Trainwatching - Meridian, Natchez

[Anonymous]

I will be in Meridian and Natchez, MS in a couple of weeks. Does anyone have tips regarding the amount of rail traffic in either place and good sites for trainwatching?

I have been to Natchez, but only for a little while when the AMERICAN QUEEN steamboat docked there. I have never been to Meridian.

Thanks in advance for any assistance!
Southern Fast Mail

[Anonymous]

Not sure how many trains, but there should be lots of traffic. The NS from Birmingham has heavy traffic. It runs roughly NNE to SSE. The ex Mid South, now KCS runs north along HW 39, lots of track along side the road. There is a short line with gen offices in Meridian, I forget the name, it runs southeast into Alabama. Meridian is a very interesting place, the people are friendly, it was once mainly a railroad town. Be careful on the service roads along I-20 in town, kinda tricky. There is a restored depot in downtown.

wboatner

[Anonymous]

A bit more about Meridian.

There are actually a total of four railroads currently serving Meridian. NS enters town from the NE on its way to New Orleans (NO&NE) and has a decent sized yard in town. Also it serves the Lauderdale County Industrial Park near the Meridian airport including an auto mixing facility. The NS main meets the KCS downtown near Union Station before heading out of town to the SW. KCS enters Meridian on it's former MidSouth lines (Meridian Speedway) from the west and leaves to the north heading for Artesia and Birmingham. In addition, there are two short lines, the M&B RR (formerly the Meridian & Bigbee RR) that extends east from Meridian to nearly Montgomery, AL after a recent large acqisition from CSX. The second short line is the Meridian Southern that acquired the stub of the former GM&O line south to Waynesboro.

Amtrak also serves Meridian on it's Crescent Route over the NS main. Meridian Union Station is a freshly constructed station on the site of an earlier station that burned (not a rehabbed station). I believe that the freight house used as a farmer's market may be original.

To reach the action follow I-20/I-59 to the 22d Avenue exit and proceed north to the 22d Ave viaduct over the tracks. Union Station is two blocks to the east of the north end of the viaduct. The KCS Yard office and yard is on the west side of the viaduct. Look around and pick a spot. You might even pass by ***'s Radiator Repair and it's funny slogan "A great place to take a LEAK!"

LC

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of train action in Meridian. NS mostly seems to be through service. Amtrak runs North & South each day. KCS has a large number of run through service with NS & BNSF. A large selection of motive power is seen on these trains. Most of the run through service is container coming from Atlanta traveling east to Dallas, and the opposite on east bound service. My previous visits have seen M & B trains returning to Meridian mid afternoon. You can see KCS & NS from the new depot. There are some static displays at the station. Nice place to visit & watch.

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much, gents! I'm looking forward to some great trainwatching down there. And I appreciate the tip on the radiator shop sign. (I'll have a camera with me)!

Much obliged,
Southern Fast Mail
(Hal Smith)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

A bit more about Meridian.

You might even pass by ***'s Radiator Repair and it's funny slogan "A great place to take a LEAK!"

LC

I ain't touching this joke, not even with a ten foot pole. NOOOOO Sirrrrrrrrreeeeeeee. [;)]