About Micro-Trains

Our roots go back to 1940, when Micro-Trains® founders Keith Edwards and his twin brother Dale started making model train turnouts. They chose the name Kadee for their new enterprise. By the late 1940s, they had designed and patented the Magne-Matic® Coupler, which revolutionized model railroading. It provided a revolutionary new realistic looking and operationally superior coupler system. This HO scale coupler system soon became the standard by choice of the operational model railroader. 

By the early '60s, the brothers began to manufacture their Magne-Matic® coupler system in a new, smaller scale, called N scale (1:160). Gradually they added wheels, trucks and under frames to their line of N scale products. In 1972, they took the next logical step and introduced a complete freight car to the N scale line. At that point, Micro-Trains® Line, was formed as a separate division. Soon, Micro-Trains® was in full swing, specializing in N Scale model trains, Magne-Matic® couplers, and accessories. Eventually added to the product line, were cars and couplers in Nn3 scale, (narrow gauge N scale) and the even smaller Z scale (1:220). In 1990, after continued growth and expansion, the original Kadee Co. was physically divided into two separate corporations. Micro-Trains Line® Co. Inc., one of the two new companies, retained manufacturing rights to all products in N, Nn3 and Z scale.

In the 90s, interest in N scale model railroading grew dramatically, as more and more people found entertainment and fun in the operation and collecting of this ideal scale. The phenomenal growth in the popularity and quality of N scale can be attributed to a great degree by Micro-Trains® efforts. Today, Micro-Trains® is the only model train manufacturer of any scale that offers more than 120 different styles of prototypically correct model train freight cars. The company's uncompromising standards of excellence are reflected in the uniquely accurate features, and exacting fidelity in the micro-fine printing and lettering that each freight car offers. The fit, finish, and detail of each item produced is celebrated throughout the railroad modeling community.

Micro-Trains® distributes these freight cars in a variety of forms; including single car releases, multi-packs, and complete train sets. In addition, the company specializes in providing 'Special Run' releases, customized to the exact requirements requested by clubs, organizations, and businesses of all types.To complement the full line of prototypically correct freight cars, Micro-Trains® also produces a line referred to as 'Special Editions.' These cars capture a variety of popular, and fictitious schemes & heralds on freight cars that would otherwise never appear on the rails.

So, whether you're a model train operator, a collector, or someone who simply enjoys the highest quality models of any type, Micro-Trains® is the source, both today and tomorrow!