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All about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm

Cowcatcher Magazine

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Contact Us

COWCATCHER STAFF

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Tim Blackwell

COPY EDITOR

John Dycus

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Stacey Blackwell

STAFF CONTRIBUTORS

Tom Marsh

Pat Hiatte

Craig Walker

Stories and photographs may be submitted to Cowcatcher Magazine and will be considered for publication if space is available and material is relevant to model railroading and rail enthusiasm in the region or in general. Letters to the editor are encouraged and will be published if space is available. All correspondence should be submitted by:

Email: cowcatcher@verizon.net

or via mail to: Cowcatcher Magazine Editor, P.O. Box 176, Keller, TX 76244.

Submissions will be returned if a self-addressed, stamped envelope is included.


To contact the Cowcatcher Magazine:

Cowcatcher Magazine
P.O. Box 176, Keller, TX 76244
(817) 379-5528
cowcatcher@verizon.net


Change of Address and Subscription Information

You may notify us of your change of address by emailing: cowcatcher@verizon.net
with the subject line “Change of Address”

Please include your first and last name, old address and new address. You will receive a confirmation from us.

It is important you notify us of your change of address. Because we mail third class to keep your subscription cost as low as possible we do not receive returned mail nor notification from the post office of a forwarding address.

For other information about your subscription, see Info & Updates.


Article and Photo Submission Guide

The Cowcatcher encourages authors to submit all manner of material on model railroading and rail enthusiasm – model and prototype photographs, industry news, personality features, show advances, how-to stories and retrospectives. Contact us prior to submission to determine suitability and possible publication date.

We reserve the right to decline a submission, with gratitude, and to edit for length, style and readability. Manuscripts will be returned if a self-addressed, stamped envelope is provided.

Deadline is typically the fourth or fifth day of the month prior to the first month of publication date. An article for the March/April issue, for instance, should be submitted no later than Feb. 5. Include full contact information and all photo/article credits.

The Cowcatcher pays for content in some cases, but alas, they are rare. Your contribution of stories, cut lines, photos, artwork or any other piece(s) for publication are considered gratis. You will receive a byline, either at the beginning or end of the story. Also, having an article published achieves points for some industry designations.

Let us hear from you. The Cowcatcher is about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm, and together we will tell the best story we can.

Stories

You don’t have to be a seasoned writer to submit work. We will help you look good!

Use short, straightforward sentences. Copious detail. No first-person. Get to the point, and don’t forget the “5 Ws and the H” – who, what, where, when, why and how. Double-check your facts.

Feature articles should be 700-1,800 words (as reference, this guide is about 460 words). News items may be shorter.

Organize a how-to story in step-by-step order with accompanying photos marked for each step.

Email articles in Word or plain text to cowcatcher@verizon.net . In some cases, we will accept printed manuscripts but please contact us before sending.

Not sure you want to write a complete article but have a news tip or worthy story? Just send us the facts in an email and we’ll take it from there!

Photographs

Digital photos should be 300 dpi and saved as a .jpeg, .eps or .pdf. Do not embed photographs in other documents, like a Word, Publisher or PowerPoint file. We can also scan high-quality printed images in black and white or color.

When taking photographs, especially of train models or layout elements, strive for depth of field, whether using natural or artificial light. The foreground and background should be in focus, which can be achieved with a good light source and a high “f” stop on most digital SLR cameras. Limit ISO settings to 1600 if possible. Some cellphone images can be published as long as they are large enough. We recommend using the highest size setting on your phone. Also, consider holding the camera a foot or so away from the subject when shooting models to avoid distortion.

When shooting photos for the cover, leave plenty of space at the top for the magazine’s title and bottom for sub-titles. The subject of the picture should fill the bottom two-thirds of the frame.

Send only original artwork to avoid copyright infringement. Photographs from other sources will be considered, but first check with our editorial staff.

We look forward to seeing your contributions!

  • July/August 2022

  • Order Today!

    PURCHASE THE CURRENT ISSUE TODAY!

    JUST $6.95, includes shipping (U.S. only)!

     

    Allow 3-5 business days for delivery upon placement of order.

     

    ** Email us for international shipping rates**

     

  • Modern Freight

    When modeling a particular era, some agonize over what constitutes an appropriate freight car for the period. Today’s trains can be far more diverse in freight type and age than one from the 1970s. They are built better to last longer and are more varied to meet shippers’ needs.

    Design, build date and service life are factors in determining the modern era of freight cars. See our overview of the types of freight cars in service today on the North American rail network, based on manufacturer and railroad data.

  • Brewing up an Industry

    Details make the difference in Campbell’s brewery kit on the Mystic Branch HO model railroad. The scene is loaded inside and out with accoutrements that are readily available, plus some that require a little imagination and haphazard materials found on the workbench. And even a little trash.

     

     – Gene Mangum

     

  • Imagining a Railroad

    Columnist Michelle Kempema, who recently began sharing her insights with the Cowcatcher, opens model railroading’s world of free-spirited imagination after becoming the new owner of the Big Turn & Southern Railway.

  • PLUS…

    The NMRA is changing, one member at a time. Marketing consultant Christina Zambri is striving to improve the long-time organization’s visibility and image. …

     

    The Surface Transportation Board now requires certain railroads to submit service recovery plans in an effort to speed up rail traffic. …

     

    Fifty years since the last trolley ran, East Troy (WI) welcomes MVPS No. 56 for restoration and an eventual return to service. …

     

     

    THESE STORIES AND MORE, PLUS A FULL CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS AND THE BUSINESS PULSE OF THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY!

     

  • Whitehurst & Pine Ridge Railroad





    Visit the new N-scale Whitehurst & Pine Ridge Railroad, the official model railroad of the Cowcatcher Magazine, and track progress. All aboard!
  • Product News & Review

    InterMountain HO ADM Corn Syrup Car

     

    The Cowcatcher reviews InterMountain Railway Co.’s newly released HO-scale Trinity Industries 19,600-gallon corn syrup car. The tank car is one of several in the company’s second release.

     

    More product reviews!

     

    See product news!

     

  • Don’t Miss an Issue

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  • Cowcatcher Tracks

    Stay in touch with what’s happening between issues! Cowcatcher subscribers receive our monthly email digest, Cowcatcher Tracks*, which is filled with colorful insights, as well as updates. See a sample copy here!

    * Must provide email address when subscribing.

  • 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.

     

    See our most recent issues and order today!

     

  • Article & Photo Submissions

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

  • HMA Promotional Video

    https://youtu.be/bxrwl13N1Rc

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