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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: Jan/Feb 2026

$6.95 (U.S. Orders Only)

Calling Card

There’s no shortage of history on the Murphy Branch, one of the most compelling stories of the Southern Railway’s system in the Southeast U.S. Historians speak of the perseverance and dedication of the men who built the 111 miles through the mountains and along rivers in Western Carolina. Passenger business flourished by the turn of the 20th century with four daily trains between Asheville and Murphy, NC. Today the only passengers who ride the former line are on a 63-mile stretch from Dillsboro to the Nantahala Gorge, considered the most scenic on the Murphy Branch. Bryson City lies between them. The whistles, horns and bells echoing through the valley are from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, operated by American Heritage Railways. The train has become Bryson City’s calling card.

To the Trains

Trainz.com has parlayed new and used model trains into a big business north of Atlanta, GA. In March, Trainz opened a 73,000-square-foot warehouse in Flowery Branch and much of the shelf space is already consumed.

Slowing Pace?

Readers who participated in the Cowcatcher's annual State of Model Railroading survey in November indicate the hobby remains in good shape, but its value appears to be slipping amid a changing landscape that is pushing prices higher.

Plus

InterMountain Railway's latest HO and N grain cars pay tribute to one Iowa grain company and elevator that a played a role in the U.S. agriculture industry's rise. Chicago's elevated railroad, better known as the 'L', spreads in every direction and touches many lives along the Windy City's lakefront. Also, Atlas Model Railroad Co. say its role is clear after buying Micro-Trains Line Co.: Preserve the company's product line. And more!