About the Cowcatcher Magazine

Cowcatcher Magazine, published by Ballpark Impressions, is the only publication covering local model railroad, rail enthusiast and railroad-related news in the Midwest and Southwest.

Started in 2004 in Keller, Texas, the magazine brings to life the people, places and events of this community like no other publication in the marketplace.

Cowcatcher Magazine not only has news of interest about one of America’s favorite hobbies, it features compelling articles about regional people, places, events and history, all professionally written and edited by accomplished journalists and contributors.

Unlike other publications, Cowcatcher Magazine focuses on the people of the hobby and rail enthusiast community. Coverage includes news from model railroad clubs, historical societies and museums, including local and national National Model Railroad Association and Toy Train Collector’s Association activities.

Each issue is packed full of regional happenings, including a calendar of events for upcoming shows, meets and activities. Also featured is news about real railroads — national and regional. Readers can find informative capsules on the latest news from the region’s transit, tourist and freight railroads.

Cowcatcher Magazine also includes national coverage of model railroading, complete with lively quotes from top industry officials.

Cowcatcher Magazine is mailed Third Class USPS to subscribers, plus distributed at select hobby shops, shows, museums and railroading points of interests in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

Cowcatcher is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

ABOUT THE GOLD RAIL AWARDS

From 2009-16, the Cowcatcher’s Gold Rail Awards recognized the best of the best in model railroading and rail enthusiasm in the areas we cover. Winners in 13 categories ranging from model railroads to prototype railroads were selected by our readers. Categories include: Best Train Show; Best Club Layout, Permanent; Best Club Layout, Modular; Best Excursion Railroad; Best Excursion Railroad, Theme Train; Best Railroad Museum; Best Rail Special Event; Best Regional Freight Railroad; Best Railfanning Spot; Best New Model Railroad Product; Best Passenger Rail (Passenger Regional and Commuter/Light Rail); and Best Model Train Store.

Nominees were selected by Cowcatcher staff and others, and winners announced in the January/February issue.

March/April 2019
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Building for the Future

Most modern-day short lines were born on tracks that larger railroads operated as branch lines or divisions to reach their customer base. Some serve Class 1 railroads on the very tracks they once owned but were left behind after business dried up. The Northwest Tarrant & Pacific is no exception. The Cowcatcher’s freelanced shelf-style project railroad is a prime example of a small short line that connects with a larger carrier after acquiring track that was abandoned.
Timing key for TrainTopia

The story of the Bob Sanders G-scale layout that has drawn visitors to the Frisco Discovery Center since last summer takes more twists and turns than the high trestles crossing rocky canyons between Texas and Arizona.
The 2,500-square-foot layout, the property of the Museum of the American Railroad, is about two-thirds of a planned exhibit. Already it offers an expansive, multilevel experience in a theatre setting complete with sophisticated lighting and sound. But in the next few months, “TrainTopia – A Railroad Odyssey in Miniature” will begin construction on an equally impressive O-scale layout to occupy the front portion of the room. How all of this got to MAR is a good story President and CEO Bob LaPrelle likes to tell.
PLUS…

Going DCC simplifies model railroad operation and is easier than it looks. Just don’t sweat the jargon. If you can read you can do it…

Streetcar history unfolds at the Milwaukee Transit & Archives Museum in Cudahy, WI…

TEXRail is off to a running start and officials are already talking about expanding the line that got rolling shortly after the first of the year.
THESE STORIES AND MORE, PLUS A FULL CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS!

BONUS WEB COVERAGE: In CRU Call in the March/April 2019 issue, Publisher Tim Blackwell tells of how adding a little clutter to right of ways adds realism without overdoing it on the Cowcatcher’s project layout, the Northwest Tarrant & Pacific Railroad…
Cowcatcher Tracks Newsletter

Sign up for our new monthly newsletter! If you subscribe to the print edition, you will receive Cowcatcher Tracks automatically. If you're not a print edition subscriber, sign up by clicking the logo above or clicking here!
Product Showcase

Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show highlights!

The 51st Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show in January packed more than 18,000 in the “Big E” in Springfield, MA, and new HO- and N-scale locomotives grabbed plenty of attention.

PRODUCT REVIEW
PIKO SmartControl light DCC System

Model railroaders seeking an affordable, easy-to-use DCC system for smaller layouts should consider the PIKO SmartControl light Basic Set. The set is designed for use with HO, N and TT layouts and has advanced features not seen in other entry-level DCC systems.
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Back Issues

Be sure to check out our Back Issues page for any issues you may have missed. We have expanded descriptions for issues published beginning in 2007. Click here to order.

The July/August 2018 features the Albuquerque Society of HO Module Engineers, a pioneer of HO-scale modular railroading. Order today!
Article & Photo Submissions

We encourage readers to submit articles and photos. For details, visit our guide here .
Railroad in Focus

Cowcatcher Magazine routinely features short lines and regional railroads that roam the Midwest and Southwest. Features include color photographs and maps, but an overview of operations and latest business trends.

Cowcatcher Magazine

March/April 2019

Order Today!

Building for the Future

Timing key for TrainTopia

PLUS…

Cowcatcher Tracks Newsletter

Product Showcase

Don’t Miss an Issue

Back Issues

Article & Photo Submissions

Railroad in Focus