Visit

Hi Tommy,

For a smaller railroad such as this, I think the best way to go about modeling them is to just stop by and politely explain your interest and the information you're seeking.  With only 11 employees, I doubt that you'll encounter much resistance as long as you show them you're serious about being safe there, e.g. ask permission before walking around the property, look both ways before crossing tracks on foot or in a vehicle, don't climb on anything, etc.  In many cases, I think the employees of smaller railroads often take pride in hearing of our interest in their employer, and as long as we don't make a nuisance of ourselves, they seem to WANT to help us.  Depending on the people, I've found I can often gather more useful info from unofficial sources such as crews than I can from contacting the railroad's "World Headquarters", but with an operation as small as the MDS, I doubt you'll have much trouble regardless.

When I started researching my prototype, I made a point of stopping by the yard office before every visit to ask if it was okay to take photos.  Not only did the employees seem to appreciate me respecting the railroad's property, but those visits allowed me to get to know many of them (and vice-versa), and led to greater opportunities than I'd ever have had if I just walked on the property and started shooting.

Before you visit, I'd suggest gathering as much information as you can on your own from public property, on-line, etc., so you can ask specific questions in person to fill in the blanks and minimize interrupting their work.  You may be able to come up with a pretty complete track schematic by just following the line, both in person and using Google Earth and Bing Maps.  The MDS roster, according to their web site, consists of 5 B23-7s, and you can find photos of those at http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=MDS&mid=14 .  What appears to be at least a partial customer list is at  http://www.meridiansouthern.com/customers.html .  You might also consider contacting the photographers of those rrpicturearchives pics to find other fans who can help you.

I hope that helps.  I'm looking forward to seeing where this leads for you.  I've had a blast modeling a smaller railroad, allowing me opportunities I could never hope for with a class 1, as well as a sense of "ownership" of that prototype much like I used to get from freelancing.

thanks

found parent contact

Excitement

Sorry Tommy, I should have read your message more carefully.  I thought you were still living in Meridian.  Still, I'd be surprised if you don't make contact with someone at the MDS who'll help you out.

That's exactly how I felt about "finding" the IAIS.  There was so much interesting information that seemed to just start falling out of the sky.  Even now, 14 years later, it's still fun to find new tidbits of info that lead me to tweak my layout or operations.

connections

Google Earth

Sounds like Google Earth is about to become your best friend Tommy.  You should be able to research quite a bit from the comfort of your own PC.

Just Google

Just Google for info and then Google images and third Google Videos...lots of "Stuff"

Graeme

One other source of

One other source of information might be the local library (meridian). Sometimes there is a section devoted to local history that will cover industries transportation etc.If you would like to see what can be had from good research you might check Eric's blog below, it shows some of the sources he used to gather information for his layout.

Eric Hansmann

El Paso, TX

http://designbuildop.hansmanns.org/

MDS power

Variety

That sounds like a basis for a great layout Tommy.  Modeling the IAIS, one of the things I've enjoyed the most is the juxtaposition of IAIS's older power against the newest GE and EMD products running on UP trains using trackage rights, and it sounds like you'll be in a very similar position.  It's fun having such a wide variety of subjects to model, and the variety of sounds they create (MLWs and non-turbo EMD 567s and 645s on the IAIS, turbo 645s and 710s, modern GEs, etc. on UP) really help to make operations more interesting.

Very cool, Tommy!

I'd gone Googling last night and found photos of Conrail B23-7s in Mississippi, so I figured I'd gotten to the right shortline! Damned Yankee toasters gotta look better in MDS coiors!

Sounds like a great theme for a layout as well.

The Pun

Glad you got it Paul

Not many do!!

Historical Website

Hi Tommy

If you are new to MRH - welcome.

You have probably already found this website but just in case I'll pass it on:

http://www.msrailroads.com/Mississippi_Railroads.htm

It lists information and pictures on historical and recent railroads that existed in or passed through Mississippi (and Alabama and Louisiana).  I did not see the Meridian Southern listed, but you may be able to get some info on the railroads that led up to it.  From my research, iirc, Meridian was the junction of several railroads.  There are several Meridian and xxx listed.

As a sidenote - I'm originally from Mobile, but now live in southeast Misery ( they misspell it as Missouri ) about 10 hours away, so I understand your predicament.  But my mother was born in Bay St Louis, MS; my son graduated from Ole Miss and my nephew from Miss St.  So I get the attraction.

Happy Modeling 

Graeme

found it

i wa looking at google maps on my phone and could not tell whose yard was whose in meridian. remember there is 2 class 1s and 2 shortlines. after getting internet at home and looking at google earth i can now clearly see what belongs where. this is getting fun researching prototype lines.

Binary

I always thought there were 11 types of people in the world; those that understand binary, those that don't and those that did not know it exists!

Downloadable USGS Topo maps

The USGS is making scans of their historical topo maps of the US available for downloading at

http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/

You can use these to track the rxpansion, contraction, and consolidation the towns, railroads and industries in the area.

Jan
 

Historic aerials

Has topo maps as well and you can compare them over the years or to aerial photos

http://historicaerials.com

Brendan

@ Jan and Brendan

Any idea how far back the Topo Maps and Historic Areials go back in time?

Den

historicaeriels images

In case someone hasn't looked, it varies by geographic area...some back to the early 1940s (before satellites)...resolutions of photos vary...topos go back further - 1910 around me in PA.  Lotsa FUN and helpful, if not always definitive.   Bob C.