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Railfan Sites in Mississippi

A self-guiding railfan tour

Railfan, railfan--where do you see trains in Mississippi?

Take a Frograil Tour:A big tour between Washington, DC and New Orleans has now been completed all the way from Meridian north to DC. Mississippi site are annotated with a [CR] designation, with CR being an abbreviation for the Crescent Route, which predecessor Southern Railway called the line. Locations that have not been visited during on-the-ground research in this tour are further identified with an added [CRL] logo, meaning they are Combat Railfan Locations, and we offer no guarantee as to their fan-worthiness.These sites are included based on aerial views.

Take a Frograil Tour:The Sheffield, AL - Corinth, MS tour is complete, and sites encountered along the tour are annotated with a [NS_She-Cor] symbol in the list below.

Mapwork: If you're going to be looking for railfan locations, you'll need an industrial strength map resource. I definitely recommend you get a DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer, study it before your trip, and copy pertinent pages for your field work. You can find information here about Railfan Maps that are available.

Cities And Sites

(1) With many thanks to Art Richardson, an expert in railfan things Mississippi-flavor. He has been most patient with me, as these locations have been developed and up-loaded.

(2) Mick Nussbaum has provided us with these goodies.

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Amory (December 26, 2001)

This town, once upon a time, was quite a railroad place. I saw the yard many years ago, and it was big -- really very large. But there never was much of anything other than the yard here. Obviously, a crossroads was mighty important, even if the immediate environs might not have been. From Amory east and southbound, you can go to Birmingham and Mobile. Memphis is to the northwest. Efficient pre-blocking and run-thru's, however, have made the classification yards that Amory typified obsolete. However, while it may be just a ghost of its former self, Amory is a neat place, and certainly worth a visit. And don't forget, there're still a lot of trains.

The Mississippian Railway Co-operative runs from Amory's BN yard up to Fulton, and has a small engine facility at Amory. The facility is located on Parchman Road: From US-278 in the center of town, go southeast on Main Street South, which will slop into 6th Street, and then Parchman Road. Maps are not consistent in the southeast part of town, and Parchman may be shown as Main east of the tracks.

Thanks to T. N. Colbert, K3HX, who has shared this information with us, and Frank Green has updated it for us.

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Artesia (December 27, 2001)

Today's Kansas City Southern in Artesia is the ex-MidSouth, exx-ICG, exxx-GM&O, exxxx-Mobile & Ohio. I hope I've got that correct, but regardless, it's an interesting railfan location. The Columbus and Greenville (CAGY) went from Greenwood to West Point (just north of Artesia) and then to Columbus. The CAGY was cut by Columbus Lake's development, and now goes south from West Point, and then swings east at Artesia to head into Columbus.

From US-82 between Starkville and Columbus, go south on US-45Alternate to the small village of Artesia. Take a left and go east on Starkville Road, which will do two 90° turns to go south and then back east. Just before the railroad tracks, Starkville becomes Front Street and then crosses the tracks. The first road on your right is Circle Drive, and if there're any engines in town, they'll probably be at the bottom of the circular road. The CAGY has to traverse this area which is, in effect, the north leg of a wye, on its way between West Point and Columbus.

Thanks to T. N. Colbert, K3HX, who has shared this information with us.

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Batesville (December 27, 2001)

There were too many north - south lines between Memphis and Jackson. Many lines in western Mississippi have been long-abandoned, but the two main lines have both been maintained, long after it has been apparent that both were probably not needed. One, the line thru Grenada, was the home of The City of New Orleans for many years, and that helped justify the line. With the shift of the City thru Greenwood (the old Yazoo line), the future of the original IC main has been thrown into doubt. The Canadian National is running a lot of freight on the "NAFTA" railroad between Memphis and Jackson, so perhaps both lines will continue to exist...but I think you'd better get down there and take some pictures. Batesville is a decent place to do so.

As a point of clarification, Frank Greene reports that there is a fair amount of traffic is generated between Jackson and Memphis, and that there are occasional empty coal, empty grain and even intermodal trains operated over the ex-IC main thru Batesville. (Dec 29, 2001)

From exit 243 on I-55, go west on US-278, and follow the signs into the downtown area. The station is in the middle of the town square. As with all in-town locations, you'll want to plan your photos carefully.

Thanks to T. N. Colbert, K3HX, who has shared this information with us.

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Columbus -- BNSF/LXVR Crossing (December 31, 2000)

From the US-82 expressway northeast of town, take the MS-50 exit and head into Columbus. MS-50 will take a 90° turn to the south, but you'll continue on straight, on what will become Waterworks Road. Waterworks will bend to the south, and shortly after that, 14th Avenue North will go off to your right. Take 14th and head west until the first set of tracks. This area is the crossing of the Luxapalila Valley Railroad/ Columbus and Greenville line and the BNSF line which comes down from Avery, Mississippi. Actually, both lines are almost parallel to and thru the crossing, and remain side-by-side for several miles north of the crossing.

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Columbus -- CAGY Shops (November 20, 2000)

The last times the Webmaster visited Columbus, the Columbus and Greenville Railway had a veritable collection of railroadiana in its shops area. However, that equipment wasn't for a collection, it was what CAGY used to run its railroad. Today, you're likely to find just as many interesting critters as I did back in the early 80's and early 90's.

From the US-82 expressway northeast of town, take the MS-50 exit and head into Columbus. MS-50 will take a 90° turn to the south, but you'll continue on straight, on what will become Waterworks Road. Waterworks will bend to the south, and you'll follow it ever southwesterly until you get to 4th Avenue North or 19th Street. If the former, go west until you approach the tracks and have to turn south on 19th. The shops are on 3rd Avenue North, just to the west of 19th Street. However, before you visit the shops area, continue south on 19th for about half a block, and the CAGY office will be just to your west. Stop in and get permission to enter the property before you set foot within the yard and shops area.

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Columbus -- BNSF/KCS Crossing (November 20, 2000)

US-82 becomes a limited access freeway to the east of the town, and at that point, you should go downtown via the old US-82, which becomes Main Street. You'll note that the perpendicular streets decrease in number, and at 22nd Street, turn left and go south. After crossing Bell Avenue, the crossing will be on your right after about 2-3 blocks.

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Columbus -- CO-OP Road (December 31,2000)

From Waterworks Road and 14th Avenue North, go west on 14th to Military Road. Go right (north) on Military, which is MS-12. There is an exit at the north side of town from US-82 (an expressway) onto MS-12. Continue north on Military Road/MS-12, and you'll swing northeasterly and note the tracks coming in from the east. Take a right onto Co-op Road and cross the tracks. The first set of tracks you cross is the BNSF and the second is the Luxapilila Valley Railroad. Bethany Road, or its remains, parallels the tracks both north and south of Co-op for a short ways.

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Durant (January 22, 1995)

For quite a few years, Amtrak ran thru Durant, but the passenger trains now run Memphis - Jackson via Greenwood, so Durant is a little quieter. While there are locals, the occasional unit move and other traffic, there are some who feel that CN/IC would like to close the line. However, with the potentially huge long-haul traffic generated by NAFTA, it is improbable that a closure will happen in the immediate future. Let's hope not. In the meantime...

Take exit 156 from I-55 in central Mississippi and go east into Durant via MS-12. When you get to the intersection with US-51, take a right and go south on US-51 to Mulberry Street. The attractive depot will be on your left. There is often a local engine pointing north tied up here.

Thanks to T. N. Colbert, K3HX, who has shared this information with us.

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Gulfport (9502)

KCS At the corner of 25th Avenue (US 49) and 22nd Street, go in to the yard. Most of the engines are ex-Midsouth Rail, exx-ICG GP10's, but as KCS gets more and more muscle, one would expect the motive power to be upgraded. You'll also find engines west of 25th Avenue and about 25th Street. Probably 2-6 engines total.

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Hattiesburg (9502)

ICG Off James Street Extension in southeast part of town. This is just north of where the ICG, KCS, and NSC all meet. There is good access to the engines, usually 2-6, and if you go in and get your pix and get out, no one will bother you. Don't hang around.

ICG The KCS comes down from the north on trackage rights over the ICG, and then heads on to Gulfport. However, engines do occasionally lay over in Hattiesburg. They will generally be southwest of where the ICG engines are, but in the same general area.

NSC Immediately east of the crossing of the ICG and the NSC in town, the ex-Southern station still hosts the Crescent (during daylight hours in both directions). There is usually an NSC geep working around this area.

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Holly Springs -- Station Area (January 21, 1995)

The county seat of Marshall County, about 35-40 miles from Memphis, TN, Holly Springs is the site of the crossing of the BNSF Memphis - Amory main line and the Mississippi Central Railroad (MSCI). MSCI has a small engine facility in Holly Springs. From Memphis, go southeast on US-78, which is a freeway once you get into MS. Take the first exit for the town, and follow MS-178 into the downtown area. When you get to Van Dorn Avenue, take a left to head due east. From the courthouse, go east about 7 blocks to a pronounced fork in the street. Continue east on East Van Dorn; don't follow MS-178 southeast. Just before you get to the tracks, take a left to go north on Bethlehem Street.

The MSCI engine facility is about a block north of the depot. Check in for photo permission before you start wandering around looking for photo sites. South of the station is a railroad bridge, over (probably?) MS-4. This is the BNSF main, which offers OK PM shots; there are no railings on the bridge.

Thanks to T. N. Colbert, K3HX, who has shared this information with us.

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Holly Springs -- Southeast (January 21, 1995)

From the courthouse, take MS-178 southeast, and as you leave town, you'll go under the BNSF main. The bridge has railings on both sides of this single track bridge. Approaches on both sides of the bridge offer good photo ops. Beyond the overpass, the tracks are sandwiched between MS-178 hard on the east and US-78 hard on the west. Note that US-78 is now a freeway, and access from the west might be less available than in the past. Do some scouting around and be ready before the train gets there. There are good photo ops along the stretch of track.

There is another nice bridge over what is probably Big Spring Creek, and its approaches offer photo possibilities.

Thanks to T. N. Colbert, K3HX, who has shared this information with us.

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Jackson -- IC/CN North Yard (December 12, 1998)

This is the principal Illinois Central yard in the Jackson area. There is good railfanning action along the east side of the yard, as Mill Street is adjacent to the yard, and there are plenty of photo ops. The yard runs north-south from south of Fortification Street to Mitchell Avenue at the north end. There are two or three IC parking areas along Mill Street. All Mill Street photo locations are AM spots.

Art Richardson has been kind enough to provide this information for us.

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Jackson -- KCS -- Bailey/Bullard Streets (December 12, 1998)

Fortification Avenue parallels the KCS mainline from slightly west of Bailey Avenue, until it runs into Bullard Street, and then follows Bullard Street all the way to I-20.

Art Richardson has been kind enough to provide this information for us.

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Jackson -- KCS High Oak Yard (December 12, 1998)

This is the principal KCS (ex-Midsouth, exx-ICG, exxx-IC) yard in the Jackson area. Built during 1995 - 1996, and located in the suburb of Pearl, reach it by taking I-20 exit #47A at US-49 south. About .8 mile south of I-20, an overhead highway bridge crosses the KCS Shreveport - Meridian mainline. High Oak Yard is visible from this bridge to the east. About 0.4 miles south of the overhead highway bridge, turn east onto the frontage road, and go south to Industrial Park Road. Turn east and follow the road which parallels the yard, but at a short distance. Photos from this road with a long lens can be made, but the lighting is never really very good.

Art Richardson has been kind enough to provide this information for us.

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Jackson -- Passenger Station Area (December 12, 1998)

There is a secondary IC/CN yard just south of the North Yard facility, and it centers around the passenger station downtown. What were originally the passenger shed tracks have been converted into a yard for the overflow from North Yard. There is not much activity here, and access and photo ops are definitely limited. Mill Street parallels this area from Pearl Street north to Monument Street.

The most interesting features of this area are the KCS main which uses the west side track before crossing the IC on the way to High Oak Yard in Pearson, and the east track which is used for the IC office cars when they are in town. You might also see E-units #100 and #101 here, as well as the odd Sperry cars and other grinders, DOT cars, and whateverintheheck.

Art Richardson has been kind enough to provide this information for us.

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Jackson -- Switch Tender's Shack (December 12, 1998)

No, there are no switch tenders on the payroll of any railroad entity in Jackson, but the south end of the downtown IC station shed tracks still provide an excellent railfan location. Amazingly, the buildings which housed the switch tenders are still standing, although they are used for other purposes today. This is the IC/CN mainline, and the point where the KCS crosses the IC/CN at grade. Yard and local train activity by IC, local and through trains on KCS, and Amtrak all go thru here.

Access is via Pascagoula Street, just east of Gallatin Street. Park in the gravel area on the west side of the elevated tracks, and climb the steel stairs going up the side of the embankment. Be alert: This is a very busy area, and there are also personal safety considerations to be aware of. One might wish to visit this area with some friends.

Art Richardson has been kind enough to provide this information for us.

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Natchez (9502)

ICG There is a very large International Paper forest products mill south of town, which is served by the ICG. This is a big-time railroad customer, and sometimes you can find an ICG train waiting to go into the plant. You might call the plant and find out if they have a schedule. They bring entire trains in and out of this plant.

THE TOWN If you just rush in and out of here to take pix of a few geeps, you're really doing you and your family a disservice. Natchez is a truly lovely town. A walking tour is an interesting and relaxing way to see it. The area is gorgeous in the early spring, and the historic aspects of the town are quite extensive and important.

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Vicksburg (9502)

KCS When I visited this yard in 1995, it seemed twice as busy as it was about 6 years ago, which was the first time I visited. There were probably 8-16 engines, and they were moving freight, as the effects of the increased Fort Worth-Birmingham traffic were kicking in. With the opening of the new yard in the Jackson, Mississippi, area, some of the classification has probably moved over there. Regardless, this yard is probably well worth a visit; reach it at the foot of Depot Street, off Washington.

There is an excellent trainwatching location at the foot of Lee Street off Washington.

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