLUS, a look back at the Sam Houston Zephyr, which was the first diesel-powered streamlined passenger train in Texas; Blair Line’s American roadside café is a replica of a classic piece of Americana; and a preview of the LSR’s annual convention in San Antonio, TX.



 

WGH ON TOUR SET FOR FW – July/August 2006: The World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour announces it will do a Texas two-step by hosting a second show in the Lone Star State. PLUS, the first edition of “24 Hours at Saginaw” goes off without a hitch; D&RGW locomotive joins Union Pacific’s Heritage Series fleet; we take a look back at the Missouri Pacific Railroad’s Texas Trianglem which provided overnight service to Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston; and the “Tracks to the Alamo” draws the largest crowd in the past five years for an Lone Star Region annual convention.




Cowcatcher Sept-Oct 06 Cover

 

 

 

 

 

TRAIN SEASON IS HERE! – Sept/Oct 2006: The Age of Steam Museum at Fair Park in Dallas has a vision to change its image and direction. PLUS, Division 3 of the Lone Star Region gives back to Garland, TX, library that hosts its meetings; a new Union Pacific intermodal facility in San Antonio is announced; and we take a snapshot of a portable rig that allows for transloading of oil in the Houston area.




Cowcatcher Sept-Oct 06 Cover
 

 

 

 

GREAT NORTHERN MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE – Nov/Dec 2006: An ex-Great Northern employee’s HO-scale layout is a tribute to a long railroading career and life in Wolf Point, MT. PLUS, the Danby Ludlow & Springfield gets ready to make a third move, this one a long way from Texas; the days for the Texas State Railroad may be numbered as funding is getting scarce; and Union Pacific and Lionel settle their trademark dispute.




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.