Glimpses of Meridian, Mississippi
|
|
Snow...Part 2 |
| As seen in Snow Part 1 - snow is pretty rare here - and when it does come - it's usually a dusting that's gone within hours - blink - and you'll miss it. February 12th, 2010 was a bit different - a storm that blanketed much of Texas and dumped heavy amounts on Louisiana also left more than "a dusting" here - closing down the city for the day. Would have been longer - but being a weekend- things weren't disrupted for very long. As noted - Meridian is a railroad town - and somewhat routine - and in keeping with Glimpses purpose of presenting the unusual, rather than "routine" the traditional railroads haven't been presented in any depth. However - this storm has presented an opportunity to present those "usual" things in an unusual manner - covered, clothed, and / or cloaked in snow - something that is NOT usual here - not at all! I'm sure snow is quite usual - even boring to many who live in the North - or mountains, etc. - but not to the residents of this sun-belt town - we usually only see white stuff like this on TV - not all over our "real world:"... |
 |
Depending on who was doing the measuring, and where in the city - there were actual inches of the white stuff... and it lasted all day - past nightfall.
THAT is NOT supposed to happen! |
|
 |
| The Lauderdale County Court House, downtown Meridian, MS about 8:30AM Friday moring. |
|
 |
| Dumont Plaza dressed in white. One of the dozens of beautifully decorated carousel horses that are display all around Meridian, MS. |
|
 |
| Dumont Plaza's corner with the Riley Center in the background looks like something like a Courier and Ives Christmas Card. |
|
 |
| Union Station would make a nice card as well. |
|
 |
The "Business Side" of Union Station.
Meridian is, after all - a rail road town. As times have changed - there are only three roads left serving Meridian - Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern, and Meridian & Bigbee. How many towns, though - have their own road? M&B's main offiice is just two blocks south of here on 22nd Ave. (the bridge in the distance) - and their yards and maintenance facilities including engine house are three block south from where this picture was taken (18th Ave.). Amtrak has two trains through here each day - north bound from New Orleans to the east coast in the morning - with the return trip going south in the afternoon. |
|
 |
| Turning 180 degrees and looking east - the Norfolk Southern (left) and Kansas City Southern (far right the other side of the auto carriers) head towards Birmingham and Columbus / Tupelo respectively (they will indeed cross over each other). As a point of reference - notice the cement plant facilities sticking up just above the power lines just right of center. |
|
 |
| Norfolk Southern's tracks coming into Meridian from the east. Note the cement plant on the left - that's the one seen from the 18th Ave. bridge - which is just visible down the tracks. |
|
 |
| Again turning 180 degrees from two pictures above - looking east - the tracks both curve slightly north. The Norfolk Southern tracks (on the right) will continue that way towards Tuscaloosa and Birmingham - while the Kansas City Southern tracks (on the left) will turn north - heading towards Columbus and Tupelo. Now no longer part of the Speed Way - freight bound for and from Atalanta and the east coast will be transferred to Norfolk Southern in Meridian - who will merge that freight with the freight they bring for and from New Orleans. |
|
 |
| Moving towards down town Meridian (18th Ave bridge - and Union Station on the right) -- the Norfolk Southern tracks cross the Kansas City Southern tracks - so that they pass next to the station. |
|
 |
| Here is how that "crossing" looks from the Kansas City Southern tracks. Note that Norfolk Southern's track will cross back over KCS's tracks on the west side of town as they turn south towards New Orleans. |
|
 |
| Here on the west side of the Meridian yards is a KCS train crossing the NS tracks. This is the start of "The Meridian Speed Way" going west towards Shreveport. |
|
 |
| A short time later containers coming in from the west via the Speed Way - just passing under the U.S. high way 11 bridge at the west end of Meridian's yards. |
|
 |
| Once that freight clears the crossing - we can look west out the Speed Way (tracks on the right which pass under the Hiway 11 Bridge) and Norfolk Southern's tracks as they turn south - with a NS train approaching the yards from the south. |
|
 |
| Having moved passed the turn - and looking back north at it -- Norfolk Southern's tracks leaving Meridian for New Orleans behind us. |
|
 |
Turning 180 degrees to look south along Norfolk Southern's tracks towards New Orleans. They will parallel U.S. Highway 11 the entire way.
(U.S. Highway 11 is the road at the right). The bridge they pass under is Interstate 20/59. I59 splits off I20 two miles east of this point and heads southwest to New Orleans as well. |
|
 |
| Meanwhile - back to the train arriving via the Speed Way from the west - a Union Pacific engine (# 5289 - C45AC-CTE / General Electric ES44AC) is helping to push the cars into the yard. The switchman has switched it to a siding - and will retun the switch to the mainline just as soon as the engine clears the switch. Another train headed by three more Union Pacifics are ready to move out onto the Speed Way - headed west bound towards Shreveport, LA. |
|
 |
| Here that train comes - they've just passed under the high way 11 bridge - and picking up speed quickly. |
|
 |
| Union Pacific C45AC-CTE heads out as the train leaves Meridian. The Speed Way and Interstate 20 (and US 80) will cross and re-cross several times getting to Shreveport, LA. At this point US80 is about on half mile north - and I20 is about 50 yards south of the tracks (if you look just beyond the engine in the next picture - you can see the interstate traffic). |
|
 |
| Passing the grade crossing at 65th Ave. - the train will be out of Meridian in a couple of minutes. |
|
 |
| Meridian is a rail town - and the birthplace of Jimmie Rodgers. This old steam engine is on permanent display at the Jimmie Rodgers museum located in Highland Park, Meridian, MS. Few of us have seen snow on this train either! |
|
 |
| And speaking of "our" railroad - Meridian has it's own railroad - not counting a private railroad - (Dunns Roadbuilders railroad is covered on their own pages of Glimpses). Just a couple of blocks from home - Meridian and Bigbee's home office. This is the 22nd Ave. side of the building. |
|
 |
| M&B Offices - B Street side - the nearest door is the Freight Office. |
|
 |
| Meridian and Bigbee Railroad's maintenance yard. Storage lines for cars needing repairs, etc. to the right - the engine house behind. |
|
 |
| A wider view of the yard. spare wheel / axel sets at the far right; track maintenance equipment just west of those; cars waiting for service behind. One of the maintenance buildings on the left. |
|
 |
| Engine house with service station to it's left. |
|
 |
| Just one engine at home - the rest are out working in (or hiding from) the snow. |
|
 |
Snow -
Doesn't happen here very often - not any "serious" amounts, anyway. So taking advantage of the opportunity - our neighbors decided it was time to make a snowman. Yes - we know he's a bit dirty - but - what do you expect? - this is, after all -- the south
even snowmen can't avoid the mud! |
|
| Email: Randy and Sherry Guttery - Comcents.com |
|
 Back to Glimpses main page |
| Glimpses of Meridian, Mississippi |
| Contents of this site are copyright © 2010 Common Cents Computers. All rights reserved |