Railroad in Focus

Railroad in Focus takes an in-depth look at short lines and regional railroads, where they go, the kinds of industries they serve, their histories and perspectives from the operations team. We interview key stakeholders at featured railroads so you can learn more about them. Features are accompanied by color photographs and maps, and show some of the latest equipment in use today.

*Arizona & Eastern Railway at Lordsburg, NM. – Tim Blackwell/Cowcatcher Magazine*

Since our July/August issue of 2012, we have featured nearly three dozen short lines across the country!

Watch for more installments of Railroad in Focus in future issues of Cowcatcher Magazine!
Our roster of railroads by issue includes:

JULY/AUGUST 2012 – South Kansas & Oklahoma
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 – Blacklands Railroad
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 – Louisiana Southern
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 – Fort Worth & Western Railroad

*The Fort Worth & Western at Fort Worth, TX, in 2011. – Tim Blackwell/Cowcatcher Magazine*

MARCH/APRIL 2013 – Arkansas & Oklahoma Railroad
MAY/JUNE 2013 – Brownsville & Rio Grande International
JULY/AUGUST 2013 – Illinois Railway
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 – Watco Companies
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 – Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado Railway
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 – Semo Port Railroad
MARCH/APRIL 2014 – Texas Central Railway
MAY/JUNE 2014 – Austin Western Railroad
JULY/AUGUST 2014 – Timber Rock Railroad
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 – Short Line Industry
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 – Nebraska Central Railroad
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 – San Antonio Central Railroad

*The San Antonio Central in October 2014. – Tim Blackwell/Cowcatcher Magazine*

MARCH/APRIL 2015 – New Orleans and Gulf Coast Railway

JULY/AUGUST 2015 – Farmrail
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 – Wisconsin & Southern Railroad
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 – Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad

MARCH/APRIL 2016 – TNW Corp.

JULY/AUGUST 2016 – Red River Valley & Western
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 – Great Western Railway
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 – KAW and Kansas City Terminal
MARCH/APRIL 2017 – Sand Springs Railway
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 – Newburgh & South Shore Railroad
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 – Birmingham Terminal Railway/Alabama Warrior Railway
MARCH/APRIL 2018 – Texas Central Railway
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 – Decatur & Illinois Eastern Railroad

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 – Lancaster & Chester Railroad

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 – Mississippi Export Railroad

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 – Napolean, Defiance & Western

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 – Arizona & Eastern Railway

MAY/JUNE 2024 – Connecticut Southern

Don’t have those issues? Get an inside look at these railroads by ordering your back issue copy today!

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.

Railroad in Focus

Current Issue: Nov/Dec 2025

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Splitrockin'

Gaining Traction

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