More than a a year ago I photographed a train passing Meridian Union Station in Meridian, Ms. This was a mid-day train that was south or westbound based on the local operations. Train consisted of a pair of GEs, had a mix of covered hoppers and tanks. It also had a gondola of poles with stakes to extend the capacity of the pole caring ability of the car. Anyone have a guess on a likely train symbol based on time and car types?
Also what is the division/subdivision and history of the tracks directly in front of the station? Would this be a southbound or is it considered westbound?
The train you described sounds like NS 393. Between Birmingham and Meridian it's the AGS South District. Between Meridian and New Orleans it's the NO&NE District. According to the timetable, trains going towards New Orleans are southbound. The line from Chattanooga to New Orleans is the Alabama Great Southern Railroad which is an operating subsidiary of Norfolk Southern.
I have to agree with Andrew, sounds a lot like 393, she is a westbound from Birmingham Norris to New Orleans Oliver.