Sperry Primer #2

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, photos, and captions are his.
Also see our posting yesterday - Sperry Primer #1.

These are a few cars that are no longer with us having been sold, wrecked or rebuilt.

SRS X-107 at Danbury, CT test vehicle for new systems...sold to group in NY State

SRS 140 at Jim Thorpe, PA new construction using R-12 carbody (Wrecked in Australia)

SRS 147-1 built 6-1976 new construction. Rebuilt to car 200 and in use in Europe

SRS 200 ex SRS 147

Sperry Primer #1

Received the following from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, photos and captions are his.
SRS is Sperry Rail Service.

Tonight we are going to start a new series. This is the Sperry school of equipment. The course is designed to allow the viewer a chance to see the various types of testing vehicles that we have / had in our fleet. We will start out with the rail-bound equipment. These cars are still in service today in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The crews stay on the cars 24/7.

SRS 149 - newest car. Built 1980 in Brooklyn, IL with a Hildebrandt Body.

SRS 124 at South Frierson, LA ex LV 24

SRS 129 & SEPTA 9012 at night in Philadelphia, PA ex LV 29

SRS 129 in Philadelphia, PA ex LV 29

Norfolk Southern reports 2009 fourth-quarter and full-year results

Received the following via email.

January 27, 2010

Norfolk Southern reports 2009 fourth-quarter and full-year results

For fourth-quarter 2009:

· Railway operating revenues were $2.1 billion.
· Income from railway operations was $549 million.
· Net income was $307 million.
· Diluted earnings per share were $0.82.
· The railway operating ratio was 73.9 percent.

For 2009:

· Railway operating revenues were $8.0 billion.
· Income from railway operations was $2.0 billion.
· Net income was $1.0 billion.
· Diluted earnings per share were $2.76.
· The railway operating ratio was 75.4 percent.

Financial Statements
Quarterly Financial Review Fourth Quarter 2009
Earnings Presentation Slides Fourth Quarter 2009

NORFOLK, VA. - Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) today reported fourth-quarter 2009 net income of $307 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, compared with $452 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, for the same quarter of 2008. Net income for 2009 was $1.0 billion, or $2.76 per diluted share, compared with $1.7 billion, or $4.52 per diluted share, for 2008.

"Our fourth-quarter results demonstrate a continuation of the momentum we have generated since the second quarter of 2009," said CEO Wick Moorman. "The results reflect a high level of performance throughout Norfolk Southern, and showcase the strength and flexibility of our franchise, our industry-leading safety and service performance, and continuing strong cost discipline."

"We expect to build upon the sequential volume gains we experienced in the third and fourth quarters driven by anticipated improvement in economic conditions combined with project growth. We plan to invest about $1.4 billion, slightly higher than our 2009 capital spending, in our rail network in 2010, including leveraging technology to improve operational efficiency and service, and support the business growth we expect in future years."

Fourth-quarter railway operating revenues were $2.1 billion, down 16 percent compared with the same period a year earlier. For 2009, railway operating revenues were $8.0 billion, down 25 percent compared with 2008.

General merchandise revenues were $1.1 billion, down 9 percent compared with fourth-quarter 2008. For 2009, general merchandise revenues were $4.2 billion, down 24 percent compared with 2008. General merchandise traffic volume declined 2 percent in the quarter and 21 percent for the year compared with the same periods of 2008.

Coal revenues in the fourth quarter were $580 million, down 27 percent compared with the same period last year. For 2009, coal revenues were $2.3 billion, 27 percent lower compared with 2008. Coal traffic volume declined 19 percent in the quarter and 20 percent for the year compared with the same periods of 2008.

Intermodal revenues were $407 million, down 15 percent compared with fourth-quarter 2008. For the full year, intermodal revenues were $1.5 billion, down 26 percent compared with 2008. Intermodal traffic volume was down 9 percent in the quarter and 16 percent for 2009 compared with the same periods of 2008.

Railway operating expenses were $1.6 billion for the quarter, 8 percent lower compared with fourth-quarter 2008. For 2009, railway operating expenses declined 21 percent to $6.0 billion, compared with 2008, primarily due to lower fuel costs.

Income from railway operations for the fourth quarter was $549 million, down 32 percent, compared with fourth-quarter 2008 and $2.0 billion for the year, 36 percent lower, compared with 2008.

The fourth-quarter operating ratio was 73.9 percent compared with 67.5 percent in the same period last year. For the year, the operating ratio was 75.4 percent vs.71.1 percent for 2008.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.

Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com

NS news items

Received the following news items via email.

January 26, 2010

Norfolk Southern declares quarterly dividend

NORFOLK, VA. - Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) today announced the regular quarterly dividend of 34 cents per share on its common stock, payable on March 10, to stockholders of record on Feb 5.

Since its inception in 1982, Norfolk Southern has paid dividends on its common stock for 110 consecutive quarters.


Thomas D. Bell Jr. elected to Norfolk Southern board

NORFOLK, VA. - Thomas D. Bell Jr., chairman of SecurAmerica LLC, has been elected a director of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman announced today.

Bell retired as chairman and chief executive officer of Cousins Properties in July 2009. He previously served as chairman and CEO of the advertising and communications firm Young and Rubicam Inc., vice chairman and director of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, executive vice president of Ball Corporation, chairman of the Center for Naval Analysis, and president and CEO of the Hudson Institute.

Bell attended the University of Tennessee and New York University. He served as chief of staff for Sen. William Brock, and during the Reagan administration chaired the Committee on the Next Agenda as well as the Workforce 2000 Advisory Committee for the Secretary of Labor.


Norfolk Southern names Hurlbut to audit position; Dimino retires

NORFOLK, VA. - Thomas E. Hurlbut has been named vice president audit and compliance for Norfolk Southern Corporation, with headquarters in Norfolk, effective Feb. 1. He will report to CEO Wick Moorman.

Hurlbut succeeds Joseph C. Dimino, who retires Jan. 31 after a 33-year career in the law and executive divisions at Norfolk Southern.

Hurlbut joined Norfolk Southern in 1992 as senior accountant and served as manager financial reporting, director corporate accounting, director accounting research and analysis, and assistant vice president corporate accounting before being named assistant vice president internal audit in 2008. He holds an accounting degree from Washington and Lee University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Dimino joined Norfolk Southern in 1976. He served as general solicitor, general counsel, senior general counsel, vice president and corporate counsel, and vice president compliance, before being named vice president audit and compliance in 2008.


Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.

Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com

Somerset County 4-H Trainmasters Train Show - Winter, 2010

The Somerset County 4-H Trainmasters will be hosting their annual Winter Train Show on January 30 & 31, 2010 at the Somerset County 4-H Center.

Hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM both days.

The 4-H Center is located at 310 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, NJ. Directions can be found at http://somerset.rce.rutgers.edu/directions

Admission is $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children under 12.

Concessions will be available all day.

This show will be featuring demonstrations and hands-on activities as well as the ever-growing and ever-improving O-Scale trains and layout.

Flashback 25 years ago

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, photos, and captions are his.

Finally made it out of Danbury, CT with the illustrious 811 and are starting the test on the A&O out of Buckhannon, WV tomorrow! Sure am glad to be out of that snake-den. Nothing new to report so I figured I'd share a few from 25 years ago down here on the Chessie (C&O). Was working for a Safety Shoe company, driving a mobile shoe store around the railroads...servicing C&O, B&O, WM, L&N, SCL, WofA, Georgia, CRR, A&WP, N&W, CR, and D&H. Travelled with camera in hand, shooting everything...locos, cars, buildings, m of w equipment, and vehicles. Those were some good times!!!

So, Sit back and enjoy!

C&O 5883 at Coal Creek Jct, KY 8-9-1984

C&O 2329 picking up orders on the fly at Handley, WV 7-27-1984

C&O 4383 at Thurmond, WV 7-26-1984

C&O 4383 wesbound through Thurmond, WV 7-26-1984

C&O depot at Barboursville, WV 8-2-1984

C&O 33, 32 and Huelletts at Toledo, OH 4-8-1987

C&O 126 'Roadrailer' at Riverside, Baltimore, MD 8-27-1984

C&O 903137 at Morristown, IN 4-9-1987

stolen engine ???

Here is an example of misinformation found on the internet. We received the following item via email from a posting on a Yahoo group.

Someone in Omaha stole a locomotive. http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/article_ee878a8c-048d-11df-9b9f-001cc4c002e0.html Police are confident they can track it down.

If you follow the link, you will find the article below which was posted on SiouxCityJournal.com by someone that doesn't seem to know much about locomotives.

4-ton locomotive reported missing from Omaha yard

Posted: Monday, January 18, 2010 6:00 pm

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Omaha police are trying to track down an 8,000-pound Union Pacific locomotive and those responsible for its disappearance.

The four-ton engine was recently discovered missing by employees of Rail Sciences. The consulting firm is contracted to diagnose and fix problems with Union Pacific equipment.

A police report says the General Electric locomotive traction electric engine is valued at $45,000.

It also says the engine's theft happened sometime before Christmas. The engine was last seen in the Rail Sciences yard in downtown Omaha.

Now, here is another article from the Omaha World-Herald about the same thing.

Train motor missing from business

Published Tuesday January 19, 2010

Authorities are trying to figure out how an 8,000-pound, $45,000 motor for a locomotive disappeared last month from an Omaha train repair business.

The General Electric locomotive traction electric engine is the property of Union Pacific Railroad. The motor had been out for repairs at Rail Sciences, 605 N. 13th St., when it disappeared between Dec. 16 and Dec. 23, according to Omaha police.

A Rail Sciences employee reported the loss to police on Wednesday, on behalf of Union Pacific. The motor had been outside, the police report said.

Union Pacific spokesman Tom Lange said giant machinery is used to move the massive motor. He had no idea how it could have been taken from the yard. — Susan Szalewski and AP

I would guess that the missing traction motor has been dismanteled by now, and the parts sold as scrap.

There's an old saying...

(Train sightings on 1-16-10.)

...as to what goes around comes back around. That adage best describes the route my travels would take me on this Saturday morning. My first stop of the day would be at Three Bridges where, by dawn's early light, NS 212 came through at 7:49. Motive power was NS 9028, NS 9642 and NS 6776. Arriving at Lansdown Junction just in the nick of time, NS 18G was soon seen bringing its load of mixed freight east at 8:30. Scouting out some locations at Jutland, westbound NS 21M passed by around 9:00. My trackside jaunt ended up where I started this day, at Three Bridges. With MP 48's block signal set for a westbounder, it wasn't too long before the WB'er could be heard. His symbol designation indicated it would be a high and wide load. It certainly was a nice way to close out this day.

Trestle Fire on NS Mobile Line - Update

Received the following via email.

Trestle Fire on Mobile Line

The Norfolk Southern mainline between Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama, disrupted by the trestle fire at Jackson, AL., has been restored to service the early morning of January 15. We are currently working to move the backlog of traffic resulting from this disruption and restore operations to normal as quickly as possible. Customers with shipments moving over this line should expect to see some delays until traffic flows are normalized.

Customers with questions regarding specific shipments should contact their Customer Service Representative.
Customer Service - 800 635-5768


Central Yard Operations representatives are also available to answer any questions regarding local service (set/pull) in the affected area.
Central Yard Operations - 800 898-4296

(Also see our post from Jan. 15, 2010.)

NS Crescent Corridor updates

Received the following items via email concerning Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor.

January 12, 2010

Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor has wide bipartisan support on Capitol Hill

NORFOLK, VA. - In recognition of the critical importance freight rail transportation offers shippers throughout the U.S., Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor program has been endorsed by 60 legislators on Capitol Hill as 2010 begins.

"Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor program comes at a critical time for our nation's economy, environment, and transportation infrastructure," said NS CEO Wick Moorman. "The Crescent Corridor will stimulate job growth, economic development, and local tax revenues, while delivering substantial public benefits for communities and shippers. We are grateful for the wide bipartisan support the Crescent Corridor is receiving on Capitol Hill."

Members of the U.S. Congress supporting the Crescent Corridor are:

Alabama: Sens. Shelby and Sessions. Reps. Rogers, Aderholt, Griffith, Bachus, and Davis.
Delaware: Sens. Carper and Kaufman. Rep. Castle.
Georgia: Sens. Chambliss and Isakson. Reps. Westmoreland, Johnson, Deal, Gingrey, and Scott.
Maryland: Rep. Bartlett.
Mississippi: Sens. Cochran and Wicker. Reps. Childers and Harper.
New Jersey: Reps. LoBiondo, Garrett, Lance, Pascrell, Payne, Rothman and Sires.
North Carolina: Sens. Burr and Hagan. Rep. Myrick.
Pennsylvania: Sens. Specter and Casey. Reps. Brady, Fattah, Gerlach, Murphy, Shuster, Schwartz, Dent, Holden, and Platts.
Tennessee: Sens. Alexander and Corker. Reps. Roe, Duncan, Wamp, Gordon, Davis, and Cohen.
Virginia: Sens. Webb and Warner. Reps. Wittman, Nye, Scott, Perriello, Goodlatte, and Boucher.
West Virginia: Rep. Capito.

The Crescent Corridor is an existing 2,500-mile rail network supporting the supply chain from Memphis and New Orleans to New Jersey designed to handle more rail freight traffic faster and more reliably, creating or benefiting some 73,000 jobs by 2030, and producing these estimated annual benefits:

· $326 million in tax revenues to states and communities
· 1.3 million long-haul trucks diverted from interstates
· $146 million in accident avoidance savings
· 1.9 million tons in CO2 reduction
· $575 million in congestion savings
· $92 million in highway maintenance savings
· 169 million gallons in fuel savings

This past September, lead state Pennsylvania, joined by Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia, applied for federal stimulus money under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Program. The application seeks $300 million in support of new independent intermodal facilities at Memphis, Birmingham, and Franklin County, Pa.; and the expansion of intermodal terminals in Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Track improvements in the five partner states will include 10 passing tracks, 557 individual speed improvements, and 393 miles of track improved with upgraded rail.

For more information about the Crescent Corridor Intermodal Freight Project, visit www.thefutureneedsus.com.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is a leading North American transportation provider. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.

Norfolk Southern contacts

Media Rudy Husband 610-567-3377 rudy.husband@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com



January 14, 2010

Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor endorsed by Retail Industry Leaders Association

NORFOLK, VA. - Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor Intermodal Freight Project has received the endorsement of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA). As noted in a letter dated December 16, 2009, from Katherine Lugar, RILA's Executive Vice President, Public Affairs to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood:

"I believe this project is an effective and efficient use of public and private funds. It is a bold example of our nation's potential that exists if we set our sights on a more balanced approach to funding our nation's transportation needs. As you are aware, existing transportation resources are proving inadequate. This project will provide a new intermodal corridor with the ultimate potential to remove over 1 million trucks a year from our already strained national interstate highway system in the South and Northeast. Most importantly, these improvements can be completed within an 18 month timeframe."

RILA is the trade association of the world's largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and operate more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad. A complete copy of RILA's letter of support can be found at: http://www.nscorp.com/nscorphtml/pdf/letter.pdf.

RILA joins a broad spectrum of supporters for Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor, including 60 U.S. senators and representatives, the leading business associations for Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia, along with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, A Greener Gulf Coast, the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, and the Mississippi Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils.

"The fact that our Crescent Corridor project is currently supported by more than 200 federal, state and local government officials, major companies, metropolitan planning organizations, and trade and environmental associations is a testament to its importance for our economy, environment, and national transportation network," said NS CEO Wick Moorman. "We are extremely grateful for the widespread support the project has received to date, and we look forward to working with the U.S. Dept. of Transportation to maximize the opportunities the Crescent Corridor will deliver to the nation."

The Crescent Corridor is an existing 2,500-mile rail network supporting the supply chain from Memphis and New Orleans to New Jersey designed to handle more rail freight traffic faster and more reliably, creating or benefiting some 73,000 green jobs by 2030, and producing these estimated annual benefits:

· $326 million in tax revenues to states and communities
· 1.3 million long-haul trucks diverted from interstates
· $146 million in accident avoidance savings
· 1.9 million tons in CO2 reduction
· $575 million in congestion savings
· $92 million in highway maintenance savings
· 169 million gallons in fuel savings

This past September, lead state Pennsylvania, joined by Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia, applied for federal stimulus money under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Program. The application seeks $300 million in support of new independent intermodal facilities at Memphis, Birmingham, and Franklin County, Pa.; and the expansion of intermodal terminals in Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Track improvements in the five partner states will include 10 passing tracks, 557 individual speed improvements, and 393 miles of track improved with upgraded rail.

For more information about the Crescent Corridor Intermodal Freight Project, visit www.thefutureneedsus.com.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.

Norfolk Southern contacts

Media Rudy Husband 610-567-3377 rudy.husband@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com

Trestle Fire on NS Mobile Line

Received the following via email on 1-13-10 from Norfolk Southern.

Trestle Fire on Mobile Line

A trestle fire between Jackson and Suggsville, Alabama (north of Mobile) has disrupted Norfolk Southern mainline operations between Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama. We are currently working to assess damage and restore operations as quickly as possible, including possible reroutes. However customers with shipments normally moving over this line should expect delays.

Customers with questions regarding specific shipments should contact their Customer Service Representative.

Customer Service - 800 635-5768

Central Yard Operations representatives are also available to answer any questions regarding local service (set/pull) in the affected area.

Central Yard Operations - 800 898-4296

Heading back to work 1-2010

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, photos, and captions are his.

After an extended holiday, due to truck problems with the illustrious 811, I am in Albany, NY getting ready to test down the River Line towards North Bergen, NJ on (SRS) car 954. Here are a few trains I shot on the way to Albany today.

Going to be sending out some historical shots periodically...things that I have taken 20+ years ago...

NS 9448 at Albany, NY

Amtrak 716 at Albany - Rennsaelaer, NY

CSXT 2437 - 1010 at Selkirk Yard, NY

NS 8914 south of New Milford, PA along rt 11

To be trackside on a morning like this...

(Train sightings on 1-9-10.)

...Saturday morning when the temperature "hovered" in the lower twenties, a person has to be devoted to railfanning or else wear plenty of layers of clothing to stay warm. For myself, I would have to answer those two questions by saying "Yes!'. The first train seen was NS 214 at 8:22 at the Lansdown Road grade crossing. My main interest in seeing this train was that the third unit was BNSF 7211. It has been a long drought for me when it comes to seeing foreign power along the LEHL. I had to feel a little compassion for some contractors that were working on some fiber optic cables along the ROW. Besides the cold, they also had to deal with the frozen ground!

Deciding to try a new location and warm up, I drove up to a new location that I have not been to previously. This spot would be the Perryville Road (MP 60.8) grade crossing. I was quite pleased with what I lensed. First train through would be NS 22V, lead by NS 7693.


Knowing that NS 64J would follow behind this train, I opted for another location near here. A mound of ballast helped to give me some elevation to snap NS 5423 rounding the curve just west of this grade crossing. After two hours of being out in the cold, I decided to head on home with what I considered a good morning of railfanning.

Weekly Rail Carloading Report - Week 52, 2009

There is an interesting report available on the web that is "A Weekly Report of North American Rail Freight Traffic by Major Railroad and Commodity." It is currently showing data for week 52 of 2009.

http://railfax.transmatch.com/

Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.

Note: This is the last Railfax that we will post because ASI/Transmatch, who provides this data, is discontinuing their free weekly data download. Here is the comment that they included in their last email.

We will be discontinuing our weekly data download with the last week of 2009. The data will be available in a new Railfax Highlights database that will be debuting with the first week of 2010. This new product will include the data that has been in our weekly file as well as the complete 2 year time series to incorporate all restatements issued by the AAR. The Highlights data base will be available on a subscription basis for $65/year (less than $1.25/week). Click HERE to view a sample and subscribe.

Invitation: CNJ Railroad Slide Show

Received the following via email.


Invitation: C.N.J. RR Slide Show

Feel free to forward this invitation to your friends

The Oldest Model Railroad Club in America invites you.

The New York Society of Model Engineers will be hosting a Slide Show covering the Central Railroad of New Jersey's Lehigh and Susquehanna Division in Pennsylvania. The slide show will feature CNJ operations there from the early 60's to the end of CNJ operations in Pennsylvania. Also, the show will be enhanced with slides of Lehigh Valley operations after they took over the CNJ trackage.

The presentation will be given by noted rail photographer Rich Taylor.

Due to the strong response to this slide show it has been moved from NYSME HQ to larger location permitting even more people to attend. Non-NYSME members are welcome!

Date & Time: Friday, January 15, 2010 at 8:00pm

Location: Rutherford Ambulance Corps Meeting Room, 44 Ames Ave., Rutherford, NJ
One block from downtown Rutherford.
There is a free parking in a lot directly across the street.
You can come by train, only one block from the NJT Rutherford Train Station.

Additional Details: http://www.modelengineers.org/

Admission: FREE (But, we would not mind a donation to cover cost of coffee and donuts)

The location is only 1 mile from the Meadowlands Sports Complex and Giants Stadium.

Feel free to forward this invitation to your friends.
A great way to start the new year.

Happy New Year,
New York Society of Model Engineers

========================================================================
Founded in the early part of the 20th. Century and incorporated in 1926, the New York Society of Model Engineers is the oldest Model Railroad Club in America and possibly the oldest in the world. Located within our 5,000 square foot building are two large model train layouts, "HO" and "O" Scale, a fully equipped machine shop and large research library. The Society is located at 341 Hoboken Road, Carlstadt, NJ. This is less than one mile from the New Jersey Sports Complex and Giant Stadium.
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in model trains or just trains.
See http://www.modelengineers.org/ for additional information.

CNJ - On This Date

On this date, January 8th, in 1970 the CNJ North Branch Station burned down.

NS UPDATE - Force Majeure on Coal Shipments Lifted

Received the following via email.

UPDATE – Force Majeure on Coal Shipments Lifted

The Force Majeure for Coal Customers, including customers with contracts or other agreements with Norfolk Southern, is lifted as of 3:00 PM, Tuesday, January 05, 2010. Operations at Lambert’s Point were restored but unloading remained hampered by weather conditions. With operation restored, Norfolk Southern is working to clear the current backlog of shipments.

Also see our postings on Dec. 20 and Dec. 29.

Norfolk Southern Quarterly Earnings Conference Call

Received the following via email.

Norfolk Southern Quarterly Earnings Conference Call

We cordially invite you to join us on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, at 4:30 p.m. ET to review our fourth-quarter 2009 results. We will issue earnings results shortly after market close on Jan. 27.

For those interested in participating, we will broadcast via teleconference that will be available by dialing 877-869-3847 several minutes prior to the start of the call. At the conclusion, you may listen to an audio replay, which will be available until Feb. 3, 2010. The replay number is 877-660-6853, using PIN 2861, and access code 338689.

In conjunction with the call, a live webcast will be accessible and presentation materials will be posted on the company's Web site at www.nscorp.com under the Investors section. Following the earnings call, an Internet replay of the presentation will be archived on the company's Web site. In addition, the replay will be available for download to a portable audio player or computer as a MP3 - or podcast - file. Both the replay and MP3 file can be found at www.nscorp.com in the Investors section.

For electronic notification of future earnings events, we invite you to subscribe to NSInvest, Norfolk Southern's e-mail distribution list for news releases on earnings and issues pertaining to the financial performance of Norfolk Southern. To subscribe, please follow directions on our website under the Investors section.

Sincerely,

Leanne D. Marilley

Director Investor Relations
Norfolk Southern Corporation