James (Jim) Hediger was born in Evanston, Illinois on 28 July 1942, where his father was employed by the Grand Trunk Western.  The family moved to Dearborn, Michigan when he was 13 and his father went to work for the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton.  While in high school Jim built his first layout and worked at a nearby hobby shop.  Following high school, Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial education from Wayne State University and later, a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University.  He taught in the Dearborn (Michigan) School District before relocating to the Milwaukee area in 1972 so he could become an associate editor at MODEL RAILROADER magazine.  

After moving to Wisconsin, Jim began constructing the first version of his Ohio Southern.  This was a point-to-point freelance railroad which represented the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton in southern Ohio, and the paint scheme worn by the railroad’s equipment was based on that used by the DT&I.  This layout was the cover story in the July 1978 issue of MR.  After a move to a new home, Jim began work on the second version of the OS in 1979.  This was one of the first practical examples of a double-deck layout and would become the subject of many stories in MR.  It was featured in the February 1983 issue.

In 1990, a city sewer project forced Jim to tear down approximately 80 percent of the OS.  Though a major setback, this event provided him with the opportunity to enhance his original plan.  He added more on-line customers, a working interchange with Allen McClelland’s Virginian & Ohio, and revised staging yards.  The V&O connection was built at a time when interchanges between freelance railroads were not very common.  This revised layout was included in the February 1998 MR.  

The various versions of the OS provided material for many of Jim’s writings during his 43-year career with MR.  By the time he retired in 2015, he had written more than 750 stories, columns, and product reviews for the magazine.  The layout was dismantled in 2018, after 38 years existence. Jim personally participated in the planning for Home Shops’ first three OS cars before passing away on 9 February 2024 at the age of 81.

Released in 2024, the Ohio Southern Evans Steel Coil Car by InterMountain Railway Company sold out quickly.  Inspired by prototype DT&I coil cars in the same number series, these gorgeous cars were true to Jim Hediger's intention to showcase the DT&I influence on the Ohio Southern.  

The following four Road Numbers/SKU's were produced:

SKU: HFG-004-001     ROAD NUMBER: OS 1312

SKU: HFG-004-002     ROAD NUMBER: OS 1353

SKU: HFG-004-003     ROAD NUMBER: OS 1368

SKU: HFG-004-004     ROAD NUMBER: OS 1387