Thursday, March 29, 2012

Norfolk Southern Service Alert - Derailment in Indiana May Cause Delays

Received the following via email on Tuesday, 3/27/12.

An eastbound Norfolk Southern train derailed early Tuesday morning, west of Ligonier, Indiana (between Elkhart and Toledo), impacting both main lines at this location. Norfolk Southern is rerouting trains normally moving over this route in coordination with other carriers as well as over alternate routes on Norfolk Southern.

Customers with shipments normally moving over this route may encounter delays of 24 to 48 hours. Updated ETA and routing information is always available through Pacesetter (Norfolk Southern's web based pipeline management tool), and accessNS.

Customers with questions regarding specific shipments should contact the National Customer Service Center.

Customer Service Operations - - (800) 635-5768

NS Update on Derailment in Indiana

Received the following via email on Wednesday, 3/28/12.

Update on Derailment in Indiana

Norfolk Southern is continuing work to clear the site where a train derailed early Tuesday morning, west of Ligonier, Indiana (between Elkhart and Toledo). Once cleared, track repairs will immediately get underway and based on preliminary estimates, some train operations should be restored early Thursday. Norfolk Southern is continuing to reroute trains normally moving over this route in coordination with other carriers as well as over alternate routes on Norfolk Southern.

Customers with shipments normally moving over this route should expect delays of 24 to 48 hours. Updated ETA and routing information is always available through Pacesetter (Norfolk Southern's web based pipeline management tool), and accessNS.

Customers with questions regarding specific shipments should contact the National Customer Service Center.

Customer Service Operations - - 800 635.5768

NS Final Update on Derailment in Indiana

Received the following via email on Thursday, 3/29/12.

Final Update on Derailment in Indiana

Norfolk Southern has restored operations at the derailment site near Ligonier, Indiana (between Elkhart and Toledo). Train operations are beginning to return to normal routes and schedules, but due to a number of shipments holding in the area, customers may continue to see some delays until the backlog is cleared. Updated ETA and routing information is always available through Pacesetter (Norfolk Southern's web based pipeline management tool), and accessNS.

Customers with questions regarding specific shipments should contact the National Customer Service Center.

Customer Service Operations - - 800 635.5768

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Model Train Show - New York Society of Model Engineers - Spring 2012

Received the following flyer via email.  Click on the image to see it enlarged.  Then use your browser's BACK button to return here.

Railroad running well after best-ever year in 2011

Received the following via email.

March 21, 2012

Railroad running well after best-ever year in 2011, Norfolk Southern CEO says in annual report

NORFOLK, VA. – After setting performance records in 2011, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) looks ahead to its 30th anniversary in 2012 and beyond “with confidence, optimism, and a great deal of enthusiasm,” CEO Wick Moorman tells stockholders in the 2011 annual report, posted today on the company’s website.

“The railroad is running well, we have a strong capital budget, and the right projects are under way to enhance our business franchises,” Moorman says. Improving markets and corporate initiatives combined to make 2011 the company’s “best-ever year,” he notes, with record revenues, operating income, net income, and earnings per share.

“Perhaps most importantly, everything that was achieved in 2011 was achieved safely.” Employees posted their lowest-ever injury ratio. “That kind of accomplishment happens only through personal commitment and a culture that puts safety first, and I could not be prouder of our people,” Moorman says in his letter to stockholders.

“We have come an incredible distance” since the modern Norfolk Southern was founded 30 years ago in 1982, “and yet we have not strayed an inch from our core beliefs,” Moorman says. “You can be sure that we will continue to do the right things for our customers, our communities, our investors, and our employees.”

Some 175,000 copies of the annual report are distributed to stockholders, the financial community, news media, and libraries. To request a copy, call 800-531-6757, email annualreport@nscorp.com, or write to Norfolk Southern Corp., Corporate Communications Department, Three Commercial Place, Norfolk, Va. 23510-9217.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 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) Rick Harris, 757-629-2718 (rick.harris@nscorp.com)
(Investors) Michael Hostutler, 757-629-2861 (michael.hostutler@nscorp.com)







NS Conrail heritage unit in revenue service

Received the following photo and text via email. 
Also see our post below on Sunday, March 18, 2012.

NS ES44AC #8098 in fresh Conrail Blue: 3/4 down-on view at Mansfield, OH on Ft. Wayne Line 03-20-12.  Ken Heyl of Ashland, OH recorded the unit coming west on the old PRR Fort Wayne Line at Oak Street Yard in Mansfield, Ohio with a long coal train in tow.


Thursday, March 22, 2012

Irish Eyes were smiling on me...

(Train sightings on 3-17-12.)

...on this St Patrick's Day while being trackside at Manville's 13th Street grade crossing. The "pot of gold" was NS 212 with a "golden" (okay, so it isn't gold-colored but on this day that color was close enough for me!) UP leader 4969 (SD70M) followed by NS 2762 (SD70-2) and still one more UP 4169 (SD70M). Not a bad catch on this sunny Saturday!


CSX Announces Conference Call for First-Quarter Financial and Operating Results

Received the following via email.

CSX Corporation Announces Earnings Release and First-Quarter Earnings Call

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - March 19, 2012 - CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) will release first-quarter financial and operating results on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, after the market close.

The company will host an earnings conference call at 8:30 am Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 via teleconference and a live audio webcast.

Those interested in participating via teleconference may dial 1-888-327-6279 (1-888-EARN-CSX) and ask for the CSX earnings call. Callers outside the U.S. dial 1-773-756-0199. Participants should dial in 10 minutes prior to the call.

Presentation materials and access to the audio webcast will be available on the company's website at http://investors.csx.com/. Following the earnings call, a webcast replay and a MP3 audio file will be archived on the company's website.

About CSX
CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation's leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. CSX's network connects more than 240 short line and regional railroads and more than 70 ocean, river, and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at
http://www.csx.com/. Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).

Contact:
David Baggs, Investor Relations
904-359-4812
Lauren Rueger, Corporate Communications
1 (877) TELL-CSX

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Eagle Scout Service Project for the Black River & Western RR

The following article is from The Messenger-Gazette and was found on the nj.com web site. 

Branchburg Boy Scout helps Hunterdon County's Black River & Western Railroad

Published: Friday, March 09, 2012
 By The Messenger-Gazette

Dan Rosario, Dyan Rosario, Matthew Thiel, Ian Gallagher, Ron Fulper, Ken Rosario
with the new sign at Ringoes Station.



Hunterdon County’s own Black River & Western Railroad opens its operating season with the Easter Bunny Express on March 31. This is the first of many special events planned for the 2012 season.

Two Eagle Scout Leadership Service Projects were recently undertaken at Ringoes Station. Ken Rosario, of Troop 90 in Branchburg, is in the process of installing a new sign. Working with Ron Fulper of Horizon Signs Ken has replaced the station’s old signs with one that requires less maintenance. Ollie Shortridge, of Troop 99 in Newtown, PA, completed a project in the museum’s signal garden. Working with Scott Kwiatkowski and Bob Rowe, of Rowe Electric, Ollie cleaned, restored and installed a vintage switch stand and railroad signal light.

Trust president Jim Hager commented that the two Eagle projects “enhanced the appearance and visitor experience at the station.”

In addition to the regularly scheduled trains, the old favorites including the Great Train Robbery, Photo Freight and Three Bridges Excursions, Caboose Hops, pumpkin picking and the corn maze at Pumpkin Junction as well as the popular Santa and North Pole Express Trains will be back. New this year will be Readin’ Railroad Story Time Train for younger children and the Eerie Limited, a night train, which will feature tales of local train wrecks and railroad hauntings.

BRRHT volunteers have nearly completed an extensive restoration project on historic BR&W #60. They are currently planning for #60’s return to revenue service, marking the long awaited return of New Jersey’s only standard-gauge American built steam locomotive. Former Erie Railroad SW9 # 436 is on the property pulling trains this year as well.

Also new this year is the expanded Black River Railroad Historical Trust’s Museum which is housed in a 1915 baggage car built for the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Museum curators Greg Ill, and Pete Reimer, along with Mark Krisanda, Kevin Knobl and Rich Anderson, SR. created a unique museum that displays a wide variety of railroad memorabilia illustrating the story of railroading in the Northeast with a special focus on the BR&W. The museum, located at the Ringoes Station, is open on days which passenger trains operate.

Information about the BR&W, including schedules, history and special events can be found at flemingtontrain.org/index.html.



NS slows train speeds between Dearborn and Kalamazoo

Received the following via email.

March 16, 2012

Norfolk Southern slows train speeds between Dearborn and Kalamazoo

NORFOLK, VA. – Effective March 15, 2012, Norfolk Southern lowered the railroad operating speed limits on certain sections of the Michigan Line between Dearborn and Kalamazoo that handle both Amtrak’s passenger service and Norfolk Southern’s freight service. These lower speed limits have been imposed to reflect the maximum safe operating speeds for the line, given the line’s condition. Safety is of paramount importance in both passenger and freight rail operations.

The reduction in railroad operating speed limits both has been anticipated over time and is in conformance with existing agreements between Norfolk Southern and Amtrak. Other portions of the Michigan mainline experienced similar reductions in railroad operating speed limits in 2011. Some of those 2011 speed reductions were later eliminated as the result of work funded by Michigan DOT.

The Michigan Line is currently the subject of an existing agreement that anticipates the acquisition of the rail line by Michigan, and the subsequent rehabilitation of the line to handle maximum authorized speeds of up to 110 mph for passenger trains. That transaction is expected to be completed later this year, pending Federal regulatory review.

“Until ownership of the Michigan Line is transferred, Norfolk Southern is willing to perform work on the line on behalf of Amtrak or Michigan DOT to address any passenger operating concerns,” said John V. Edwards, Norfolk Southern’s general director passenger policy. “This work is not necessary to provide freight service, but if the passenger service providers want to provide the necessary funding, we will do it.”

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 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) Dave Pidgeon, 717-541-2247 (david.pidgeon@nscorp.com)
(Investors) Michael Hostutler, 757-629-2861 (michael.hostutler@nscorp.com)

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Norfolk Southern rolls out first heritage locomotive; Penn Central paint scheme added to heritage line-up

Received the following via email.

March 16, 2012

Norfolk Southern rolls out first heritage locomotive;
Penn Central paint scheme added to heritage line-up

ALTOONA, PA. – The first locomotive to be painted in Norfolk Southern’s 30th anniversary heritage paint schemes rolled out of the company’s Juniata Locomotive Shop here yesterday. Locomotive NS 8098, a GE ES44AC, bears the “Conrail Blue” scheme. It is a 4,400-horsepower, EPA Tier-3 compliant Evolution Series locomotive equipped with distributed power capability. It will be run to Conway, Pa., and enter active transportation service.

Norfolk Southern also announced that an additional legacy railroad, Penn Central, has been added to the 18 heritage schemes previously announced. This will be an SD70Ace to be painted at Progress Rail Services’ facility in Muncie, Ind. The Penn Central Transportation Company was created in 1968 from the merger of the New York Central and the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the New York, New Haven and Hartford was added shortly afterward. Penn Central formed the core of Conrail when Conrail was created in 1976.

A photo of the first unit and a rendering of the Penn Central paint scheme, as well as the original heritage scheme announcement and graphics are available at Norfolk Southern’s website.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 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) Robin Chapman, 757-629-2713 (robin.chapman@nscorp.com)
(Investors) Michael Hostutler, 757-629-2861 (michael.hostutler@nscorp.com)


CSX Announces Winners of 2011 Chemical Safety Excellence Award

Received the following via email.

CSX Announces Winners of 2011 Chemical Safety Excellence Award

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - March 13, 2012 - CSX announced 61 winners of its 18th annual Chemical Safety Excellence Award, which recognizes customers' commitment to the safe transportation of hazardous materials by rail through safe loading and maintenance of rail cars.

Recipients of the award for performance in 2011 include 24 repeat winners, demonstrating continued dedication to safety and to shipping via fuel-efficient, reliable freight rail.

"All of our award winners share CSX's intense focus on the safe transportation of chemical products," said Clarence Gooden, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, CSX. "We are proud of these customers and their accomplishments in helping to move these products safely and reliably."

To qualify for the Chemical Safety Excellence Award, customers must ship more than 600 carloads of hazardous materials during the year without a non-accidental release. Such releases could occur during loading or offloading of products, or by not securing rail car valves properly. CSX and its chemical customers work to ensure that employees are trained on safe loading procedures.

Today's awards ceremony included updates from Gooden and Michael Ward, chairman, president and CEO, on CSX's performance and commitment to customers.

Winners for 2011 represent a variety of industries, including energy, technology and agriculture. They are: Agrium, Inc.; AkzoNobel/Eka Chemicals, Inc.; Alon USA L.P.; Arizona Chemical Company LLC; Ascend Performance Materials; Aux Sable Liquid Products LP; Bayer Corporation; Cardinal Ethanol LLC; Cargill, Inc.; Chevron Products Company; CHS, Inc. - Ethanol; CITGO Petroleum Corporation; ConocoPhillips Company; DAK Americas LLC; Dominion Transmission, Inc.; Dow Corning; DSM Chemicals North America, Inc.; E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company; Elementis Chromium, Inc.; EQ Northeast, Inc.; Erco Worldwide; Evonik Degussa Corporation; Federated Cooperatives, Ltd.; FinnChem USA Inc.; Granite Falls Energy LLC; Green Plains Trade Group LLC; Honeywell; Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation; Husky Marketing & Supply Company; International Chemical Company; INVISTA S.A.R.L.; Kemira; Kinetic Resources; Koppers; Marathon Petroleum Company LP; MarkWest Energy Appalachia LLC; MHF Services; Military Surface and Deployment Command; Nan Ya Plastics Corporation; NOVA Chemicals; Occidental Chemical Corporation; Olin Chlor Alkali Products; Oxbow Sulphur, Inc.; Patriot Renewable Fuels LLC; PBF Energy Company LLC; Plains LPG Services, L.P.; Platinum Ethanol LLC; PPG Industries, Inc.; Pursue Energy; Reagent Chemical & Research, Inc.; Renewable Products Marketing Group; SABIC Americas, Inc.; SABIC Innovative Plastics US; Shell Canada Energy; Shell Chemical USA; Southern States Chemical; Styrolution America, LLC; Texas Petrochemicals, Inc.; United Refining; Valero Marketing & Supply Co.; and Westlake Chemical.

Since 1993, CSX has been recognizing customers who lead the industry in chemical safety. More information on the award, along with a list of recent recipients, can be found online at
http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/customers/safety-security/chemical-safety-excellence-award/.

About CSX
CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation's leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. CSX's network connects more than 240 short line and regional railroads and more than 70 ocean, river, and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at
http://www.csx.com/. Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).

Contact:
Gary Sease
1 (877) TELL-CSX

New Steads in the stable

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

Spent the past weekend (3-10-12 & 3-11-21) in Valdosta, GA. Thought about running over to Folkston, but with the weather picture being unsettled, we decided to stay around Valdosta, GA. Came across these prototype PR43C's...Cat powered units from Progress Rail. They are testing on the NS line that runs south into Florida. It was real nice seeing some new power that isn't GE built!
They sounded good also!
The NS mainline thru here is busy also with many trains as well as the CSXt.


PRLX 3001 PR30C at Valdosta, GA


NS 4001 PR43C at Valdosta, GA


 NS 4003 PR43C at Valdosta, GA


NS 4005 PR43C at Valdosta, GA


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Valdosta, Ga action

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

A sampling of some of the trains seen around Valdosta, GA this past weekend! 
(3-10-12 & 3-11-12)


Under the gathering gloom, ex CR NS 8371 leads northbound train 330 across
the CSX diamond in Valdosta, GA



CSXT 7358 - 7322 lead Montgomery Bound train through Valdosta, GA.  
Sure love those ex Conrail units with class lights!


 CSXT 8569 & train at Indianola, GA


 
NS 3096 works Langdale Yard in Valdosta, GA

Monday, March 12, 2012

Trenton and Lehigh Line Sunday sightings

(Train sightings on 3-11-12.)

It has been a while since I had checked out the progress of the removal of Belle Mead's old Route 206 bridge and Sunday's ample sunshine would be all the motivation I would need to check out was has been done.  Previously I had photographed the start by Ritacco Construction site preparation for the western abuttment's removal.  Judging from the size of that abuttment, in my mind that was going to be a formidable task for them. 


When I stopped down on Sunday morning, all I could say was "WOW!"  Ritacco's employees certainly made short work of that. Seen passing by of what remains of that abuttment is CSX Q300 with a mixed consist of freight, some of which will be set off in Manville yard.


A short time after Q300's passage, my scanner informed me that over on the LEHL, a westbounder would hold at Flemington Junction "...for a couple of eastbound trains" according to the dispatcher. Those two trains were NS 18G and NS 22V, which is seen here, passing through Manville's 13th Street grade crossing.  Motive power would be NS 9234 and NS 6634.  With so many St Patrick's Day parades being held a week early, I would say that Irish eyes were smiling at my success trackside on this Sunday morning.




Saturday, March 10, 2012

CSX CFO to Address JP Morgan Aviation, Transportation & Defense Conference

Received the following via email.

CSX Corporation Chief Financial Officer to Address JP Morgan Aviation, Transportation & Defense Conference

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., (March 8, 2012) - Fredrik Eliasson, CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) executive vice president and chief financial officer, will address the JP Morgan Aviation, Transportation and Defense Conference in New York, N.Y. on Thursday, March 15, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Access to the audio webcast will be available on CSX's website at http://investors.csx.com/. A replay and accompanying audio will be available following the conclusion of this event.

About CSX
CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation's leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia. CSX's network connects more than 240 short line and regional railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at http://www.csx.com/.

Contact:
David Baggs, Investor Relations
904-359-4812

Lauren Rueger, Corporate Communications
877-835-5279

Friday, March 09, 2012

A day on the Chattahoochee Industrial in 1985

Received the following from Kermit Geary Jr.  Text, photos, and captions are his.
Went by the new Genesee & Wyoming operation in Georgia the other day (Hilton & Albany).  No locomotives, but lots of pretty signs all over the property.  Did see a Bay Line unit on the CIRR and that brought back some memories of a day I spent on the CIRR back in 1985.  It was a memorable day with the RS-1's. 

CIRR 1 & train at Cedar Springs, GA 8-19-1985


CIRR 38 & train at Cedar Springs, GA 3-30-1985


CIRR 382 - 38 at Cedar Grove, GA 3-30-1985


CIRR 5205 at Cedar Springs, GA


Thursday, March 08, 2012

GSMRR Club - 2012 Spring Model Train Show

Received the following via email.

The Garden State Model Railway Club
is pleased to announce its
1st Annual Spring Open House
at
575 High Mountain Road
in
North Haledon, NJ

We invite you to join us.

March 10 - 11, 2012

Saturday and Sunday afternoons 1 PM to 5 PM.

Admission is $5.00.
A special joint admission with our O Scale neighbor, the Model Engineers Railroad Club, is available for $9.00.
Children under the age of 12 are Free when accompanied by an Adult.

For more information, please visit our website at

Note: also see our post below from Monday, March 6th.

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

NS CFO Squires to address J. P. Morgan Aviation, Transportation & Defense Conference

Received the following via email.

March 5, 2012

Norfolk Southern CFO Squires to address J. P. Morgan Aviation, Transportation & Defense Conference

NORFOLK, VA. – James A. Squires, executive vice president finance and chief financial officer of Norfolk Southern Corporation, will participate in the J.P. Morgan Aviation, Transportation & Defense Conference.

J.P. Morgan Aviation, Transportation & Defense Conference
Thursday, March 15, 2012, at 10:25 a.m. EDT
J.P. Morgan Conference Center
383 Madison Ave., New York City

Webcast URL: http://jpmorgan.metameetings.com/webcasts/aviation12/

Interested investors can listen via simultaneous webcast. After the webcast, the presentations will be posted at http://www.nscorp.com/.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 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) Michael Hostutler, 757-629-2861 (michael.hostutler@nscorp.com)

NS names Sinquefield director railroad police; Shackleford retires

Received the following via email.

March 1, 2012

Norfolk Southern names Sinquefield director railroad police; Shackleford retires

NORFOLK, VA. – Mark Sinquefield has been named director police for Norfolk Southern, headquartered in Atlanta, effective March 1. He succeeds Al L. Shackleford II, who retires after 39 years with Norfolk Southern.

Sinquefield began his career with Norfolk Southern in 1985 as a special agent and advanced through a number of positions within the police department. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bluefield College and a master’s degree in business administration from Liberty University. Sinquefield completed Norfolk Southern’ s Executive Development Program conducted at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business in Charlottesville, Va., and was the first Norfolk Southern police officer to complete the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy in Quantico, Va.

Shackleford joined Southern Railway, a Norfolk Southern predecessor, as a special agent in 1973 and advanced through the department until becoming director police in 2008. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice/criminology from North Carolina State University.

The Norfolk Southern police department is responsible for crime prevention and criminal investigation involving railroad property or interests, protection of high-value shipments, investigation of suspected fraudulent claims against the railroad, and other special criminal investigations. The department supports 49 field offices, five special investigation units, three special operations response teams, 12 K-9 units, a police communications center, and headquarters in Atlanta.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 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) Michael Hostutler, 757-629-2861 (michael.hostutler@nscorp.com)

Monday, March 05, 2012

Model Engineers RR Club of New Jersey 2012 Spring Model Railroad Show

The Model Engineers RR Club of New Jersey is hosting their 2012 Spring Model Railroad Open House the first two weekends in March.

Schedule:
March 3-4 and March 10-11
1:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M

Location:
MERCNJ is located at 569 High Mountain Road in North Haledon NJ. 07508
MERCNJ is located near I-287, I-80, and Route 208.
Map with directions is on their web site:  http://www.angelfire.com/nj4/merrcnj/map.html

The operating layout is permanent, and approximately 50 by 42 feet. The layout is three levels point to point, with approximately 3000 feet of hand laid track.It loosely represents the area around northern New Jersey. Their railroad features 2 rail scale operations! Their layout also features operating intermodal, steam, mixed freight, coal, and passenger trains for all to enjoy! Do not miss the opportunity to view this great railroad!

Visit their website at:

www.angelfire.com/nj4/merrcnj/

NS earns top railroad spot in Clean Capitalism ranking

Received the following via email.

February 17, 2012

Norfolk Southern earns top railroad spot in Clean Capitalism ranking

NORFOLK, VA. – Norfolk Southern Corporation earned the top ranking among railroads in the S&P 500 Clean Capitalism Ranking published by Corporate Knights, a media, research, and financial products company that focuses on clean capitalism.

The 2012 ranking transparently ranked companies in the S&P 500 based on 11 key performance indicators, including carbon productivity, energy productivity, safety productivity, highest executive pay to average employee ratio, leadership diversity, and percent of tax paid in cash, with data collected by Corporate Knights and verified with The Bloomberg Professional service. Companies were ranked relative to their industry peers.

“Norfolk Southern’s recognition in Corporate Knights’ S&P 500 Clean Capitalism Ranking is a great honor for both our company and our employees,” said Blair Wimbush, Norfolk Southern corporate sustainability officer. “It reflects our commitment to proactive management of sustainability issues and strong stakeholder communication.”

Among the S&P 500, Norfolk Southern ranked 66. The top-ranked company was Hess Corp., an integrated energy company based in New York City.

More information on the rankings and the criteria can be found at the Corporate Knights web site at http://www.corporateknights.ca/.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 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) Robin Chapman, 757-629-2713 (robin.chapman@nscorp.com)
(Investors) Michael Hostutler, 757-629-2861 (michael.hostutler@nscorp.com)

Sunday, March 04, 2012

NS Heritage Locomotive Paint Schemes

Here is a link to the Norfolk Southern web page with drawings of their heritage locomotive paint schemes. 

http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Media/images/heritage_images.html

Also, see our post below. 

NS celebrates colorful heritage with historic paint schemes

Received the following via email.

March 1, 2012

Norfolk Southern celebrates colorful heritage with historic paint schemes

NORFOLK, VA. – Norfolk Southern is honoring its predecessor railroads during 2012, its 30th anniversary year, by painting 18 new locomotives in commemorative schemes that reflect the heritage of those predecessors.

Since the 1820s, hundreds of railroad companies were built, merged, reorganized, and consolidated into what eventually became Norfolk Southern, itself created from the consolidation of Southern Railway and Norfolk and Western Railway in 1982. In 1999, Norfolk Southern expanded the scope of its heritage with its acquisition of a portion of Conrail. The heritage locomotives will represent most of the railroads that played significant roles in Norfolk Southern’s history. The first units will be delivered in March, and all units are expected to be riding the rails by June 1, Norfolk Southern’s 30th anniversary date.

“The heritage locomotives reflect the pride we take in our long and colorful history,” said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. “As they travel through our system, these state-of-the-art units in vintage livery will serve as reminders to our customers, employees, and communities that the modern rail network that keeps America competitive today and into the future has deep roots in the nation’s past.”

Each paint scheme will be modified to fit contemporary locomotives while staying as true as possible to the original designs. Norfolk Southern employees in Altoona, Pa., and Chattanooga, Tenn., will paint GE ES44AC locomotives, while the EMD SD70ACe units will be painted at Progress Rail Services’ facility in Muncie, Ind. The heritage locomotives will be used to haul freight across Norfolk Southern’s 20,000-mile, 22-state network.

The predecessor companies to be represented are listed below. In parentheses are the respective roads each became part of (NW=Norfolk & Western, SR=Southern, CR=Conrail) and the make of locomotives to be painted. Images of the color schemes are available on Norfolk Southern’s web site.

· Central of Georgia Railway (SR, GE) was formed in 1833 to connect Macon, Ga., with Savannah, completing a rail link between Chattanooga and the port. It was famed for two passenger trains named after prize-winning race horses, the Nancy Hanks and the Man O’ War.

· Central Railroad of New Jersey (CR, EMD) was the first American railroad to have its employees wear uniforms, and in 1892 one of its locomotives set a world speed record of 105 mph.

· Conrail (GE) was created by the U.S. government in 1976 from the bankrupt Penn Central, Lehigh & Hudson River, Erie Lackawanna, Central Railroad of New Jersey, Lehigh Valley, Reading and Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines, becoming the largest railroad at the time, with 34,000 route miles.

· Delaware, Lackawanna and Western (CR, EMD) was created in 1849 to connect the rich anthracite coalfields of the Lackawanna Valley of Pennsylvania to northern New Jersey. A hurricane in 1955 knocked the railroad out of operation for a month, with the resulting financial difficulties forcing it to merge with the Erie Railroad in 1960 to form the Erie Lackawanna Railroad.

· Erie Railroad (CR, EMD) was key to economic development along the Southern Tier, which includes Binghamton and Elmira, N.Y. In 1851, Secretary of State Daniel Webster was strapped to a rocking chair on an open flatcar, wrapped in a blanket and clutching a bottle of rum, so he could ride the just-completed railroad.

· Illinois Terminal Railroad (NW, EMD) began life as the Illinois Traction System in 1896 as an interurban electric railroad in central and southern Illinois. Hit by the Great Depression, it was reorganized as the Illinois Terminal in 1937 and attempted to survive as a passenger railroad until relinquishing that business in 1956, when it was acquired by a consortium of railroads. It was operated as a freight railroad until acquired by NW in 1982.

· Interstate Railroad (SR, GE) was incorporated in 1896 to serve southwestern Virginia coalfields. Despite its name, it operated entirely within Virginia. It was acquired by Southern in 1961.

· Lehigh Valley Railroad (CR, GE) was built to haul coal, replacing water transport down the Lehigh River, and was also known as the Route of the Black Diamond.

· New York Central Railroad (CR, EMD) was organized from 10 roads paralleling the Erie Canal between Albany and Buffalo, N.Y., and became known as the “Water Level Route.” Today, the former NYC line between Cleveland and Chicago is the busiest on the NS system, with more than 100 freight trains daily.

· New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (NW, GE) was commonly referred to as the Nickel Plate Road, a moniker it acquired when the Norwalk (Ohio) Chronicle referred to it in 1881 as “the great New York and St. Louis double track, nickel plated railroad,” supposedly indicative of its solid financial backing.

· Norfolk Southern Railway (SR, EMD) (not to be confused with today’s Norfolk Southern) was a line serving southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina, chartered in 1883 and acquired by Southern Railway in 1974.

· Norfolk & Western Railway (GE) originated as City Point Railroad, a 9-mile road between Petersburg and City Point, Va., in 1836. Following numerous mergers and acquisitions, it became the Norfolk & Western in 1881.

· Pennsylvania Railroad (CR, GE), incorporated in 1846, billed itself as the “Standard Railroad of the World” and was for many years the largest American railroad by tonnage and revenues. PRR opened the Horseshoe Curve railroad engineering marvel; carried President Lincoln to his inauguration; implemented the “line and staff” organizational structure used by business today; built Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan; and electrified the route between New York and Washington, among its many achievements.

· Reading Company (CR, EMD) was one of the first railroads built in America, and built its fortune hauling coal. It featured the first iron railroad bridge in America.

· Savannah & Atlanta Railway (SR, EMD), began life as the Brinson Railway in 1906, slowly expanding from Savannah toward the Northwest. It was consolidated with other small railroads to become the Savannah & Atlanta in 1917. Central of Georgia bought the S&A in 1951.

· Southern Railway (GE) originated as the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company in 1827. It put into service the nation’s first regularly scheduled steam passenger service on Christmas Day, 1830, with the locomotive “The Best Friend of Charleston.” The Southern was incorporated in 1894 from the reorganization and consolidation of numerous predecessors and absorbed another 68 railroad companies over the next six years.

· Virginian Railway (NW, EMD) was the only railroad created through the capital and credit of one man, oil magnate Henry Huttleston Rogers. After building a short line, the Deepwater Railway, to haul coal out of West Virginia and then being blocked by the bigger railroads, he created another railroad, the Tidewater Railway, to reach Norfolk, Va., then combined the two into the Virginian in 1907. It was acquired by N&W in 1959.

· Wabash Railroad (NW, EMD) was formed in 1877 and served the mid-central U.S. It was acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1927 and leased to Norfolk & Western in 1960. In 1991, N&W, by then part of Norfolk Southern, purchased the Wabash outright. Made famous by the 1904 song “Wabash Cannonball,” there was in fact no such train by that name until 1949.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 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) Robin Chapman, 757-629-2713 (robin.chapman@nscorp.com)
Dave Pidgeon, 717-541-2247 (david.pidgeon@nscorp.com)
(Investors) Michael Hostutler, 757-629-2861 (michael.hostutler@nscorp.com)

Saturday, March 03, 2012

Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley NRHS Chapter Excursion

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Join the Reading & Northern railroad and the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley NRHS chapter May 5 for the "Hopper Jet" rare mileage photo freight excursion.

Harkening back to the glory days of the old Reading railroad our photo freight will tour the railroad from Port Clinton to North Reading yard, Tamaqua, East Mahanoy Jct. and Mahanoy City. The train will run over rare freight-only mileage on the R&N main and Mahanoy & Shamokin lines into the heart of todays anthracite coal corridor.

The route also traces the history of the region. Tracks closely parallel abandoned anthracite canal, railroads, mining facilities and the Atlas Powder works. In addition to passing active mining R&N hopper cars will be seen in the yards and sidings.

The train will be powered by 3 former Lehigh Valley SW-8s, along with 10 R&N hopper cars, passenger equipment and a caboose. These 60-year old EMD switchers have been hauling anthracite coal almost since the day they were delivered to the LV 60 over years ago.

Excursionists have the option to ride coach $79, open-air photo car $89 or caboose $99. A one-way diesel cab ride is $150 in addition to the ticket price. Tickets are on a first come basis. The train will run rain or shine. All sales are final. There are no refunds.

Train departs Port Clinton at 11 a.m. returning to Port Clinton by 7 p.m. Three photo-freight runbys are planned. Passenger equipment will be cutoff for the runbys. Motive power is subject to availability and can be substituted.

A $20 bus option is available from the Park & Ride lot, Route 315 and Oak St., Pittston Twp.
Boxed lunch is also available for $8. Hoagie options include ham, turkey, or vegetarian with soft drink and snack.

Address check or money order to:
L&WV RHS Excursion
30 Harford Ave.
Shavertown, PA 18708

Make out to: L&WV RHS Excursion. Tickets will be mailed.

For more information contact: edlvrr@gmail.com.

CSX Presents Partnershipping Award to Wheeling Regional Economic Development Partnership

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CSX Presents Partnershipping Award to Wheeling Regional Economic Development Partnership

Jacksonville, Fla. - February 29, 2012 - CSX Transportation today presented its Partnershipping Award to the Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED) in Wheeling, West Virginia, in recognition of its efforts to locate three energy-related projects that will be served by CSX. The organization also supported state legislation providing incentives for energy companies investing in the state.

The award was presented to RED by Clark Robertson, CSX's assistant vice president-regional development. RED was one of many partners working to bring Dominion Energy to Natrium, Caiman Energy to Moundsville, and AES Drilling Fluids to Benwood, West Virginia. According to RED, the total investment for these three projects will exceed $1 billion and create more than 100 long-term employment opportunities in Marshall County. The facilities also are expected to generate an estimated 9,250 carloads of freight annually for CSX.

"The RED team worked quickly and consistently to engage CSX Regional Development as a partner in helping create more economic opportunity for the region," said Robertson. "CSX was ready, willing and pleased to help. Our entire team looks forward to doing more work with the Regional Economic Development Partnership and to helping the area benefit from the continuing development of the Marcellus Shale area."

About CSX
CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation's leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. CSX's network connects more than 240 short line and regional railroads and more than 70 ocean, river, and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at http://www.csx.com/.  Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).

Contact:
Robert Sullivan, Corporate Communications
1-877-TellCSX (877-835-5279)

Wes Bush elected to NS board

Received the following via email.

February 28, 2012

Wes Bush elected to Norfolk Southern board

NORFOLK, VA. – Wes Bush has been elected a director of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), Chairman and CEO Wick Moorman announced today.

Bush, 50, of McLean, Va., is chairman, chief executive officer and president of Northrop Grumman Corporation, a global aerospace and defense technology company. He previously was chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Northrop Grumman.

Bush has been appointed to the compensation and finance committees of the Norfolk Southern board.

Bush earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also completed the University of California, Los Angeles’ Executive Management Program. Bush serves on boards of several nonprofit organizations, including the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Conservation International, and the Business-Higher Education Forum. In 2008, he was appointed to serve on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 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) Michael Hostutler, 757-629-2861 (michael.hostutler@nscorp.com)

NS names Graab VP Mechanical; Heilig retires

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February 28, 2012

Norfolk Southern names Graab VP Mechanical; Heilig retires

NORFOLK, VA. – Donald D. Graab has been named vice president mechanical for Norfolk Southern Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, effective March 1. He will be responsible for maintenance and repair of the railroad’s motive power and rolling stock. Graab succeeds Tim A. Heilig, who retires after 41 years with Norfolk Southern.

Graab began his railroad career in 1975 as a management trainee in the mechanical department of Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. He joined Norfolk and Western Railway Company (a Norfolk Southern predecessor) in 1978 as a training instructor and advanced through a number of positions in the mechanical department and was named assistant vice president mechanical in 2007. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Purdue University and a master’s degree in Business from Lynchburg College.

Heilig, a graduate of Georgia Tech, joined Southern Railway Company (a Norfolk Southern predecessor) in 1971 and served in management information, intermodal, engineering, mechanical and transportation positions before being named vice president mechanical in 2006.

“Tim Heilig’s leadership of the mechanical department enabled Norfolk Southern to achieve remarkable technological progress and efficiencies in our rolling stock fleet,” said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. “We’re grateful for his decades of outstanding service, and we wish him well.”

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 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) Michael Hostutler, 757-629-2861 (michael.hostutler@nscorp.com)


CNJ Wreck at Westfield, 1903

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CNJ Wreck at Westfield in 1903


Published: February 6, 1903
Copyright © The New York Times

BLAME ENGINEER FOR WESTFIELD DISASTER

Jersey Central Officials' Testimony at Coroner's Inquest

Eye Witnesses Corroborate Davis's Dying Statement That Clouds of Steam Obscured His Vision.

Special to The New York Times.
PLAINFIELD, N. J., Feb. 5. - That large volumes of steam escaped from Engine No. 27, which caused the wreck on the New Jersey Central Railroad near Westfield was testified to by half a dozen eyewitnesses before the Coroner's jury this afternoon. That the steam obscured his vision was the excuse offered by James Davis, the engineer, for not paying attention to the block signals at Cranford and Westfield. The efforts of Michael Meaney, the train dispatcher at Jersey City, to prevent a catastrophe were recounted by him in the course of an examination conducted by Prosecutor English and the foreman of the jury, ex-Mayor Charles J. Fisk. The final hearing will be held to-morrow afternoon. This will allow the jury to shape its report in time for the Union County Grand Jury to take up its task on Monday morning.

The railroad men endeavored to shift the blame to the dead engineer, though admission was made that clouds of steam filled the cab and covered the front cars. No evidence was produced to show that torpedoes were placed on the tracks by the rear brakeman of the Easton local when the stop was made west of Westfield to cool a hot journal. That point was dwelt upon at length by the County Prosecutor.

“Do you think this accident would have occurred if torpedoes had been placed on the track?" General Manager Bester was asked.

“That is a matter of conjecture," promptly replied the official, “but I believe that the engineer was the cause of this accident."

He declared that he considered placing torpedoes unnecessary under the conditions and quoted from the company's rules to sustain his opinion.

Mrs. Emma Harkzen, opposite whose home the fatal accident occurred, and who witnessed it, declared that she did not see anyone go back from the local with a lantern, nor did she hear any torpedoes.

Station Master Schultze of Cranford testified that he had placed a red light on the tracks before the flier passed, but no attention was paid to it. He noticed an unusual amount of steam escaping from the engine as it sped by. The engine and two cars were completely covered by these clouds, according to the testimony of Jonathan P. Glasby of Elizabeth, who watched the train as it passed through that city.

The telegraph operator at Cranford, John E. Eick, declared that a danger light was placed on the tracks fully five minutes before the train passed. After the flier passed Cranford an effort was made to stop it at the Broad Street crossing, Westfield, where William Berson, flagman, waved a red lantern to and fro on the tracks. Berson swore that he stayed on the track as long as he dared to, but that this was not the only instance in which he had failed to stop a train by such means.
Policeman Knapp told how he had found Davis lying on the ground near the engine.

"I asked him if he saw the red light," said the witness. He declared that Davis’s voice was hardly audible, but he distinctly heard him say, “I saw the red light. I expected it to turn white."

Policeman Young corroborated that testimony, and added: "He said to me that he had left Jersey City eighteen minutes late, and had been told that he had a clear track ahead."

Homer Smith and Stephen Arthur Krom, both of this city, who were passengers on the Easton local, told of the wreck. “I heard Davis say ‘I told him I could not see," declared Mr. Krom, the ‘him' referred to being the fireman.

Mr. Krom is a manufacturer of machinery, and Juror Gavet questioned him as to the efficiency of the work done on the engine when in the repair shop. It had been related at the previous session that the split steam chest in the right cab of the engine had been repaired by bolts.

“The steam chest was probably cold when the repairs were made. These bolts would expand and become loose before long. The bolts would expand beyond their elasticity, and therefore become strained," was the statement of Mr. Krom.

According to Edward McEwen, the conductor of the express, his train left Jersey City at 6:14 o’clock, being three minutes late. No special instructions had been given him when departing, and he followed the time table. After the crash he hunted up Davis, who said: "I could not see them for steam."

McEwen declared that when the engine was given to them on the run east on the morning of the fatal accident, a freight engineer at Trenton said that it was a "bum" engine to make speed with.

The examination of Michael H. Meaney, the train dispatcher, was prolonged. He was on duty at Jersey City and had charge of the service between that place and Somerville on the night of the wreck. Because the fourth track was blockaded by a freight train between Westfield and Garwood he decided to send the Easton train to Dunellen on track No. 2 instead of running it over to track No.4 at Cranford Junction, as was usually done, in order to allow the Philadelphia flyer to pass it there. An order to that effect was sent to the Easton local at Elizabeth. At 6:25 o'clock he sent orders to Cranford for the Philadelphia flyer to pass the other train at Dunellen. This, he said, was done because the flyer made no stop at Elizabeth. Two minutes later he received word from the Cranford operator that the flyer had passed that point and had failed to take the order. As quick as possible he telegraphed Westfield and the operator there replied that the Philadelphia train was “passing."

The train dispatcher declared that the block signals were depended upon, but that messages were sent out as an extra precaution. He knew that a freight blocked track No.4 before the Philadelphia express left Jersey City, but no orders were given there, because of a rule of the company. This rule, he explained, is that orders are to be sent to the point nearest where they are to take effect.

William S. Armstrong of Elizabeth, formerly an engineer in the employ of the company, testified that it is sometimes impossible to see out of an engine cab because of escaping steam. His view had been obscured in this manner many times, he declared, but an engineer is required to run under this condition.

The repairs made to engine No. 27 during the fore part of January were explained to the jury by G. A. Smeltzer, roundhouse foreman. of Philadelphia, who produced the book in which these repairs were entered. He was satisfied that the locomotive was not leaking on Jan. 27, although he had not seen it.

General Manager Bester explained at great length the system of electro-pneumatic signals, and told how they operated just before the wreck occurred. He declared as absurd the statement that the engineer was patted on the back "who could run past danger signals successfully."

Mr. Bester assured the jury that it is the duty of an engineer to consider a signal unseen as a red one. Failure to obey the signals is followed by speedy dismissal. Foreman Fisk made a request of Mr. Bester that the jury be given an opportunity to receive a practical illustration of the block signal system.

“I will gladly produce all the conditions," responded Bester.

“Except the crash," protested Juror Woodhill.

A special train will be given the jurors tomorrow evening to make a trip over the place of the disaster. Engine 26, which is similar to engine 27, destroyed in the wreck, will be sent here for the use of the jurymen.

The testimony of Fireman James McCarthy will be received by the jury at the hospital tomorrow afternoon and remaining witnesses will be heard subsequently.

1950's Railroad Photos

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1950s RR Photos: a dozen stored RDG T-1s; NYO&W Fs stored at Middletown; CNJ & B&O passengers in NJ; PRR steam; ERIE box cab, etc.

http://picasaweb.google.com/cvcnrhsweb/LarryGreen1950SRetrospect#