Monday, September 29, 2014

Taking advantage of Saturday's sun!

(Train sightings on 9-27-14.) 

Decided to take advantage of Saturday's awesome weather by heading at along NJ's stretch of the LEHL. This marked the first time in a long time I was back this way. First stop was at Bloomsbury (NJ) where I caught NS 7560 illuminated by the sun as NS 290 passed by the Defect Detector at MP 68.8 around 8:37 AM. Not to keep one in the dark about what the second unit was in this power consist, it was NS 6944.



After 290 passed, I headed over to Pattenburg Tunnel to satisfy my curiosity about how it looked. Many of the favorable photo locations were no longer there. Vegetation and foliage had grown over and basically eliminated them. For me it was a sad sight since I had taken so many photos here in years past and, in the process, met many railfans who later became friends of mine. Heading down Route 31, I would stop at the Hamden Road grade crossing in Hunterdon County. About one hour later, NS 22V is seen approaching the Hamden Road grade crossing near the LEHL's MP 57 around 9:44 under brilliant sunshine. Note that there is a slight changing of color in the foliage, nothing though to get excited about yet.




Saturday, September 27, 2014

CSX Named Sustainability Leader by Dow Jones Sustainability Index and CDP

Received the following via email.

CSX Named Sustainability Leader by Dow Jones Sustainability Index and CDP

Jacksonville, Fla. - September 25, 2014 - Building on its track record of industry-leading sustainability projects and performance, CSX was recently named to three top sustainability leadership indices: the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America, the CDP S&P 500 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index 2014 and the CDP S&P 500 Climate Performance Leadership Index 2014.

"Sustainable growth is critical to the long-term success of our business and to our ability to meet America's increasing need for efficient, environmentally-friendly rail transportation," said Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and chief executive officer.  "These important recognitions highlight our ongoing commitment to conducting operations in an environmentally responsible manner and engaging actively in the communities that we serve."

CSX is the only U.S. railroad, and among just four transportation companies in total, recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America this year for leadership in sustainable business practices. In its fourth consecutive year on the index, CSX showed strong performance across the assessed criteria, specifically in the areas of customer relationship management, climate strategy, management of environmental policy issues, corporate citizenship and philanthropy, and risk and crisis management.

The index is a partnership between the Dow Jones Indexes and RobecoSAM Sustainability Assessments, which tracks the financial performance of the world's leading companies according to rigorous economic, environmental and social criteria. Launched in 1999, the DJSI is the first global sustainability benchmark for companies that prioritize environmental sustainability and social responsibility.

In addition, CSX was also recognized by CDP, the world's only global environmental disclosure system. CSX raised its Climate Disclosure Leadership Index performance score - a measure of a company's transparency on climate-related disclosures - to an all-time high this year, receiving a score of 98A. In addition, this is the fifth consecutive year that CSX has achieved a position on the Climate Performance Leadership Index, which evaluates how companies are measuring, verifying and managing their carbon footprints.

"CSX is dedicated to investing in the safe, reliable, environmentally-friendly rail network of the future to continue to drive profitable growth and shareholder value creation," said Fredrik Eliasson, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "This commitment to sustainable growth includes aggressive measurement and transparency to benefit shareholders and employees alike."

CDP's annual indices spotlight companies listed on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) that have demonstrated a commitment to managing climate change by integrating it into their business strategy and taking actionable steps to mitigate climate-related risk. This year, the CDP S&P 500 Climate Change Report 2014 presents new analysis linking S&P 500 sustainability leaders with financial performance. 

In 2013, CSX achieved record-setting fuel efficiency and has reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity by 1.5 percent since 2011, bringing the company closer to its voluntary goal of reducing GHG emissions intensity by six to eight percent from 2011 levels by 2020. In addition, CSX provided more than $16 million to charitable organizations in 2013 and logged more than 25,000 volunteer hours working with national and local organizations to support safety, environmental, community and wellness initiatives across its 21,000 mile network.

To learn more about sustainability at CSX, view the company's most recent Corporate Social Responsibility Report at www.csxcsr.com.

About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products. For more than 185 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation's economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides. It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and small farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at ww.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).

Contact:
Melanie Cost
904-359-1702



Friday, September 26, 2014

Raritan Riverfest and Rubber Duck Race

Received the following via email.

Camper Cam
Home

3rd Annual Raritan River Fest & Rubber Duck Race
We hope you'll join us for the 3rd Annual Raritan River Fest & Rubber Duck Race, Sunday September 28, 2014 from 12pm-5pm at Canal Street Park! We will be sponsoring a Doggie Fashion Show at 2 pm. No outfits needed - we will provide them! Stop by our table to say hello and to grab some goodies!

10W Chimney Rock Rd • Bridgewater • NJ • 08805


Camp Bow Wow of Bridgewater  •  10W Chimney Rock Rd  •  Bridgewater  •  NJ  •  08805
http://www.campbowwow.com/Bridgewater





Thursday, September 25, 2014

Get your weekend started in Downtown Somerville

Received the following via email. 



Summer is over...
 BUT there is always something to do in
Downtown Somerville!

Tapastre is hosting their annual Oktoberfest on 
Friday, September 26th from 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm and Saturday, September 27th from 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm. The Craft Beer Fest will take place on Sunday, September 28th from 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm on Main St. between Bridge and Grove Streets. 
 


The Annual Fall Street Fair sponsored by the Somerville Business & Professional Association is on Sunday, October 5 from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm on Main Street.



Don't forget to stop by the Fireman's Exempt Museum on Sunday, October 5th starting at 1:30pm. 
 
 
The Annual YMCA Spooky Sprint is right around the corner! 
Pre-register and get a t-shirt and goody bag!
 
Family Fun Day returns to Division Street on Saturday, October 11th! 
 
The Farmers Market continues through the end of November! 
 

Downtown Somerville Alliance
25 West End Avenue
Somerville, NJ 08876

Phone: 908-541-1600
Staff:
Beth Anne Macdonald
Executive Director
E-mail

Anna Diaz
Program Coodinator
E-mail
DSA Executive Board:
Tom Genova - Chair
Pat Mannion - Vice Chair
Rick St. Pierre - Treasurer
Bonnie Allen - Secretary

Click here for our complete board listing

BR&W - The Corn Maze Is Now Open!

Received the following via email from the Black River and Western Railroad in Flemington, NJ. 


Visit the Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
with the
Black River & Western Railroad!



Autumn is here, and Pumpkin Junction is open with a NEW giant corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkins, horse-drawn wagon rides, and more! 

Trains depart Flemington Station to Pumpkin Junction every Saturday and Sunday through the end of October at 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:30 PM. Each departure will allow you plenty of time to enjoy all the activities at Pumpkin Junction! Advance reservations are STRONGLY recommended.



Your train ticket includes the round-trip train ride and entrance to the maze. Wagon rides, pumpkins, refreshments, and souvenirs are an additional fee at Pumpkin Junction.

For complete details on all of our trains and events

ORDER TICKETS NOW!
 
Saturday September 20, 2014 to Sunday October 26, 2014 Ride the train to Pumpkin Junction! At Pumpkin Junction explore the giant corn maze and let the little ones try out the hay bale maze. There's a small petting zoo, refreshments, and even horse drawn wagon rides! And don't forget pick-your-own pumpkins! Your ticket includes the train ride from FLEMINGTON to Pumpkin Junction and return, and entrance to the maze. Refreshments, pumpkins, souvenirs, and wagon rides are an additional fee at Pumpkin Junction.




Monday, September 22, 2014

End of Greenbrier Resort's luxury train dream

Following is an article from The Mercury of Pottstown, PA.  


Pottstown auction marks the end of Greenbrier's luxury rail line dream

By Evan Brandt, The Mercury
POSTED: 09/18/14, 4:45 PM EDT

POTTSTOWN — The dream of establishing luxury rail service between the nation’s capital and the storied Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia — and of building that train in Pottstown — died on the auction block Thursday.

Ross Rowland, president and CEO of the Greenbrier Express, said the auction of the nine passenger cars, equipment, tools and railroad ephemera marked “the end of the Greenbrier project.”

The project was bankrolled by Appalachian coal billionaire Jim Justice, the owner of the resort, as a way to attract more high-profile visitors to the resort and restore some glamour to rail travel.

“The essence of the project is to move the front door of the Greenbrier 253 miles from White Sulfur Springs, W.Va., to Washington, D.C.’s Union Station,” Rowland told The Mercury in February 2011 when he brought the project to Pottstown.

The work, which at its peak employed 48 people here, was undertaken in one of the buildings of the former Bethlehem Steel plant, now named the Pottstown Industrial Complex.

And that’s where its assets were sold.

Bidders, cell phones glued to their ears as they consulted with buyers, prowled the cement floor Thursday morning while a small crowd followed the bid call of the Blackmon Auction Co. auctioneer as he made his way down the row of equipment, ranging from a pallet of fire extinguishers, to metal cabinets, to massive wheel trucks and suspension springs.

“That’s less than a Honda Civic,” the auctioneer joked as he tried to goose the bidding upward on the auction’s main event, the nine passenger cars.

With names like “Istanbul,” “Monterey” and “Grand Canyon,” the cars sold for as much as $135,000 a piece to as little as $10,500.

That was what Chuck Jensen — vice president and chief operating officer of the M & E. Railroad in Morristown, N.J. — paid for the last car, named “Paris.”

Some of the cars had been gutted, “tunneled” in train lingo, down to the aluminum and steel floors and arched roof, while others still had elements of dining cars and sleepers.

Audubon resident Richard Stewart, retired from Lockheed-Martin after 46 years as a principal systems engineer, sat in one of the booths Thursday morning and decided not to bid.

“It’s not what I’m looking for,” said Stewart, who wants to tour the nation by rail in a private rail car with his wife Kathy. “I’m looking for a car that’s finished.”

Roger Lehmann was also on hand, to see if there was anything of value for the Colebrookdale Railroad.

He did not bid on the cars. “They’re the wrong era,” he said, noting they are from the 1950s and 1960s and the Secret Valley Line excursion railroad being established between Boyertown and Pottstown, is shooting for a turn of the century feel.

Lehmann, who did buy some tools for his work crews, was amazed at how little some of the cars were selling for.

“Just the steel in these cars is worth more than $10,000,” he said after the “Paris” was sold. But hopefully, they will not be cut up for scrap, he said. “That would be a crime.”

The auctioneer agreed.

“If you sheer and cut these cars, the ghosts of railroads past will haunt you and kill you in your sleep,” he joked.

What killed the Greenbrier Express was economics, said Rowland.

When the recession combined with the fall in the price of coal — due to Chinese competition, environmental regulations that closed older coal-burning power plants and competition from cheaper natural gas — the cash Justice had available to continue the project dried up, said Rowland.

“This was strictly a cash flow issue,” said Rowland.

It was too soon to tell Thursday, he said, just how much cash flowed from the auction.



To see 80+ photos from the auction click on this link: 



Friday, September 19, 2014

CSX Announces Dates For Earnings Release and Third-Quarter Earnings Call

Received the following via email. 

CSX Corporation Announces Dates For Earnings Release and Third-Quarter Earnings Call

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., (September 17, 2014) - CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) will release third-quarter financial and operating results on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, after the market close.

The company will host an earnings conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 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 an MP3 audio file will be archived on the company's website.

About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company.  It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products.  For more than 185 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation's economic expansion and industrial development.  Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides.  It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and small farming towns alike.  More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at 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

Melanie Cost, Corporate Communications
904-359-1702



CSX Corporation CFO to Address Citi’s 2014 Industrials Conference

Received the following via email.

CSX Corporation Chief Financial Officer to Address Citi’s 2014 Industrials Conference

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., (September 16, 2014) –  Fredrik Eliasson, CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) executive vice president and chief financial officer, will address Citi’s 2014 Industrials Conference in Boston on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Access to the webcast will be accessible through http://investors.csx.com.  A replay and accompanying audio will be available following the conclusion of this event.  Additionally, presentation materials will be posted on the company’s website.

About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company.  It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products.  For more than 185 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation’s economic expansion and industrial development.  Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation’s population resides.  It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and small farming towns alike.  More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at 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

Melanie Cost, Corporate Communications
904-359-1702



Thursday, September 18, 2014

railroad graffiti

Received the following photo from Kermit Geary, Jr.
Note: click on the photo to see it enlarged, then use your browser's BACK button to return here. 




NS announces webcast information for 2014 Investor and Financial Analyst Conference

Received the following via email. 

Sept. 15, 2014

Norfolk Southern announces webcast information for 2014 Investor and Financial Analyst Conference

NORFOLK, VA. - Norfolk Southern Corporation will present a comprehensive overview of the company's operating, financial, and strategic initiatives at its 2014 Investor and Financial Analyst Conference on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The conference will take place in two locations, Cleveland and Bellevue, Ohio. 

Interested investors can listen via a live webcast or by dialing 877-869-3847.  Webcast and presentation materials will be posted on the company's website at www.nscorp.com under the Investors section. The Cleveland-based webcast is scheduled from 7:45-11 a.m. (EDT). The Bellevue-based webcast is planned for 1-2:30 p.m. (EDT). 

Following the live broadcast, an audio replay will be available for 60 days by dialing 877-660-6853 and access number 13591242. In addition, the replay will be archived on the company's website and available for download to a portable audio player or computer as an MP3 - or podcast - file. Both the archived replay and the MP3 file will be located under the Investors section of the website.

For electronic notification of investor-related events, 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 Corporation.

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, automotive, and industrial products.
###

Norfolk Southern contacts:
(Media) Frank Brown, 757-629-2710 (fsbrown@nscorp.com)
(Investors) Katie Cook, 757-629-2861 (InvestorRelations@nscorp.com)


Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Fun times on the Middle Division

Received the following from Kermit Geary, Jr.  Text and photos are his.  
Note: click on any photo to see it enlarged, then use your browser's BACK button to return here. 

Have not sent anything out for a while.  I have started a new position working for the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad.  Managed to get away for the day this past Saturday with a good friend from Catasauqua and got some interesting trains out on the NS's ex PRR Middle Division.
















Saturday, September 13, 2014

Sad SDP45 Scrapping Sight to See in 2014: No More EL #3654 nor #3662

Received the following via email.

And the memory of the Erie Lackawanna Railway fades just a little bit further back into the mists...   ---NSC 

Following are pictures of 2 SDP45's in the process of being scrapped.  These were originally built for the Erie Lackawanna.  Pictures were taken by Mark Mautner, and posted to Flickr. Please click on the links to see the original photos with their descriptions. 

NREX 2771, former EL 3662, being scrapped on 5-27-14


NREX 2767, former EL 3654, being scrapped on 6-19-14
http://flic.kr/p/nKyy8N



NS Customer Service Notification

Received the following via email. 





Norfolk Southern Corporation 
Three Commercial Place 
Norfolk, Virginia 23510-2191 

September 12, 2014

Dear Valued Norfolk Southern Customer:

First, we want to thank you for your continued business.  As our traffic volume has increased, we recognize that our current service is below historical levels and below our own expectations.  That said, we would like to provide you an update on our investments and actions taken to improve our service product.  In this regard, we plan to provide you with periodic updates which will include service analysis and outlook, including the potential for service disruptions, to supplement your regular discussions with Norfolk Southern representatives.

You may find our current Customer Service Communication posting on the Norfolk Southern website, www.nscorp.com, under the section "Ship with NS."

We thank you for your business and look forward to continuing to work closely with each of you to improve service and overall supply chain efficiencies to better serve your customers.


Donald W. Seale
Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

Friday, September 12, 2014

CSX Well-Positioned for Continued Profitable Growth as Long-Term Trends Favor Rail

Received the following via email. 

CSX Well-Positioned for Continued Profitable Growth as Long-Term Trends Favor Rail Transportation

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - September 11, 2014 - As global freight demand increases and American highways remain overcrowded and underfunded, CSX is building on a proven track record of success for shareholders by capitalizing on growth opportunities across nearly all of its markets, Chief Financial Officer Fredrik Eliasson told investors and analysts today at the UBS Best of Americas conference in London. The company is leveraging the most diverse business mix in its history, supported by a rail network that connects Eastern ports to major consumption regions and reaches more than two-thirds of American consumers.

"By capitalizing on CSX's network reach, adapting to evolving market conditions, including secular growth trends in intermodal and changes in the energy markets, and deploying cash within a balanced framework, CSX has delivered strong financial results for shareholders," Eliasson said. "The investments CSX has made in market diversity and network reach, coupled with freight demand projections in the next decade, have positioned the company to continue delivering sustainable, profitable growth by capitalizing on the efficiency of rail to serve the needs of a growing global population."

The company's strong track record includes stock appreciation for shareholders of more than 150 percent since 2006, significantly outperforming the broader market. During that time, CSX nearly doubled earnings per share, quintupled dividends and bought back more than $8 billion in stock. The company produced these results during a transformative period that included a global financial crisis and recession, the collapse of the housing market, and a transition in the energy markets that halved the company's domestic coal volume.

Today, economic expansion is spurring broad-based growth across nearly all markets that CSX serves, as the housing market continues to recover, a second strong harvest is expected and the energy renaissance continues to drive growth in the industrial sector. At the same time, the company continues to leverage the secular trend in intermodal conversion and expand key facilities to handle increasing demand across the network. With a unique approach that combines a hub-and-spoke model with the more traditional corridor service, CSX is well-positioned to capitalize on the nearly 9 million truckloads in the East with the potential for intermodal conversion.

CSX continues to capitalize on these and other opportunities, and in the third quarter, overall volume is growing at a rate slightly higher than expected. The company is investing to accommodate this growth, and while the network remains stable, gradual improvement is expected to continue into 2015. As a result of these factors, the company now expects earnings per share to be up slightly from the $0.45 recorded in the same period last year, despite the increased costs to keep the network fluid and restore higher service levels, as well as the cycling of certain prior-year benefits. In addition, CSX continues to expect modest full-year earnings per share growth for 2014.

Economic trends and the company's continued commitment to leveraging high-growth opportunities underpin confidence in its ability to return to generating double-digit earnings growth and margin expansion beginning in 2015. Longer term, the company continues to target an operating ratio in the mid-60s, and will continue generating shareholder value by maintaining its focus on inflation-plus pricing, continually improving efficiency across the business, and capitalizing on economic trends.

Investors can visit http://investors.csx.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=92932&p=irol-irhome for more information about CSX's financial performance.

About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company.  It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products.  For more than 185 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation's economic expansion and industrial development.  Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides.  It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and small farming towns alike.  More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at 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

Melanie Cost, Corporate Communications
904-359-1702



Thursday, September 11, 2014

CSX CFO to Address Morgan Stanley’s 2nd Annual Laguna Conference

Received the following via email. 

CSX Corporation Chief Financial Officer to Address Morgan Stanley’s 2nd Annual Laguna Conference

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., (September 9, 2014) –  Fredrik Eliasson, CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) executive vice president and chief financial officer, will address Morgan Stanley’s 2nd Annual Laguna Conference on Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time (11:30 a.m. Pacific Time).

Access to the webcast will be accessible through http://investors.csx.com.  A replay and accompanying audio will be available following the conclusion of this event.  Additionally, presentation materials will be posted on the company’s website.

About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company.  It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products.  For more than 185 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation’s economic expansion and industrial development.  Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation’s population resides.  It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and small farming towns alike.  More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at 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

Melanie Cost, Corporate Communications
904-359-1702



Saturday, September 06, 2014

CSX Corporation CFO to Address UBS Best of Americas Conference

Received the following via email. 

CSX Corporation Chief Financial Officer to Address UBS Best of Americas Conference

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., (September 4, 2014) -  Fredrik Eliasson, CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) executive vice president and chief financial officer, will address the UBS Best of Americas Conference in London, England on Thursday, September 11, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time (4:30 p.m. British Summer Time).

Access to the webcast will be accessible through http://investors.csx.com.  A replay and accompanying audio will be available following the conclusion of this event.  Additionally, presentation materials will be posted on the company's website.

About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company.  It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products.  For more than 185 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation's economic expansion and industrial development.  Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides.  It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and small farming towns alike.  More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at 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

Melanie Cost, Corporate Communications
904-359-1702


CSX and The Conservation Fund Improve Access to Healthy Food for Youth in West Virginia

Received the following via email. 

CSX and The Conservation Fund Improve Access to Healthy Food for Youth in West Virginia

Voucher program provides access to fresh fruits and vegetables for 5,000 children and families in five counties

ARLINGTON, Va. (Sept. 3, 2014) - In West Virginia, one in five children does not have reliable access to sufficient food - especially healthy food - due to limited financial resources, lack of transportation and other factors. But CSX and The Conservation Fund are working to improve food security in these at-risk communities through a program that provides increased access and funding for healthy foods for hundreds of children and families living below the poverty line in five of the state's lowest income counties: Calhoun, McDowell, Mingo, Roane and Wirt.

CSX, a leading provider of rail-based transportation services, and The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit dedicated to finding conservation solutions that balance environmental and economic needs, teamed up to provide fresh food vouchers to children that can be redeemed at local farmers markets for fresh fruits and vegetables.

"Food security is one of the most pressing issues facing our children, and one that directly impacts their overall health and well-being," said Kris Hoellen, Vice President of Sustainable Programs for The Conservation Fund. "Access to fresh produce with an opportunity to teach children how food goes from the farm to the table gives these children - and their families - the opportunity for a long-term healthy lifestyle. We applaud CSX for investing in the future of West Virginia."

"West Virginia is an integral part of both the history and future of CSX, and CSX is committed to investing in its neighbors here by delivering information and access to healthy food and nutrition," said Tori Kaplan, Assistant Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, CSX. "This partnership with The Conservation Fund supports our mission to help West Virginia communities live greener, healthier and safer lives."

On August 21, West Virginia Department of Agriculture Communications Director Buddy Davidson visited the Falls River Elementary School mobile farmers market in McDowell County to see firsthand how the voucher program benefits local children and families.

"Food security is a critical issue for many West Virginians, and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture is pleased to be working with CSX and the Conservation Fund to help our citizens eat fresh, healthy, locally grown produce," said West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Walt Helmick. "This is a benefit not just to the participants, but also to our farmers. We have a huge economic opportunity to grow our state's economy from within by producing more of what we consume."

Throughout the five counties, the vouchers are being distributed by libraries, elementary schools and summer programs like Energy Express, an award-winning summer reading and nutrition program for children living in West Virginia's rural and low-income communities. Families in Mingo County will also be able to use the vouchers at a mobile farmers market, which will visit seven communities within the county to help those without access to transportation. In McDowell County, some children will be able to redeem their vouchers right at their school. One thousand children from each county will receive vouchers this summer and fall.

The following farmers markets are already participating in the voucher program:
- Amma Farmers Market
- Spencer Farmers Market
- Calhoun County Farmers Market
- Grantsville Farmers Market
- Elizabeth Farmers Market
- Williamson Farmers Market
- and 4 elementary schools in McDowell County.

Through additional funding from the program, these farmers markets will team up with the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to provide cooking demonstrations and distribute recipes and information on cooking, storing and preparing fresh, seasonal food. This will provide opportunities for kids to sample and become familiar with new foods, so that they can incorporate them into their eating habits and their parents can learn how to prepare and cook healthy food.

Eva Musick with Mingo Diabetes noted: "A child said to me once, 'I've never tried a strawberry.' We're hoping to give children here more fun and engaging opportunities to taste a variety of healthy, fresh food with help from CSX and The Conservation Fund."

This program is part of a broader effort between CSX and The Conservation Fund to improve Americans' access to fresh, healthy food. More than 23 million Americans across the country have limited or no access to fresh produce, dairy, meats and seafood. One of the contributors to these so-called "food deserts" is the lack of infrastructure to distribute fresh food to markets. Last month, CSX and The Conservation Fund launched a grant program that helps food distributors enhance their delivery capabilities to farmers markets and communities in need. More information and the grant application is available at http://www.conservationfund.org/partner-with-us/corporate-partners/profiles/csx/.

With offices in Shepherdstown, The Conservation Fund has become a leader in natural resource protection in West Virginia. The Fund has protected more than 36,400 acres across the state, and its sustainable programs have improved local economies and impacted the lives of thousands of West Virginians, from children to small-business owners. To learn more about The Conservation Fund's efforts in West Virginia, visit www.conservationfund.org.

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A video on the program can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylHWcX70hWY&feature=youtu.be

About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products. For more than 185 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation's economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides. It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and small farming towns alike.

CSX is committed to helping communities it serves live healthier, greener, safer lives. The company recognizes the importance for these communities to gain regular access to locally grown, nutrient-rich, fresh food. That's why CSX is supporting these grants to enable farmers, churches, towns, cities, neighborhoods, and community groups to transport fresh food to people who need it, as part of a healthier lifestyle.

About The Conservation Fund
At The Conservation Fund, we combine a passion for conservation with an entrepreneurial spirit to protect America's most important lands and waterways for future generations. A hallmark of our work is our deep, unwavering understanding that for conservation solutions to last, they need to make economic sense. We strive to implement strategies that support sustainable economic development, spark cutting-edge conservation and bridge connections between people and the land. Top-ranked, we're advancing vibrant, healthy communities.

Contacts:
Melanie Cost, CSX Corporate Communications,
904-359-1702,
melanie_cost@csx.com

Ann Simonelli, The Conservation Fund,
703-908-5809,
asimonelli@conservationfund.org


Friday, September 05, 2014

Railroad Leaders Come Together to Address Sustainability

Received the following via email. 



Railroad Leaders Come Together to Address Sustainability

Norfolk Southern, BNSF Railway, and GE Transportation host 3-day discussion with industry leaders

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - Sept. 2, 2014 -- Norfolk Southern , BNSF Railway and GE Transportation are partnering to address sustainability in the rail industry. At the fourth annual Railroad Sustainability Symposium that begins today, sustainability and business leaders representing railroad operators, manufacturers, shippers and environmental stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, will discuss ways to continue driving the industry toward a cleaner future.

The symposium was established in 2011 when Norfolk Southern and GE Transportation recognized an opportunity to increase the dialogue about energy conservation and sustainable practices within the industry. This year, participants and speakers from more than 25 companies will attend, including Canadian National, Maersk, UPS, Wal-Mart, the Worldwide Wildlife Fund, the Environmental Defense Fund, The Arbor Day Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. They will share insights on such issues as supply-chain sustainability, safety and next-generation locomotives.

Among the speakers will be Deb Frodl, the global executive director of GE ecomagination, Ecomagination is GE's commitment to develop innovative solutions for today's environmental challenges. She will outline GE's strategic vision for a more sustainable future. "At ecomagination, we strive to develop solutions that both improve the environment and provide sound economic results," Frodl said. "The symposium offers an incredible opportunity for the brightest minds in the industry to gather, discuss and learn from each other so, together, we can continue this positive trajectory toward a more sustainable future for transportation."

Sustainability and innovation are at the forefront of the rail industry, and railroads are the most sustainable forms of long-distance land freight transportation. Rail provides tremendous benefits by reducing our country's overall transportation emissions and carbon footprint. That's why Norfolk Southern and BNSF have taken the lead in this dialogue. 

"Norfolk Southern is proud to continue its journey to fully integrate sustainability into all aspects of its business and operations, and looks forward to gaining keen insights from the best practices of industry and NGO participants at this symposium," said Blair Wimbush, chief sustainability officer for Norfolk Southern.

From its pioneering efforts to dramatically improve fuel and energy efficiency, to focused efforts to ensure a safe and engaged workforce committed to sustainable business practices, Norfolk Southern is determined to maintain a leadership role in forging a new corporate paradigm where economics, society and environment converge to produce desirable outcomes that sustain its business. 

An example of conservation capitalism is Norfolk Southern's "Trees and Trains" campaign. The campaign will produce significant ecosystem benefits from the reforestation of 10,000 acres in the Mississippi Delta, while generating carbon credits that Norfolk Southern can use to recoup its investment.

"For decades, BNSF has had an organization-wide commitment to sustainability and our efforts to improve the green advantages of our locomotive fleet are investments that push the envelope of what is already the most sustainable option for land freight transport," said John Lovenburg, vice president of environmental for BNSF. "We have the newest and cleanest locomotive fleet in the nation. Of our nearly 7,300 locomotives more than 3,300 are new and more than 2,800 have been remanufactured since 2004."

Since 1980 BNSF has improved its fuel efficiency more than 100 percent, moving each ton of freight nearly 500 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel. Every year BNSF provides its customers with custom reports documenting the emissions they avoid by shipping via rail vs. over-the-road modes. Carbon footprint reductions of more than 30 million metric tons of CO2 each year have been achieved by customers hauling products through BNSF's rail system. That is equivalent to taking six million cars off the road, which would result in an emissions reduction equal to 3 billion gallons of fuel.

GE Transportation is also a key driver in this movement. GE has been developing technology that improves emissions and fuel efficiency. GE Transportation's engineers have developed the Evolution Series Tier 4 locomotive that reduces emissions by over 70 percent, meeting the Environmental Protection Agency's new Tier 4 standard. Additionally, on board thousands of locomotives today is a technology called Trip Optimizer that improves fuel efficiency. It functions as an intelligent cruise control for trains, adjusting the speed to optimize fuel usage. Lastly, GE Transportation is testing the NextFuel Retrofit Kit, which works with liquefied natural gas. These innovations reflect GE's broader ecomagination strategy to employ measurable breakthroughs that create sustainable outcomes. Already, ecomagination has helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent since our 2004 baseline and by 2015, GE plans to double research and development investment to $10 billion by 2020.

About Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company 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, automotive, and industrial products. Please learn more about sustainability at NS by visiting www.nssustainability.com

About BNSF

BNSF Railway is one of North America's leading freight transportation companies operating on 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal, and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages. BNSF's shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve. You can learn more about BNSF at www.BNSF.com.

About GE Transportation
At GE Transportation, we're in the business of realizing potential. We're a global technology leader and supplier to the rail, mining, marine, stationary power and drilling industries. Our innovations help customers deliver goods and services with greater speed and greater savings using our advanced manufacturing techniques and connected machines. Established more than a century ago, GE Transportation is a division of the General Electric Company that began as a pioneer in passenger and freight locomotives. That innovative spirit still drives GE Transportation today. It's the engine of change that puts us at the forefront of innovation and technology, where we continue to realize new potential and keep our connected world moving forward. GE Transportation is headquartered in Chicago, IL, and employs approximately 12,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.getransportation.com

Media Contacts:
Jessica Taylor, GE Transportation
Tel: 202-412-3924 (mobile)

Amy Casas, BNSF Railway
Tel: 817-867-6139

Rick Harris, Norfolk Southern
Tel: 404-529-2310