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All about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm

COWCATCHER MAGAZINE

Available At

Limited complimentary copies of the Cowcatcher Magazine are available at many locations in our coverage area. These copies are available on a first-come basis and are not replenished when they are gone. Below are some of our current locations where copies are available. To ensure your copy, please subscribe

Texas | Oklahoma | Louisiana | Arkansas | Kansas | Missouri | Iowa | Illinois | Nebraska | Colorado | Delaware | New Mexico | Wisconsin | Minnesota | Michigan | California | North Carolina | Pennsylvania | New York | Kentucky | Florida | Utah

TEXAS

NORTH

Discount Model Trains, Addison

Angelo Hobbies, North Richland Hills

Model Train Crossing, Hurst

Museum of the American Railroad, Frisco

Grapevine Vintage Railroad, Grapevine

Red River Railroad Museum, Denison

Interurban Railway Museum, Plano

AJC Kids, Wichita Falls

CENTRAL

Texas Transportation Museum, San Antonio

Dibble’s Hobbies, San Antonio

New Braunfels Railroad Museum, New Braunfels

Harris Hobbies, Athens

Ennis Railroad Museum, Ennis

EAST

R.D. Moses T&P Model Railroad Museum, Jefferson

Cotton Belt Museum, Tyler

SOUTH

Galveston Railroad Museum, Galveston

G&G Hobby Shop, Houston

Papa Ben’s Train Place, Houston

Rosenberg Railroad Museum, Rosenberg

NORTH

Amarillo Railroad Museum, Amarillo

COLORADO

CENTRAL

Colorado Model Railroad Museum, Greeley

Rocky Mountain Train Supply, Denver

WEST

Durango & Silverton Railroad Road, Durango

DELAWARE

F&N Hobbies, Clayton

OKLAHOMA

CENTRAL

Johnny’s Train Shop, Covington

Oklahoma Railroad Museum, Oklahoma City

Whistlestop Trains, Oklahoma City

LOUISIANA

NORTH

Shreveport Railroad Museum, Shreveport

SOUTH

Hub Hobby, New Orleans

ARKANSAS

NORTHWEST

Arkansas Travelers Hobbies, Bald Knob

Rail & Sprue Hobbies, Jacksonville

NORTHEAST

Arkansas Railroad Museum, Pine Bluff, AR

KANSAS

Fred’s Train Shop, Overland Park, KS (Kansas City area)

MISSOURI

NORTHWEST

Show Me Model Railroad Co., Grandview (Kansas City area)

SOUTHWEST

Branson Hobby Center, Branson

Roark Valley MRC, Branson

CENTRAL

APRHFstore/Silver Rails, LaPlata

ILLINOIS

NORTHEAST

Des Plaines Hobbies, Des Plaines

Midwest Rail Junction, Rockford

Lombard Hobbies, Lombard

WEST

Neal’s N-Gauging Trains, Staunton

IOWA

NORTHEAST

Caboose Stop Hobbies, Cedar Falls

Audubon Hobbies/Yankee Dabbler West, Audubon

NEBRASKA

SOUTHEAST

Spring Creek Model Trains, Deshler

Randy’s Roundhouse, Lincoln

House of Trains, Omaha

NEW MEXICO

Tucumcari Railroad Museum, Tucumcari (seasonal)

WISCONSIN

Engine House Services, Green Bay

Sommerfield’s Trains, Butler

Model Train Classics, Eau Claire

Madison Hobby Stop, Madison

Jetco’s Hiawatha Hobbies, Waukesha

MINNESOTA

Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum, St. Paul

NEW YORK

Trainland, Lynnbrook

PENNSYLVANIA

White Rose Hobbies, York

MICHIGAN

Trains & Things Hobbies, Traverse City

FLORIDA

Dana’s Railroad Supply, Spring Hill

KENTUCKY

Hobby Station, Elizabeth Town

NORTH CAROLINA

Mike’s Trains, Thomasville

CALIFORNIA

Original Whistle Stop, Pasadena

Reed’s Hobby Shop, San Diego

San Diego Model Railroad Museum, San Diego

UTAH

Hobby Stop, Orem

CHECK BACK FOR MORE NEW LOCATIONS! ALSO, LOOK FOR THE COWCATCHER AT MODEL TRAIN SHOWS, CONVENTIONS AND SWAP MEETS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Current Issue: Nov/Dec 2025

$6.95 (U.S. Orders Only)

Splitrockin'

An operating session on the Split Rock Mining Co. Railroad is pretty straightforward. A three-person crew works the freelance HO-scale railroad with the sole purpose of transporting iron ore mined in Northern Minnesota to a freighter on Lake Superior. Instructions for the operators can be communicated in a few words before the shift begins. Pull all loads at the mine. Take them to the boat. Take all empties from the boat back to the mines. Rinse and repeat. There are no car cards or manifests. Switching is done by colors, and, yes, there is a rhyme and reason on this Alco-driven layout based on railroading on the Iron Range in Minnesota.

Gaining Traction

A new generation of freelance railroads is taking model railroading by storm, gaining prominence through online videos and social media. The ages-old modeling technique is attracting young modelers and unlocking creative license in veteran hobbyists.

Creating Opportunities

In Southern Wyoming, OmniTRAX is handling switching for two mines in a region known for its prolific coal mining operations. The mines deliver about 17 million tons of trona, a sodium carbonate compound that is processed into soda ash or bicarbonate of soda, and OmniTRAX is increasing safety and managing efficiencies in moving inbound and outbound cars.

Plus

G&G Model Shop in Southwest Houston credits flexibility and personalized service for its 80 years serving the model railroad community. Rapido Trains delivers an N-scale replica of the Santa Fe Railway’s storied SFRD RR-56 refrigerator car, reviewed in this issue. Also, the romance of the circus and railroads united in the circus train, which endured as the greatest shows on earth’s sideshow. And more!

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