2014 Cowcatcher Magazine

All Issues Priced at $5.95 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. Limited. $6.95

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.

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!!

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. $6.95

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.

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Spring is when large-scale model railroaders with their green thumbs plant and prune colorful foliage grown nearly to scale. In some areas, maintaining outdoor layouts is quite challenging because of changing weather. Nancy Norris, an author who builds garden railroads professionally, says some plant varieties have become more difficult to grow in certain Hardiness Zones. In some cases it means garden railroaders having to put more emphasis on growing native plants rather than relying on varieties more susceptible to extreme conditions. She recommends new gardeners consult with their local nurseries for the best choices for an outdoor layout. Norris also has a few recommendations of her own.

Sweeping tariffs imposed on goods imported into the United States are stirring model railroad manufacturers. As a result, model railroading and other hobbies will cost more. In February the U.S. applied a 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China, and the tax has since escalated. Suppliers – including Athearn, InterMountain Railway Co., Broadway Limited, Rapido Trains and ScaleTrains – have been putting dealers and customers on notice that prices will increase tariffs are implemented.

The first rule of railroading is “expect movement on any track at any time in any direction.” This may seem like an overabundance of caution, but railroading is a dangerous sport. Always expect a train when you’re around the tracks. The second rule of railroading is that there is an exception to every rule. The North American freight car fleet in 2023 consisted of 2.03 million rail cars, according to Railinc’s Umler Equipment Index. Rail car fleet management — how empty cars get dispatched to move to their next loading point — is an ever-moving process and often requires fleet car managers to be nimble.

2014 Cowcatcher Magazine

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

Current Issue: May/June 2025

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Tuned In

Tariffs Cause Concern

Managing Freight Cars

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