As Toyota scouted the nation in 2002 for a new plant location, a San Antonio site’s proximity to two rail lines clinched the decision. It was the city’s greatest economic breakthrough in recent years. Of even greater effect was arrival of the first railroad a century and a quarter earlier, launching the region’s first major growth.

These are among the landmark events outlined in The Railroads of San Antonio and South Central Texas, the first general interest book to sort out the regional operations and impact of seven rail lines: the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio/Southern Pacific; International & Great Northern/Missouri Pacific; San Antonio & Aransas Pass; San Antonio & Gulf Shore/San Antonio & Gulf; Missouri–Kansas–Texas; Artesian Belt/San Antonio Southern; and the San Antonio, Uvalde & Gulf. There is a closing chapter on Amtrak and the Union Pacific.

Written by Hugh Hemphill, longtime director of the Texas Transportation Museum in San Antonio, this lavishly-illustrated book is vital to understanding the evolution of an important link in the nation’s transportation system.

Included are five appendices that codify data, ranging from an index of towns and the railroads serving them to a listing of surviving depots to a summary of regional railroad museums and tourist railroads.

Before construction of the railroads, there were practically no towns south of San Antonio to Laredo or southeast to Corpus Christi. To the west, Castroville was the jumping-off point into a vast, mostly unpopulated region. . . . Land was sold along the route to large numbers of immigrants from Europe. Natural locations for towns were train stops beside the periodic water tanks needed to replenish steam-powered locomotives. — from the text by Hugh Hemphill

Visit the Shop Online page to place your order for this book.

In celebration of our second anniversary, we are proud to announce this fine set of Micro-Trains boxcars. These sets are in stock now, but hurry, because we only have a limited quantity. Only available in N-scale.

Visit the Shop Online page to place your order for this anniversary set.

Papa Ben's Train Place is STILL an authorized ATHEARN DEALER and can get anything they produce, subject to availability.

Paper Creek Model Works manufactures laser cut paper craftsman kits. In addition to their kits, they also produce "texture sheets". Most are available in N, HO, and O scale. Some are also available in Z and S scale.

(shake shingles)	(tarpaper roofing)
(brick paper)	(corrugated metal roofing)

These three highly detailed structures come complete with white metal detail castings, signs, fencing... even a custom printed "Mail Pouch Tobacco" dry-transfer! Each of the uniquely individual buildings can be placed anywhere along a layout, and the included details can be used in any arrangement to help add a more individualistic look to your modeling.

Please note that we always stock the latest N-scale releases of Micro-Trains, Inter-Mountain, Altas, Athearn, and Kato. However, most of these sell out pretty quick, so come by the store to see what we have, or let us know which upcoming release you would like to reserve. You may always contact the store to find out which releases have been announced by these manufacturers.

Our inventory also includes Z-scale products by Micro-Trains and Marklin. These include train sets, rolling stock, and structures, including those by MicronArt.

We have hundreds of out-of-production Micro-Trains Line cars in stock. 99.9% of these are selling at the original MSRP!

In stock, while they last, we have Micro-Trains Line and InterMountain Railways FT A/B units in several road names.

The new Intermountain N-scale "Tunnel Motors" are here...

Micro-Trains Miller beer cars, available while supplies last.

Inspired Nut manufacturers Railway Herald drawer pulls. They carry heralds for the following railroads:

Visit the Shop Online page to place your order for these beautiful drawer pulls.

This HO-scale model (and other locomotives) includes DCC and sound!

Beautiful structures, and the newly released 80-foot HO-scale coaches.

The Dash-9's are on their way! Place your order now.

We now carry the Accucraft line of large scale models.

We also carry the MTH, O-scale, 2-8-8-8-2 Virginian Triplex steam locomotive & tender.