Dakota Brass

North Dakota's largest dealer for brass model trains, steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, rolling stock and kits.

Welcome to our website!
Dakota Brass is now in its 24th year of business. My brass collection actually started 50 years ago when my wife bought me an NJCB Long Island G-53sd Ten-wheeler as a wedding gift. My mother said she would regret that choice, but guess what? We will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary in June! That locomotive is still in my collection and runs well. It still needs to be upgraded to DCC/sound. Brass models have only gotten better since 1974. The pieces that are being produced now are truly better than museum quality. The variety of models available is incredible, if you are willing to hunt for them. These are works of art that, with care and patience, generally become very reliable working models. Thanks to the internet, even if you can’t afford to buy them, you can still enjoy looking at them.

The newer models are clearly becoming more expensive, but in this post-pandemic era, most everything alse is as well. 3D printing is definitely changing the world for kit builders (including me) and plastic models, but that technology hasn't yet made it into brass. Digital electronnics have also changed the hobby, and happily can usually be installed in brass models with great effects! If you see something you would like to buy, please contact us.

Please note that although this homepage may sit untouched for some time that we do keep the inventory lists current.

SOUNDTRAXX
Dakota Brass is an authorized dealer for all Soundtraxx and Blackstone models products. I’ve had a lot of experience installing Soundtraxx products in brass models. Soundtraxx has been busy upgrading their offerings. Their sound packages are continuing to improve. They also now offer 2 and 4 amp decoders that will allow installations in most 2-Rail O-Scale models. Most recently, they have introduced their Blunami line in 2 and 4 amp decoders, which offer programming and operation through the Blue Tooth function on your I-Phone. Programming is now a breeze with this capability. You can also operate your model on standard non-DC track. Check out the Soundtraxx website for more details

DIVISION POINT
Jack has been plugging along with a number of projects, most recently the GN NW-3's/, which have proven very popular. A run of Union Pacific Alco C-855's spearheaded by BPL Brassworks is forthcoming. Jack is also looking at doing several GN secondary streamlined trains, some specialized EMD E and F passenger units, as well as some Alco FA's. The Rock Island R-67’s and Soo Line O-20’s are on the list but more reservations are needed. We do have a number of NYC Alcos in stock at great prices. See the Division Point Website for more details.

The Coach Yard
Fred has kept busy. We still have some PRR, NYC, CB&Q and SP sets in stock. A number of new projects have been announced which are listed above. These need to be reserved well in advance, as he builds to reserved quantities. Visit their website for more details.

North Bank Line
Ed has been very busy. The second run of his business cars has just arrived, including the very unique GN car with an onboard garage and a Packard touring car for Louis Hill himself. A third run of business cars is in the works. The vinegar tank cars will be arriving shortly. A large run of Western Pacific single sheathed wood cabooses will be coming later this year. Other comtemplated projects include the Wabash City of Kansas City passenger train and the early GN/NP/CB&Q and B&O mallets. See their website.

Sunset/3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot
Scott has remained very busy in the O-Scale 2-rail and 3-rail market. The O-Scale offerings are numerous, incluuding the NYC/P&LE H-10 Mikes, the C&O Alleghenies, VGN Blue Ridges and a host of diesels. Golden Gate is also running the Mopac Eagle carrs, the Rio Grande Prospector, the Southern Crescent, Budd Slumber Coaches and more Santa Fe 1937 Super Chiefs. Visit their website

DAKOTA CENTRAL AND WESTERN MODEL RAILROAD MUSEUM

Located in Bismarck in the basement of the Lewis Hotel at Buckstop Junction, this 3000 square foot DCC-controlled HO layout is well underway with over a thousand feet of track in operation. Work nights are Thursdays. The club has really rebounded nicely from the pandemic and is making real progress. If you are going to be in town and would like to visit it, contact me by Email, phone, or snail mail.

Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum

I’ve been a member of this organization for over 40 years. It was founded and originally located in the St Paul Union Depot in the 1930’s until it moved to Bandana Square in the old NP Como Shop complex in the early 1980’s when the Depot closed. Six years ago, it then accomplished what most of us thought would be nearly impossible: it moved again to a new site at 668 Transfer Road off University Avenue in St Paul, adjacent to the old Amtrak Depot. (Ironically, Amtrak has now moved back to the St Paul Union Depot.) The TCMRM has joined with a number of other model railroading groups in an 11,000 square foot space which has become a site truly take in the breadth and scope of model railroading. This is an absolute must-see for rail fans in the Twin Cities. They are generally open to the public Thursdays through Mondays. Visit their website or call them at 651 647-9625 for hours.

UPCOMING ITEMS

Division Point

GN NW-3's
UP Alco C-855's
EMD E/F passenger units
EMT FT's
Rock Island 5100 series R-67 4-8-4’s
Soo Line O-20 4-8-4’s
GN Streamliners
     Gopher-Badger
     Red River
     The International
     The Cascade
Modern diesels

North Bank Line

Business cars (galore!)
Vinegar tank cars
Western Pacific and subsidiary
single sheathed cabooses
Wabash City of Kansas City
NP/GN/CB&Q/B&O early mallets

The Coach Yard

SAL Meteors
Mopac Eagles
ATSF Employee Special
SP Starlight
UP Portland Rose
NYC Pacemaker and lightweight coaches
PRR Fleet of Modernism Trains
SP Del Monte
Pullman Restaurant Cars
Southern Crescents
BNSF Business Cars
CSX Office Cars
SP Business Cars

Soundtraxx

Blunami decoders

Sunset/3rd Rail/Golden Gate Models

O NYC H-10's
O C&O and Virginian 2-6-6-6's
O EMD SD-40-2's
O EMD SD-7/9's
O Alco FA's
O Amtrak Siemens Chargers
O Amtrak P-42 Genesis
O GP-30's
O Texas Special
O Frisco Meteor
O Southern Crescent
O Rio Grande Prospector
O B&O Capitol Limited
O ATSF 1937 Supercheif
O PRR 1948 Broadway Limited
O Budd Slumber Coaches
HO Harriman Passenger Cars

Central Locomotive Works

O EMD Milw SDL-39's
O Modern GE Diesels
(We are not a dealer for CLW, but contact Lou at clwusa@verizon.net if you are interested)