x

All about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm

COWCATCHER MAGAZINE

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!

Current Issue: Nov/Dec 2024

$6.95 (U.S. Orders Only)

Big Boy Bliss

In a deviation from normal cover content, the Cowcatcher features the latest in 4000 series Big Boys, Minitrix's N-scale No. 4013. Why? It's one smooth-running model and the mood was just right. No. 4013 pulled 26 cars and a caboose effortlessly on Olaf Melhouse's Dakota Northern at the same time Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 was rolling through North Texas on its latest tour across the Midwest. Both the model and prototype are equally impressive. Check out the full review in the November/December 2024 issue.

Celebrating 20 Years

Rapido Trains attributes its success over the last 20 years to relying on the knowledge of its model railroader-centric employee base. Plus, founder Jason Shron's persistence paid off after taking a big chance. He left behind his pursuits to teach art history and fulfilled a lifelong desire to make model trains.

Featured Product

Home Shops' USRA boxcars are another example of the company's high-quality freelance rolling stock.

Plus

The new Bartlett soybean processing plant arrives at a time when multiple industries are finding value in the versatile legume. Model train backdrops don't always need to be an elaborate work of art to create the right effect. Passengers riding the Empire State Express on the New York Central from Detroit to New York City reveled in the luxurious accommodations. And more!

© 2024 Cowcatcher Magazine | No content from this site may be copied or re-used without permission | Site powered by East Texas Web Services