Norfolk Southern Railway

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This article is about the present railroad formed in 1990. For the former regional railroad in Virginia and North Carolina, a small part of the new one, see Norfolk Southern Railway (former).
Norfolk Southern
Logo
System map
Norfolk Southern system map
Reporting marks NS
Locale Eastern United States, Ontario
Dates of operation December 31, 1990–present
Track gauge 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge)
Headquarters Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk Southern Headquarters Norfolk, Virginia.
Norfolk Southern Headquarters Norfolk, Virginia.
Norfolk Southern Building in Atlanta, Georgia.
Norfolk Southern Building in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Norfolk Southern (AAR reporting marks NS) is a major Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. The company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada. The most common commodity hauled on the railroad is coal from mines in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The railroad also offers an extensive intermodal network in eastern North America. The current system was planned in 1982 with the formation of the Norfolk Southern Corporation, merged on December 31, 1990 with the lease of the Norfolk and Western Railway by the Southern Railway which had been renamed Norfolk Southern. In 1998, the Norfolk Southern Railway grew substantially with the acquisition of over half of Conrail.

Contents

[edit] History of the railroad

Norfolk Southern was created from predecessor railroads which date back to the early portion of the 19th century. Prior to current times, the three main branches of the current corporate family tree were for many years themselves systems: Norfolk and Western, formed in 1881, Southern Railway System in 1894, and Conrail, formed much later, in 1976. Each of these grew from many smaller local and regional lines as the industry grew.

[edit] Southern Railway

The South Carolina Canal and Rail Road, the earliest predecessor line, was chartered in December 1827 and ran the nation's first regularly scheduled passenger train on December 25, 1830. The Richmond and Danville Railroad (R&D), formed in 1847, which expanded into a large system after the American Civil War under the leadership of Algernon S. Buford.

When the R&D fell on hard times financially in the early 1890s, it became a major portion of the newly created Southern Railway in 1894. Financier J.P. Morgan selected veteran railroader Samuel Spencer as President to head the firm, which became well-known as both profitable and innovative. Southern Railway was the first major U.S. railroad to completely switch to more efficient diesel-electric locomotives from steam in 1953.

[edit] Norfolk and Western

The City Point Railroad was a nine-mile railroad just south of Richmond, Virginia established in 1838 which ran from City Point (now part of the independent City of Hopewell) on the navigable portion of the James River to Petersburg, Virginia. It was acquired by the South Side Railroad in 1854. After the War, it became part of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad (A,M&O), a trunk line across Virginia's southern tier formed by mergers in 1870 by William Mahone, who had been builder of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad in the 1850s. The A,M&O was the oldest portion of the Norfolk and Western (N&W) when it was formed in 1881, under new owners with a keen interest and financial investments in the coal fields of Western Virginia and West Virginia, a product which came to define and enrich the railroad.

In the second half of the 20th century, the profitable N&W had already acquired the Virginian Railway, the Wabash Railway, and the Nickel Plate Road, among others, before it combined with the also profitable Southern Railway to form the new Norfolk Southern.

[edit] 1982 merger

NS was created in 1982 from the merger of the Norfolk and Western Railway and the Southern Railway Company, both profitable companies. An earlier company, also named the Norfolk Southern Railway, serving primarily North Carolina and the southeastern tip of Virginia, had been acquired by the Southern Railway in 1974. The older company was the namesake for the 1982 combination. Headquarters for the newly established Norfolk Southern were established in Norfolk, Virginia.

The 1982 combination of the profitable Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway was done to compete in the eastern United States with the Chessie System-Seaboard Coast Line merger which had been approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1980, resulting in formation of CSX Transportation.

[edit] Conrail

Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) was an 11,000-mile (18000 km) system which had been created in 1976 by bringing together several ailing northeastern railway systems into a government-owned corporation. Conrail had become profitable after the Staggers Act in 1980 largely deregulated the U.S. railroad industry.

On June 23, 1997, Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation filed a joint application with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for authority to purchase, divide and operate the assets of Conrail. On June 6, 1998, the STB approved the Norfolk Southern-CSX application and set August 22, 1998, as the effective date of its decision.

Norfolk Southern acquired 58% of Conrail’s assets (CSX got the remaining 42%). As a result of the transaction, Norfolk Southern's rail operations grew to include some 7,200 miles (11500 km) of the Conrail system (predominantly the former Pennsylvania Railroad). Norfolk Southern began operating its trains on its portion of the Conrail network on June 1, 1999.

[edit] Company executives

Presidents of Norfolk Southern have included:

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] Major businesses

The railroad is a major transporter of domestic and export coal in the Eastern half of the country. The railroad's major sources of the mineral are located in: Pennsylvania's Cambria County, Indiana County, and Monongahela Valley; West Virginia; Appalachia regions of Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In Pennsylvania, NS also receives coal through interchange with R.J. Corman Pennsylvania Lines Railroad at Cresson, Pennsylvania, originating in the so-called "Clearfield Cluster".

Norfolk Southern's export of West Virginia bituminous coal, begins transport on portions of the well-engineered former Virginian Railway and the famous former Norfolk and Western's double-tracked line in Eastern Virginia to its Lambert's Point coal pier on Hampton Roads at Norfolk, Virginia. Coal transported by NS is thus exported to steel mills and power plants around the world. The company is also a major transporter of auto parts and completed vehicles. It operates intermodal container and TOFC (trailer on flat car) trains, some in conjunction with other railroads. Norfolk Southern was the first railway to employ roadrailers, which are highway truck trailers with interchangeable wheel sets.

According to Norfolk Southern’s 2003 Annual Report to Investors, at the end of 2003, the Norfolk Southern Railway had more than 28,160 employees, 3,468 locomotives, and 101,095 freight cars.

At the end of 2003, the transport of coal, coke and iron ore made up 23% of the total amount of traffic hauled by Norfolk Southern. Intermodal containers made up 19% of the total; autoracks 14%; chemical tankers 12%; metals, construction materials, agriculture commodities, and consumer products 11%; paper, clay, and forest products 10%.

[edit] Track network and facilities

Main article: List of Norfolk Southern Railway lines

Largely an eastern United States railway, Norfolk Southern directly owns and operates 21,300 miles of track in 22 states: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. In addition, Norfolk Southern owns track in Washington D.C. and the Canadian province of Ontario. It operates three primary hubs in its system, in Harrisburg, Chicago and Atlanta.

Furthermore, Norfolk Southern has rights to operate its trains with its own crews on competing railroads' tracks. These trackage rights permit Norfolk Southern to operate as far west as Dallas, Texas, as far north as Waterville, Maine, and as far south as Miami, Florida. NS locomotives also occasionally operate on competitors' tracks throughout the United States and Canada due to the practice of locomotive leasing and sharing undertaken by the Class I railroads.

Not including second, third and fourth main line trackage, yard trackage, and siding trackage, the Norfolk Southern directly operates some 21,500 miles (34,601 kilometers) of track. When the additional tracks are counted, however, the amount of track the Norfolk Southern Railway has direct control over rises to over 38,000 miles (61,155 kilometers).

The company has 26 major rail classification yards, located in:

Six major locomotive shops are located in:

Norfolk Southern also shares interest with CSX in the Conrail Oak Island classification yard and complex in Newark, New Jersey.

[edit] Divisions

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
  • Lake
  • Dearborn
  • Illinois
  • Alabama
  • Georgia
  • Piedmont
  • Pittsburgh
  • Harrisburg
  • Central
  • Virginia
  • Pocahontas

[edit] Pittsburgh Line

This route is NS's principle East-West line from the Northeast. Running from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Conway, Pennsylvania, it once was the core of the Pennsylvania Railroad's main line. On average, on any given part of the line, anywhere from 60-80 trains, of all types, ply the line in a 24 hour period. The line is also home to the world famous Horseshoe Curve (Pennsylvania).

Beginning at Alto in Altoona, Pennsylvania and ending at Conpit in West Wheatfield Township, Pennsylvania, trains are challenged to climb up, and control speed down the faces of the Allegheny Ridge; some of the steepest slopes in the Allegheny Range. It is a helper district, where all types of power can be viewed in transit. Most common on helper assignments are pairs of EMD SD40-2's applied to the head or hind end of a train. On heavier unit coal trains, it's not uncommon to see two helper sets put together to create what local railfans call by the slang term four-banger. Routinely, on certain Pennsylvania Power & Light unit coal trains which can exceed 12,000 tons in weight, it is not uncommon to see two helper sets on the head end on-top of the road power, and an additional four-banger on the hind end. Such occurrences make for a spectacular exhaust and sound show.

In December of 2007, NS began testing an EMD GP40-2 powered slug set in this service. The first sighting and photographs are credited to local railfan Tony Kimmel. It is unlikely that this testing, though, will result in mother-slug use in normal, everyday operations.

[edit] Chicago To Fort Wayne

This is probably the easiest route for NS trains to take from Chicago to Fort Wayne or vice versa. This route has many passing sidings which allow trains coming from one direction to stop while another train passes. The longest passing siding on this section of the railroad is located in Hobart, Indiana.[citation needed]

[edit] Chicago Bypass

See Kankakee Belt Route

[edit] Pan Am Southern / Patriot Corridor

On May 15, 2008, NS announced that it had come to an agreement with Pan Am Railways to "create an improved rail route between Albany, N.Y., and the greater Boston, Mass., area called the 'Patriot Corridor'." [1] [2] [3]

Pending STB approval of the deal, each of the two companies will own 50% of a new company to be known as Pan Am Southern (PAS). PAR's trackage between Ayer, Massachusetts and Mechanicville, New York will be transferred to PAS and will continue to be operated and maintained by PAR's Springfield Terminal Railway subsidiary. NS will transfer to PAS cash and property valued at $140 million.

Planned improvements to the route include track and signal upgrades, and expansion of terminals, including construction of new automotive and intermodal terminals.

[edit] Environmental Record

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In early spring of 2008, the state program manager for air quality planning in Georgia, Jimmy Johnston, had been talking to Norfolk Southern about voluntary upgrades to reduce the company's environmental impact. Norfolk Southern is upgrading 3,800 of its locomotives with new technology that is 73 percent more efficient than previous models. The new technology being put into the locomotives is making the ride more fuel efficient and reducing idle time.[4]

On January 6, 2005, a Norfolk Southern derailment resulted in a large amount of chlorine and diesel fuel being released into nearby waterways in Graniteville, South Carolina. In addition, a toxic cloud covered the city resulting in the town being evacuated. A large amount of wildlife was killed, much of the local crops and vegetation were contaminated or killed, nine human deaths were reported, and thousands were injured.[5] The company is being taken to court and being fined for violating the Clean Water Act and the Federal Superfund law. Norfolk Southern has spent a total of $26 million for the clean up.[6]

[edit] Locomotives

Norfolk Southern is currently still buying DC traction diesel locomotives. In fact, the only AC traction diesels on their roster are EMD SD80MACs which all were inherited from Conrail. Currently, 10 of the 17 EMD SD80MACs are assigned to the local pool in South Fork, Pennsylvania. It is expected that the remaining 7 units will be moved into that same pool with the reopening of Rosebud Mining's Mine 78 in Windber, Pennsylvania.

Norfolk Southern's GE Dash-9 locomotives are often called "catfish" by railfans, as the stripes are said to look like catfish whiskers. The locomotive numbered 4610, a GM-EMD GP59, is painted in predecessor Southern Railway colors of green and white with gold trim and is a favorite of railfans. The work was done at the Debutts Yard in Chattanooga, Tennessee during the summer of 1994 and the locomotive received a repaint in the summer of 2004. Sadly. the builders plates on this unit were stolen within a year of its original commemorative painting. Virginian Railway (VGN) enthusiasts are hoping that Norfolk Southern will paint another commemorative locomotive in VGN colors and livery for the upcoming centennial of that NS predecessor which will occur in 2007.

The current paint scheme for NS is black and white. Many of the locomotives are painted with a rearing horse on the nose (consistent with prior marketing campaigns where NS billed itself as "The Thoroughbred").

In 2005, Norfolk Southern added two new types of locomotives to the system the EMD SD70M-2s, which when all are delivered, will be numbered 2649-2778, and GE ES40DCs, which will be numbered 7500-7719.

A Norfolk Southern GP38-2 in Dover, Delaware, with depot in background.

Southern Railway 4610 working train GD01 in Dalton, Georgia, on January 19, 2006.

A Norfolk Southern GP38-2 running long hood forward through Ridgewood, New Jersey, on March 1, 2008.

A Norfolk Southern train in Kingwood, Texas, on February 25, 2007.

Norfolk Southern locomotive No. 3069, an SD40-2 coupled to Conrail No. 3070, another SD40-2 sitting idle in Botsford Yard Kalamazoo, MI, on March 31, 2008. Note the lettering and front have the horse logo.

Norfolk Southern No. 3559, a GE Dash 8-39B, coupled to No. 5027, a GP38-2, sitting idle in Botsford Yard Kalamazoo, MI, on March 31, 2008.

Norfolk Southern No. 5027, a GP38-2, coupled to No. 3559, a GE Dash 8-39B, sitting idle in Botsford Yard Kalamazoo, MI, on March 31, 2008.

Norfolk Southern No. 5020, a GP38-2, coupled to No. 5027, a EMD GP38-2, sitting idle in Botsford Yard Kalamazoo, MI, on May 5, 2008.

Norfolk Southern 2561.

A GP50 approaches a level crossing in Charlotte, NC on June 22, 2005

[edit] Reporting Marks

Railroads use initials as reporting marks, a universal system intended to help keep track of rolling stock and financial transactions between railroads. Although it has been widely known as simply Norfolk Southern since 1982, the corporate structure and reporting marks are more complicated. In 1990, Southern Railway Company was renamed Norfolk Southern Railway Co. Its Norfolk and Western Railway company was merged into the Norfolk Southern Railway in 1997. In 1999, when most of Conrail's ex-Pennsylvania Railroad trackage was sold to the Norfolk Southern Railway, the Pennsylvania Railway Lines was created, and PRR reporting marks used on the former Conrail motive power and rolling stock.

[edit] List of reporting marks

[edit] TV Commercials

On September 3, 2007, Norfolk Southern Launched new TV Ads featuring a family of gas cans cross country trekking to meet an NS train, it is a message on NS' role to reduced congestion on highways called "Lonely Gallon". It also features the Song "You Don't Need Me" performed by Ravi Krishnaswami of New York and Steve Kolander of Atlanta. The song was created especially for NS. It was filmed in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.[citation needed]

[edit] Awards and recognition

As of May, 2006, Norfolk Southern has been selected as the Group A Gold Harriman Award recipient for a record 17 consecutive years beginning in 1989.[7] This record was extended on May 17, 2007, when Norfolk Southern was again awarded the Gold medal for Group A.[8] The Harriman Award is intended to recognize railroads with outstanding safety achievements.

[edit] Milestones

  • The Southern Railway in 1953 was the first Class 1 U.S. Freight Railroad to completely convert to diesel-electric motive power. (Excepting later steam-powered excursions). On June 17, the last steam-powered freight run arrives in Chattanooga, Tennessee behind Heavy Mikado No. 6330 and the fires are dropped for the final time since Christmas Day, 1830, when the "Best Friend of Charleston" made its first run on the South Carolina Canal & Railroad Company.
  • The Norfolk and Western Railway in 1960 was the last Class 1 U.S. Freight Railroad to discontinue steam motive power operations. (Also excepting later steam-powered excursions)

[edit] See also

[edit] Cultural references

[edit] Employees and Their Unions

[edit] References

  1. ^ Norfolk Southern Corp. (2008-05-15). "Pan Am Railways and Norfolk Southern Create the Patriot Corridor to Improve Rail Service and Expand Capacity in New York and New England". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
  2. ^ Introducing the Patriot Corridor (PDF). Norfolk Southern Corp. (2008-05-16). Retrieved on 2008-05-16.
  3. ^ The Associated Press. "2 railroad freight companies combine effort", AP Business News, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 2008-05-15. Retrieved on 2008-05-16. 
  4. ^ "New limits on trains could help Macon's air" Macon.com. April 9, 2008. Accessed May 6, 2008.
  5. ^ "Railroad accused of water pollution in SC wreck" The Charlotte Observer. April 24, 2008. Accessed May 6, 2008.
  6. ^ "Feds sue railroad in Graniteville disaster" thestate.com. April 25, 2008. Accessed May 6, 2008.
  7. ^ Association of American Railroads (reprinted by Norfolk Southern Railroad) (2006-05-16). Railroads Set Another Employee Safety Record in 2005. Retrieved on 2006-05-24.
  8. ^ Association of American Railroads (2007-05-17). "Railroad Employees Post Safest Year Ever in 2006". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-05-18.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] History

[edit] Data

v • d • e
Current (operating) Class I railroads of North America
v • d • e
Railroads in the Susquehanna Valley
Intercity Passenger Rail
Passenger Rail Services
Intercity Train Stations
Freight Rail
Norfolk Southern Railway • Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad • Steelton and Highspire Railroad
Major Freight Rail Lines
Buffalo Line • Enola Branch • Harrisburg Line • Lurgan Branch • Pittsburgh Line • Royalton Branch