Setting up a VMS system

Hopefully a few of the DEC/VMS fans here might be able to help! I'm on a bit of a quest. I've been given some old VAX/VMS software -- a cross compiler and some source code -- that I'd like to get running. My goal is to get the source code building and experiment with the compiler a bit. Problem is that I've never used VMS before, and don't have a clue how to install or use it. Can any point me to an idiot's guide to VMS, how to set it up and make it possible to send files to it from my Linux box? I'm thinking of using SIMH, unless there's a better emulator available. I'm still waiting on a reply from HP with a hobbyist licence PAK (I've filled out the form), but I figure I can get started on the learning while I wait. Cheers Phil.