Model railroad industry pioneer Keith Edwards dies at 91
July 28, 2012 / Updated August 29, 2012
Model Railroading
Keith Edwards, who co-founded Kadee Quality Products Co., passed away Thursday at a Medford, OR hospital of natural causes. He was 91.
In 1940, Edwards co-founded Kadee Quality Products Co., best-known for its HO-scale coupling devices, with his twin brother, Dale.
By the early 1960s, the brothers began to manufacture their Magne-Matic® coupler system in N scale. Gradually, the company added wheels, trucks and under frames to their product line.
In 1972, Keith Edwards led the company’s efforts in N and Z scales to form Micro-Trains Line Co., a separate division that at first specialized in N scale trains, Magne-Matic® couplers and accessories. Eventually added to the product line, were cars and couplers in Nn3 scale, and Z scale were eventually added.
In 1996, Edwards joined his brother as a member of the Hobby Manufacturers Association Hall of Fame. Four years later, Keith Edwards retired.
“Keith inspired all of us at Micro-Trains, with his selfless passion for the hobby and business,” Micro-Trains CEO/President Eric D. Smith said. “Micro-Trains employees, and his family
Keith Edwards, who co-founded Kadee Quality Products and later guided Micro-Trains Line Co., died of natural causes.
will miss him so very much.”
A group of rail advocates led by John Robert Smith and Transportation for America would not take no for an answer while trying to return Amtrak passenger service along the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina's devastation. Transportation for America guided the Southern Rail Commission through 20 years of muck, mud and political jambalaya to re-energize a route from New Orleans, LA, to Mobile, AL. In just seven months after its August 2025 launch the train posted 100,000 boardings — shattering Amtrak’s original target of 42,000 annual riders. Ridership topped 18,000 the first month, and by the second had eclipsed Amtrak’s estimate.
The Missouri-Kansas-Texas and Missouri Pacific railroads traveled on similar paths from Missouri to the Southwest. One model railroad manufacturer has paid tribute to these railroads that eventually were merged into the Union Pacific system with HO-scale GP40 and C36-7 models.
OmniTRAX recently opened an outdoor storage facility in Blue Island, IL, launching a new concept where companies can store anything from road equipment to tons of gravel without the need for a warehouse.
BNSF and Norfolk Southern introduce a wealth of patriotic diesel schemes leading up to America's 250th anniversary, the Railway Express Agency ensured that packages, parcels - even a hog - arrived quickly and on time, and the key to success for a Wisconsin model railroad club is opening its doors to the community, something it has done for the past 80 years. And more!
