Posted on by admin

Going Through Changes

Meridian, Mississippi, 1965
Like most roads, Southern Railway ran GP-series locomotives on local trains. Here no. 2178 races southward toward Meridian, Mississippi, on an afternoon in July 1965.
©J. Parker Lamb, Collection of Center for Railroad Photography and Art
Used with permission

I was recently looking at some of J. Parker Lamb’s images and started to see locations I’ve shot at myself around Meridian, Mississippi, over the last couple of years. It’s truly amazing to see stuff that has changed over the decades. You see things in a totally different perspective and it kind of gives you the desire to go out and explore and try new techniques. At least that is what happened with me.

Read more
Posted on by admin

The Diamond

As railfans, we all have that one place we love to go. Whether it’s to shoot trains or to just escape from the day-to-day hustle and bustle of the world, we all have a place that helps us or soothes us in some form or fashion. For me, that place is the diamond in my hometown of Meridian Mississippi. The diamond isn’t just a place for me to shoot trains, but it was always a place for me to go when I needed to clear my head and just relax. It’s my sanctuary, if you will.

Read more
Posted on by admin

Railroad Town: 
Vicksburg, Mississippi

Vicksburg Southern Railroad from Redwood, view south to International Paper Vicksburg Mill, Panatomic-X film, Rolleiflex 3.5E, 75mm f/3.5 Xenotar lens. 

Vicksburg has been an important railroad town since before the Civil War. One of the reasons General Grant considered this to be a crucial strategic objective in the Civil War was the railroad infrastructure. The railroad from the western Confederate states (Texas and Louisiana) came through Vicksburg on the way to Jackson, Meridian, and other eastern Confederate cities. Once Vicksburg surrendered, the Union Navy totally controlled the Mississippi River and the Confederacy was split. This meant food and other crucial supplies could not move east from the western states.

The train still comes through Vicksburg. Let us take a quick tour of the railroad bridges in town. I suspect many motorists just rush over and do not pay any attention to the tracks below.

Read more