A Reading Ramble Across the Midwest

A pair of Norfolk Southern heritage units - NS 1067, Reading and NS 8104, Lehigh Valley - enjoyed an odyssey across the upper Midwest in July following the "family get together" at Spencer Shops in North Carolina.  First they went to Detroit, Michigan, then Lincoln, Nebraska, next to Laurel, Montana, then Dilworth, Minnesota where they were broken up.  The Reading unit then went to Kansas City and then to Louisville, Kentucky.  The Lehigh Valley unit went to Chicago and then to North Carolina. 

This posting all started with a couple of emails alerting us to this "Reading Ramble."  First here is a portion of one of those emails, then a series of pictures of this odyssey. 

Here's a sweet-evening-light view of this latest 'Reading Rambler' and 'Valley Voyager' (See the 5th photo from Fairmont, NE).  By deciding to 'Go West' on vacation in a big way, might the 'Queen Bee' and 'Valley Girl' already be earning their second nicknames? Note that all four locomotives are coupled elephant-style.

Speaking of elephants, imagine this Color Riot consist of power leading either of the two Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus trains...'Reading on the Ringling'. Hey, stranger things have already happened in just the past two weeks...like this intrepid duo that seems to have arisen from the dusty pages of the old "Rail Northeast" magazine, appearing in fresh paint on new units in places like NC and NE this month! (It is a dry July and Ol' Queenie has always been leading, as there is not yet even any RR crossing diamond / highway grade crossing mud-pump splatter on her shiny plow pilot!)



The first leg of this journey saw the Reading and Lehigh Valley units taking a coal train to the Detroit area after the family gathering in North Carolina.

7/9/12 North of Bucyrus, OH, photo by Kyle Ori

Next, they took an train of empty coal hoppers to Lincoln, Nebraska.

7/12/12 La Salle, MI, photo by Aaron J. Border

7/12/12 South Rockwood, MI by Aaron J. Border

7/14/12 Burlington, IA by FJ Grizel

At Lincoln, NE they were put in charge of a BNSF general merchandise train bound for Laurel, Montana, which is about 10 miles west of Billings, MT.  They traveled across Nebraska, across a corner of Colorado, and then through Wyoming to Montana.

7/15/12 Fairmont, NE by Luke Lohrmeyer

7/16/12 near Benkelman, NE (SW corner of NE), photographer unknown

7/16/12 NE/CO state line along US 34, photo by Kirk Orndorff

7/16/12 Yuma, CO, photo by Kirk Orndorff

7/17/12 near Peetz, CO, photo by Chip

At Laurel, MT, the ramblin' pair were sent to Dilworth, MN, on another BNSF train.  Dilworth is just across the state line from Fargo, ND.   I have no pictures from this leg of the journey.  At Dilworth the pair of NS heritage units were split up.  The Reading unit was put on a train to Kansas City.

7/22/12 Perham, MN, photo by Matt Hagfors

7/24/12 Kansas City, KS, photo by Zach Pumphery

Meanwhile, the Lehigh Valley unit was put on an intermodal train bound for the Chicago area.  Then it was put in charge of a NS grain train bound for North Carolina.

7/22/12 La Crosse, WI, photo by Dennis Weber

7/24/12 Hammond, IN, photo by Matthew Ginkel

7/27/12 Pelham, NC, photo by Khalil Poole

Finally, the Reading unit was returned to NS in Kansas City and sent east to the Louisville, KY area where it was put to work on coal trains.

7/27/12 St. Charles, MO, photo by Jake Branson

7/29/12 Danville, KY by Gage O’Dell

Train Registers & Clearance Cards

Received the following via email. This entry consists of 4 seperate emails. 

email 1.
Good, short lesson in pre-radio train operations from Abe Burnett, former Conrail Harrisburg Division Rules Examiner, who started his RR career in train service on the N&W in Virginia in the Sixties.  

email 2, from Abe Burnett.
A young fellow just asked me the function of a Train Register and a Clearance Card. Since this is now all pretty much 50 years in the past, I thought the younger generation might like to read the explanations. Of course, there all are kinds of permutations I did not go into...


email 3, from a young fellow.
Never having worked directly in operations, and having much less exposure to timetable and train order operations (I'm much more familiar with CTC and TCS), there are many elements about which I lack an understanding. One of these is the purpose of a "train register". I'm attaching the page with the special instructions for the LV's Pottsville Branch's Employee Timetable issued 11/26/1916. Trains registers are noted for a number of stations, but they are located in the "phone booth" at Lizard Creek Jct., Spring Garden Jct., and Blackwood Jct. When the line opened, these were all manned junctions that had telegraph. My assumption is, and this is where I look to you for guidance, that the purpose of the register was to act as a kind of control point, but one at which an operator was no longer located. As a train arrived at the junction, a crew could determine whether or not a scheduled train had arrived from the connecting line by the presence of an entry or lack thereof in the register. Did I guess right? Who and when do you think someone went around to collect all these registers and place new ones?


Second item: What exactly is the function of a clearance card?

I will never completely fathom an era when so many people were involved, all of whom had to have their wits about them. I seriously doubt it could be done the same way today. I increasingly doubt the work of Charles Darwin...

email 4, from Abe Burnett.
Train Register - a "logbook" located at designated places (such as ends of double track or important junctions) where conductors "register" their trains. Opposing trains check the register to see if superior trains have arrived.


Perfect example - the tremendous head on collision of Jan 30,1918 on the N&W at Melborn. Va. No, 26, the eastbound Memphis Special hauled by double-headed Mountains, was running 5 hours and 20 mins late. Ex 1461 West, headed by a big 2-6-6-2 class Z, left the end of double track at Radford, in the face of No. 26. The telegraph operator had failed to deliver a Train Order to the Extra west stating that No. 26 was running late, and the conductor of the Extra west did not check the Train Register to see if all opposing superior trains had arrived. If either of these things had been done, the two trains would not have met head-on the the darkness about 5 miles west of Radford.

I worked with men who had been at that wreck. Trailing are photos of the tombstone of Engineer Charles A. Jacobson, who was running Ex 1461 West that night.

Your second question: What is the function of a Clearance Card. Exact details depend on the time period you want to know about. In the Old days, there were 4 clearance cards, A, B, C and D, and each had a different color and a different purpose.

But let's just discuss the Clearance Form A, which is the only one that survived up until the end... although I could write you volumes on this topic.

A clearance card's function is (1) to make sure that no train gets away without the train dispatcher making sure it has the proper train orders, and has them all, and (2) to make sure the telegraph operator delivers the proper orders to each train.

If a telegraph operator has train orders for delivery, he puts his train order signal to stop. When the train is getting close, he asks the DS (train dispatcher), "Clear Train No..., with train orders numbers 17, 23 and 26?" And if those are the proper train orders to be delivered, the DS responds, "Yes, clear Train No... with orders numbners 17, 23 and 26, at 11:16am, JFF" (where JBB would be his own initials.) The DS then makes a note of the clearance card inn his train order book. The operator writes out the clearance card stating, "To C&E No.. at ... I have train orders no's 17, 23 and 26 for your train. There are no further orders for your train," and signs his last name on the clearance card, and the date and time.

When the crew rolls by and picks up their orders, they compare the clearance card with the numbers of the train orders they have been delivered to see if they have the proper orders, and all the orders they should have. (I have caught orders and found that what I received did not correspond with the clearance card...)

In Time Table/Train order territory, each train must receive a clearance card at its initial station... That is the train dispatcher's "release" for the train, either stating "No orders for your train" or listing the orders for delivery. This requirement is a "hold" on trains, to keep them from getting away without the proper orders.(attached) is a pretty important stuff, when you consider that all the meets on opposing trains were handled by train orders, and radios had not yet come around.

That's the basics. I could write a lengthy essay on this matter, and probably should some day.

Tombstone of engineer Charles A. Jacobson

NS names Rathbone and Squires to new responsibilities

Received the following via email.

August 1, 2012

Norfolk Southern names Rathbone and Squires to new responsibilities

NORFOLK, VA. – Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC) announced two personnel changes to broaden the experience of its senior management team.

Effective today, John P. Rathbone is named executive vice president finance and chief financial officer, and James A. Squires is named executive vice president administration. Previously their roles were reversed.

“Norfolk Southern’s experienced senior leadership team is a key strength,” said CEO Wick Moorman. “Jim and John are acknowledged industry leaders in their fields. In their new positions, they’ll bring insight and energy in continuing to move Norfolk Southern forward.”

Rathbone joined Norfolk Southern in 1981 and served in several auditing positions before being named vice president and controller in 1992, senior vice president and controller in 2000, and executive vice president administration in 2004. A native of Alexandria, Va., he earned a degree from Virginia Tech.

Squires joined Norfolk Southern in 1992 and served in several law positions before being named vice president law in 2003, senior vice president law in 2004, senior vice president financial planning in 2006, and executive vice president finance in 2007. A native of Hollis, N.H., he earned degrees from Amherst College and the University of Chicago.

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)

Norfolk Southern announces private exchange offers

Received the following via email.

August 2, 2012

NORFOLK SOUTHERN ANNOUNCES PRIVATE EXCHANGE OFFERS

NORFOLK, VA. — Norfolk Southern Corporation (the "Company") announced today the commencement of offers to certain eligible holders (together, the "Exchange Offers") of the Company's outstanding debt securities listed in the table below (together, the "Existing Notes") to exchange Existing Notes for consideration consisting of cash and up to $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's new Notes due 2023 (the "New Notes"), in the proportions set forth in the table below, the complete terms of which are set forth in an offering memorandum, dated today (the "Offering Memorandum"), and the related letter of transmittal, dated today (together with the Offering Memorandum, the "Offering Documents").

The table below indicates each series of Existing Notes included in the Exchange Offers:


(Not able to reproduce table for this blog.  Suggest you try Investor contact listed below.)



The aggregate principal amount of New Notes to be issued pursuant to the Exchange Offers will be subject to a maximum amount of $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount (the "Overall Issue Amount"). In addition, the principal amount of each series of Existing Notes that is accepted pursuant to the Exchange Offers will be subject to the "acceptance priority level" (in numerical priority order) of such series as set forth in the table above and as further described in the Offering Documents.

All Existing Notes that are tendered for exchange in an Exchange Offer on or before the Early Exchange Date will have priority over Existing Notes that are tendered for exchange after the Early Exchange Date. If the principal amount of Existing Notes validly tendered on or before the Early Exchange Date constitutes a principal amount of Existing Notes that, if accepted by the Company, would result in the Company issuing New Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to or in excess of the Overall Issue Amount, the Company will not accept any Existing Notes tendered for exchange after the Early Exchange Date (even if they are of acceptance priority level 1).

The following is a summary of certain key elements of the planned Exchange Offers:

· The Exchange Offers will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on August 29, 2012, unless extended by the Company (the "Expiration Date").

· The applicable Total Exchange Consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes tendered for exchange and accepted by the Company will equal (x) the discounted value on the Early Settlement Date of the remaining payments of principal and interest per $1,000 principal amount of the tendered series of Existing Notes through the maturity date of such series of Existing Notes, using a yield equal to the sum of (i) the yield, calculated in accordance with standard market practice, that corresponds to the bid-side price of the applicable Existing Notes Reference Treasury, as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on August 15, 2012, unless extended by the Company (the "Pricing Date"), as displayed on the Bloomberg Government Pricing Monitor page PX1 plus (ii) the applicable fixed spread specified in the table above for the applicable series of Existing Notes, minus (y) accrued and unpaid interest on such $1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes, to but not including the Early Settlement Date.

o The Company will pay interest on the New Notes at a rate per annum equal to the yield, calculated in accordance with standard market practice, that corresponds to the bid-side price of the 1.750% United States Treasury due May 15, 2022 as of the Pricing Date, as displayed on the Bloomberg Government Pricing Monitor page PX1 plus a fixed spread of 115 basis points.

· The Total Exchange Consideration will include an "Early Exchange Premium" of $30.00 per $1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes tendered and accepted for exchange.

· The Total Exchange Consideration or the Exchange Consideration, as applicable, for each $1,000 principal amount of the Existing Notes, will be payable in cash and New Notes as further described in the Offering Documents.

· Settlement for Existing Notes tendered on or before the Early Exchange Date and accepted by the Company is expected to be August 20, 2012, unless extended by the Company (the "Early Settlement Date"). Settlement for Existing Notes tendered and accepted after the Early Exchange Date is expected to be August 30, 2012, unless extended by the Company (the "Final Settlement Date").

· Eligible holders who validly tender and who do not validly withdraw their Existing Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 15, 2012, unless extended by the Company (the "Early Exchange Date"), and whose tenders are accepted for exchange by the Company, will receive the Total Exchange Consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes.

· Eligible holders who validly tender Existing Notes after the Early Exchange Date but prior to the Expiration Date, and whose Existing Notes are accepted for exchange by the Company, will receive the "Exchange Consideration," which is the Total Exchange Consideration minus the Early Exchange Premium of $30.00 per $1,000 principal amount at maturity of Existing Notes tendered and accepted for exchange.

· The cash payable to each holder whose Existing Notes are accepted for exchange will be adjusted as applicable by the accrued and unpaid interest on those Existing Notes and New Notes, to but not including the applicable Settlement Date.

· Tenders of Existing Notes in the Exchange Offers may be validly withdrawn at any time at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 15, 2012, unless extended by the Company (the "Withdrawal Deadline"), but will thereafter be irrevocable, except in certain limited circumstances where additional withdrawal rights are required by law.

· Consummation of the Exchange Offers is subject to a number of conditions, including the issuance of at least $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of New Notes and the absence of certain adverse legal and market developments.

· The Company will not receive any cash proceeds from the Exchange Offers.

· Subject to applicable law, the Company may in its absolute discretion terminate any Exchange Offer for any reason or for no reason.

If and when issued, the New Notes will not have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state securities laws. The New Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Company will enter into a registration rights agreement with respect to the New Notes. The New Notes will be unsecured obligations of the Company and will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.

The Exchange Offers are only made, and copies of the documents relating to the Exchange Offers will only be made available, to a holder of Existing Notes who has certified in an eligibility letter certain matters to the Company, including its status as a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act or who is a person other than a "U.S. person" as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act. Holders of Existing Notes who desire access to the electronic eligibility form should contact D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent for the Exchange Offers, at (800) 848-3416 (U.S. Toll-free) or (212) 269-5550 (Collect). Holders that wish to receive the Offering Documents can certify eligibility at http://www.dfking.com/norfolksouthern.

This news release does not constitute an offer or an invitation by the Company to participate in the Exchange Offers in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements about Norfolk Southern Corporation, including those related to the offering of New Notes and whether or not Norfolk Southern will consummate the offering. Forward-looking statements reflect management's good-faith evaluation of information currently available. However, such statements are dependent on and, therefore, can be influenced by a number of external variables over which management has little or no control, including: legislative and regulatory developments; transportation of hazardous materials as a common carrier by rail; acts of terrorism or war; general economic conditions; impacts of environmental regulations on utility coal customers and/or the value of certain of Norfolk Southern's assets; competition and consolidation within the transportation industry; the operations of carriers with which it interchanges; disruptions to its technology infrastructure, including computer systems; labor difficulties, including strikes and work stoppages; results of litigation; natural events such as severe weather, hurricanes, and floods; unavailability of qualified personnel due to unpredictability of demand for rail services; fluctuation in supplies and prices of key materials, in particular diesel fuel; and changes in securities and capital markets. Information concerning potential factors that could affect Norfolk Southern's financial results is included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and its other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as, a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at or by which any such performance or results will be achieved. As a result, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Norfolk Southern undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements.

Norfolk Southern contacts:

(Media) Frank Brown, 757-629-2710 (fsbrown@nscorp.com)
(Investors) Michael Hostutler, 757-629-2861 (michael.hostutler@nscorp.com)

Somerset County 4-H Fair

August 8-9-10, 2012

North Branch Park, Milltown Road, Bridgewater, N.J.

Please Leave Your Pets at Home!

  The 2012 Somerset County 4-H Fair is Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, August 8, 9 and 10. It is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at North Branch Park, 355 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, located between Routes 22 and 202.

For more information please visit the Somerset County 4-H Fair web site.
http://somerset.njaes.rutgers.edu/4hfair/

NS raises quarterly dividend and increases stock repurchase program

Received the following via email.

August 1, 2012

Norfolk Southern raises quarterly dividend and increases stock repurchase program

NORFOLK, VA. – Norfolk Southern Corporation announced that its Board of Directors today voted to increase the regular quarterly dividend on the company’s common stock by 6.4 percent, or 3 cents per share, from 47 to 50 cents per share.

The increased dividend is payable on Sept. 10 to stockholders of record on Aug. 13. Since its inception in 1982, Norfolk Southern has paid dividends on its common stock for 120 consecutive quarters.

Norfolk Southern also announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 50 million shares of its common stock through Dec. 31, 2017. In combination with previous share repurchase programs dating back to February 2006, the total number of shares that the company has been authorized to repurchase over time has increased to 175 million. From February 2006 through June 30, 2012, approximately 122 million shares have been repurchased for $7.1 billion. The timing and volume of any purchases will be guided by management’s assessment of market conditions and other factors. Norfolk Southern had approximately 320 million shares outstanding as of June 30, 2012.

Statements contained in this news release that are not related to historical facts are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ from these projections, and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which are discussed in Norfolk Southern’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC.

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 supports coal customers with $20.5 million of track work in PA

Received the following via email.

Norfolk Southern supports coal customers with $20.5 million of track work in Pennsylvania

NORFOLK, VA. – Norfolk Southern recently completed $20.5 million of track, bridge, and signal improvements along its major coal line through the Monongahela Valley in a record seven days. To ensure coal customers in Southwest Pennsylvania continue to receive consistent and reliable rail service, Norfolk Southern schedules a maintenance blitz each July to coincide with the coal miners’ annual weeklong summer break.

The “Mon” Line extends 85 miles south from Pittsburgh to serve five coal mines in Washington and Greene counties. In 2011, nearly 37 million tons of coal were shipped over the line -- most of it delivered to utility customers. Approximately 30 trains daily use the line.

“The Mon line is critical to meeting the energy needs of businesses and homes in the Northeast and Midwest,” said Tim Drake, NS’ vice president engineering. “Our work keeps this rail network safe and performing at peak level.”

The blitz is a logistical achievement. Crews labor through long summer days, with afternoon temperatures reaching close to 100 degrees, and they don’t quit until after sundown. This year, 500 Norfolk Southern engineering department employees from across the railroad’s 22-state system installed more than 44,600 crossties, laid 10 miles of new rail, resurfaced 67 miles of track, replaced 1,091 bridge ties, and installed 18 culverts. Additionally, the crews finished maintenance projects on 28 road crossings, four bridges, and one tunnel.

Fifty-six work trains, along with 32 pieces of track equipment, were utilized. Under normal conditions it would take approximately three months to accomplish this work, with disruptions in service.

Our engineering crews blitz this rail network under some challenging conditions – heat, a one-week deadline, a lot of moving parts,” said Phil Merilli, chief engineer for NS’ Northern Region. “What we accomplish will keep trains running safely all year long, and it shows our commitment to keeping these tracks in top condition.”

The maintenance work on the Mon Valley line is part of Norfolk Southern’s planned $2.4 billion investment in its rail network during 2012.

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)

NS Chief Information Officer to address Jefferies 2012 Global Industrial and A&D Conference

Received the following via email.

July 26, 2012

Norfolk Southern Chief Information Officer to address Jefferies 2012 Global Industrial and A&D Conference

NORFOLK, VA. – Deb Butler, executive vice president planning and chief information officer for Norfolk Southern Corporation, will address the Jefferies 2012 Global Industrial and A&D Conference in New York City at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012.

Interested investors can listen via simultaneous webcast at http://wsw.com/webcast/jeff70/nsc/. The presentation will be posted at 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)

Marking a milestone in RR'ing high and wide loads!

(Train sightings on 7-22-12.)

Sunday (July 22nd) morning's move of an Air Products heat exchanger represented the 100th LNG heat exchanger manufactured by Air Products. To commemorate this milestone, Air Products hung a banner to proclaim the significance of this particularly heat exchanger. Its eventual destination will be the "land down under", Australia. NS 3007 (EMD GP40-2; ex-CR 3285) is the leader as it passes by the ex-Reading station in Belle Mead, NJ at MP 50 on the CSX's Trenton Line. One can only imagine the planning and logistics that went into that very first move of a heat exchanger.

NS reports second-quarter earnings

Received the following via email.

July 24, 2012

Norfolk Southern reports second-quarter earnings

For 2012 vs. 2011, Norfolk Southern achieved the following second-quarter records:

· Railway operating revenues were $2.9 billion.
· Income from operations improved 7 percent to $934 million.
· Diluted earnings per share increased 3 percent to $1.60.
· Railway operating ratio improved 2 percentage points to 67.5 percent.

NORFOLK, VA. – For the second quarter of 2012, Norfolk Southern reported net income of $524 million, 6 percent lower than $557 million for the second quarter 2011. Diluted earnings per share were an all-time record $1.60, up 3 percent compared with $1.56 per diluted share in the same period last year. Second-quarter 2011 net income included favorable, non-recurring income tax-related benefits totaling $63 million or $0.18 per diluted share.

“In the second quarter, Norfolk Southern continued to deliver outstanding results. Our income from operations, diluted earnings per share and improved operating ratio all set records, despite the slow economic recovery and softness in our coal franchise,” said CEO Wick Moorman. “Our railroad continues to operate extremely well, and that enables us to control costs and operate efficiently while providing high levels of service for our customers.”

Railway operating revenues of $2.9 billion were essentially flat in the second quarter compared to 2011. General merchandise revenues improved 9 percent to $1.6 billion. Coal revenues declined 15 percent to $755 million. Intermodal revenues improved 4 percent to $563 million.

Railway operating expenses for the second quarter fell 3 percent to $1.9 billion, compared with 2011.

Income from railway operations for the second quarter was $934 million, up 7 percent compared with the same period last year.

The second-quarter railway operating ratio improved 2 percentage points to an all-time record 67.5 percent, compared with 2011.

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)

Norfolk Southern BENT the RR Time-Space Continuum with Freight, Passenger Paint

Received the following via email.

How ironic: In July, 2012, NS has a vintage, four-unit, streamlined EMD passenger locomotive set painted in an adaptation of the freight color scheme worn by hood units of one of its predecessors (SOU)...and at least four brand-spanking new freight hood units painted in the passenger locomotive schemes worn by vintage, streamlined EMD's of four of its predecessor roads (PRR, ERIE, DL&W and SOU)!  A half-decade ago, who would ~ever~ have predicted THAT outcome for mid-2012, back when NS was 'just' a quarter-century old? 

NS 4270 FP9 at Bellevue, OH on 7-17-12

Photo by Sam Sponseller 

 

Camden & Amboy RR program at Readington Museum tonight

Recieved a last minute notice that John Kilbride will be presenting a lecture on the Camden & Amboy RR at the Readington Museum at 7:00 o'clock this evening.  $5.00 suggested donation for adults, refreshments served.


For directions to the museum please see their web site:
 
http://www.readingtontwp.org/ReadingtonMuseums/contact-us_directions.html 
 

NS supports storm recovery in WV with $50,000 contribution to Red Cross

Received the following via email.

July 18, 2012

Norfolk Southern supports storm recovery in West Virginia with $50,000 contribution to Red Cross

NORFOLK, VA. – The Norfolk Southern Foundation is committing $50,000 in emergency funding to the American Red Cross of West Virginia.

The funding will help West Virginians in their recovery from the tornado-like storms of June 29 that resulted in food shortages, power and water outages, and damage to critical infrastructure. Power outages were especially devastating, as some one million homes and business in the state were without electricity during a heat wave.

“The Red Cross recovery work in West Virginia is essential and effective,” said Wick Moorman, NS chief executive officer. “For our employees, customers, suppliers, and many friends in The Mountain State, know that your partners at Norfolk Southern are pulling for you.”

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)

Unattended Train Operation (UTO): Driverless Trains on 85-second Headways

Following article is from railjournal.com.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Paris Line 1 reaches automation milestone

Written by Keith Barrow

THE project to automate Paris Metro Line 1 reached an important milestone on July 7 with the launch of full Unattended Train Operation (UTO) at weekends.

Paris Transport Authority (RATP) has been operating Line 1 in mixed mode with both UTO and semi-automatic train operation (STO) since last November, and the number of UTO-equipped trains in service has increased steadily in the first half of this year. RATP says more than 60% of services are now driverless, and on May 21 full UTO operation was introduced after 21.00 on weekdays. The transition to UTO will be completed at the end of the year.

New driverless MP05 trains from Alstom are entering service at a rate of two per month, and 28 of the 55 trains ordered by RATP are now in service. The fleet is gradually replacing the MP89 sets, 27 of which remain in operation on Line 1. These trains are gradually being cascaded to lines 4 and 11 as more MP05s are commissioned.

Line 1 is the oldest and busiest metro line in Paris, carrying around 750,000 passengers per day. Siemens was awarded a €30.8m contract in 2005 to upgrade the PA BF speed-code automatic train control system to CBTC using its Trainguard MT technology and Airlink free-propagation radio communication system. Siemens also provided onboard equipment and the new control centre, which was commissioned in May 2010. The existing relay-based interlockings were replaced with Thales LockTrac modular computer-based interlockings.

The introduction of CBTC has means headways will be reduced from 105 seconds to 85 seconds. Together with the introduction of new trains, this will boost capacity from 24,000 passengers per hour per direction in 2008 to 30,000 by the end of this year.

A full description of the project can be found in the July 2010 issue of IRJ (p30).

CSX, State of Ohio Dedicate Niles Fifth Street Bridge

Received the following via email.

CSX, State of Ohio Dedicate Niles Fifth Street Bridge

Stimulus Funds, Private Dollars Deliver Jobs, Upgraded Freight Rail Service

NILES, Ohio - July 13, 2012 - CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) today hosted a dedication ceremony for the new Fifth Street Bridge in Niles, Ohio. The upgraded bridge's higher vertical clearance helps clear the way for CSX's upgraded, double-stack freight rail corridor linking East Coast sea ports with the CSX Northwest Ohio Terminal and other Midwest distribution and manufacturing hubs.

The $1.4 million composite steel bridge was paid for through a combination of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and CSX. It is one of the first fully completed clearance projects in Ohio being undertaken as part of the National Gateway, an approximately $850 million infrastructure public-private partnership.

"The Fifth Street Bridge is a perfect example of local economic growth driven by private and public investment in our nation's infrastructure," said Mayor Ralph Infante, Jr. of Niles, Ohio. "This new, modern bridge is a welcome addition to our community and an exciting symbol of the future of the American freight transportation investments needed to keep communities such as ours positioned to compete domestically and internationally."

The bridge is one of a number of clearances that will allow double-stack freight rail access to CSX's new Northwest Ohio Terminal, a 185-acre world-class freight distribution hub and the nerve center of CSX's nationwide intermodal network. Located near North Baltimore, Ohio, the new facility employs more than 200 full-time employees and serves as the transfer point for hundreds of thousands of freight containers annually.

"We are pleased to recognize the continued progress of the National Gateway," said Louis Renjel, vice president of strategic infrastructure initiatives, CSX. "Along with other planned investments, the new Fifth Street Bridge will help prepare CSX and the state of Ohio to meet increasing freight transportation demands and to enhance the flow of goods throughout the nation."

National Gateway improvement projects will increase the vertical clearances at 61 locations on CSX rail lines in the region to accommodate intermodal trains carrying double-stack intermodal containers. To-date, 14 locations including the Fifth Street Bridge have been cleared on the existing CSX rail corridor between North Baltimore, Ohio and Chambersburg, Pa., keeping Phase One of the project on track for Spring 2013 completion. One of the nation's largest transportation projects, the National Gateway will create more than 50,000 jobs over a 30 year period by increasing the amount of freight that can be transported on a single train. When completed, the National Gateway will provide more than $10 billion in public benefits in the route's first 30 years of operations by decreasing fuel consumption, lowering emissions, improving safety, reducing highway maintenance costs and saving shipping costs.

To learn more about the National Gateway, visit http://www.nationalgateway.org/.

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. CSX's 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 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:
Carla Groleau
1 (877) TELL-CSX

Freight Car Sale

The Big Little Railroad Shop

announces a sale on all freight cars,
all scales

10% off

now through the end of August, 2012

Limited to store stock.  Does not include special orders.

Stop in to see what is available. 

You just might find something you need.

Rail industry aims to hire 5,000 veterans this year

Following article is from CNN.com.

Rail industry aims to hire 5,000 veterans this year
By Alicia Tarancon, CNN
Wed July 11, 2012

Washington (CNN) -- Facing an aging rail industry workforce and an influx of returning military veterans, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Tuesday an initiative in which the growing rail sector will hire more than 5,000 veterans this year, matching the same number hired in 2011.

"Our veterans have skills and real life experiences that we need to help rebuild America," said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood during a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.

LaHood said veterans are valuable potential employees because of their prior training in the military. He pointed out military personnel have leadership and teamwork training and experience working with heavy machinery in demanding work conditions.

From the military to the NBA Potential industry jobs include operating locomotives, signal maintenance and telecommunications in both freight and passenger rail.

"Today, roughly 23 percent of the railroad workforce is eligible to retire by 2015," said Ed Hamberger, president of the Association of American Railroads, an industry trade group. The railroad industry is offering veterans jobs because its business is growing and new jobs will soon open up as more people start to retire, he added.

The railroad association is working with the Department of Veteran Affairs to make sure that 500 railroad companies -- including freight, inter-city passenger and commuter railroads -- are committed to offering military servicemen and women jobs.

"The railway industry clearly recognizes that hiring veterans is good for their companies, bottom line, and we are appreciative of their efforts to serve veterans as well as they have served the country," said Brad Cooper, executive director of Joining Forces, a White House initiative to provide opportunities and support to service members and their families.

Some 1,600 companies have hired more than 90,000 veterans and military spouses in the past year. These same companies have committed to hiring 170,000 in the coming years. The rail industry initiative was launched last year by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden.

Last month, LaHood and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki announced a new portal on the VA website that will help veterans find jobs in the transportation industry.

"We are proud to offer our heroes transitioning from military service the opportunity for another career in service to our country," Hamberger said. It's a "great mesh of their characteristics and leadership learned in the armed forces. It's a win-win."

Currently, more 15,000 veterans work for the Department of Transportation, including 3,000 with disabilities.

CSX Nearly Halfway to Meeting 2012 Veteran Hiring Pledge

Received the following via email.

CSX Nearly Halfway to Meeting 2012 Veteran Hiring Pledge

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - July 10, 2012 - CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) is nearly halfway to meeting its pledge to hire approximately 1,000 veterans this year, joining other railroads and rail suppliers in support of the White House Joining Forces initiative. Joining Forces is a national partnership organized by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to support America's military service members and their families.

"We are honored to join the nation's railroads in recognizing the contributions of our veterans and continuing to offer them fulfilling career opportunities," said Lisa Mancini, senior vice president and chief administrative officer, CSX. "The nearly one in five current CSX employees who are active or former service members bring unique skills, accountability and teamwork to their jobs, helping our railroads operate safely and efficiently."

CSX's announcement coincides with an industry-wide commitment, led by the American Association of Railroads (AAR), to hire more than 5,000 veterans in 2012. AAR president and CEO Edward R. Hamberger, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and White House Joining Forces executive director Captain Bradley Cooper emphasized at a press conference today that the nation's rail industry is well-positioned to provide career opportunities for men and women transitioning from active duty.

"The commitment from AAR and companies in the railway industry to veteran hiring is exactly the type of effort we hoped to see when the First Lady and Dr. Biden launched Joining Forces last year - companies stepping up to hire our nation's veterans," Cooper said. "The railway industry clearly recognizes that hiring veterans is good for their companies' bottom line and we are appreciative of their efforts to serve veterans as well as they have served this country."

CSX's long-standing commitment to supporting military service members has been recognized by numerous organizations, most recently by CivilianJobs.com as the Most Valuable Employer for Military. CSX is the only two-time recipient of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, and is regularly ranked among the top three companies on G.I. Jobs magazine's Top 100 Military Friendly Employers list.

The company supports employees who are National Guard or Reserve members by extending salary and benefits to employees called up to active duty. In addition, CSX serves more military facilities than any other major U.S. railroad, handling thousands of carloads annually for overseas deployments and training exercises.

For more information about Joining Forces, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces.

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. CSX's 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 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:
Carla Groleau
1 (877) TELL-CSX

CSX Corporation Declares Quarterly Dividend

Received the following via email.

CSX Corporation Declares Quarterly Dividend

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 11, 2012 - Earlier today, the Board of Directors of CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) approved a $0.14 per share quarterly cash dividend on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable on September 14, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 31, 2012.

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 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
877-835-5279

CSX Invests in Safety, Service by Completing $34 million Maintenance "Jamboree"

Received the following via email.

CSX Invests in Safety, Service by Completing $34 million Maintenance "Jamboree"

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - July 11, 2012 - Doing a year's worth of work in one week may sound like a challenge. Then throw in record heat and rugged terrain. None of that deterred the more than 900 CSX employees who worked safely and successfully to complete the company's 2012 Maintenance "Jamboree" on a section of our network in the Southeast earlier this month.

The "Jamboree," an annual event, compresses about a year's worth of track, signal and bridge maintenance and upgrades into roughly one week, reducing the impact on customers and communities.

"This critical work helps fulfill our commitment to investing in our customers and in the communities in which we operate," said Oscar Munoz, executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Our engineering forces are the best in the business, working safely to ensure that these lines are safe for our employees, in good repair to keep our customers' freight moving, and allow American businesses to compete in the global economy."

This year the company completed nearly $34 million of work during the "Jamboree," including maintenance and repair of tracks, signals and bridges in Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. These projects promote train safety, reliability and service, and benefit customers across CSX's network. They also help communities by getting all the necessary work done to maintain smooth crossings where roads and highways pass over the tracks.

This work, focused on key routes between Shelby, Ky., and Abbeville, S.C.; and from Bostic, N.C. and Elmwood Junction, S.C. to Newberry, S.C., is part of CSX's overall maintenance program and the company's commitment to invest $2.25 billion in its network infrastructure this year.

CSX crews completed the work on the July Fourth holiday, replacing or installing nearly 176,000 cross ties, 2,500 railcars of rock ballast, and 233,000 feet of mainline rail. The crews also installed an additional 59,000 feet of relay rail in the company's Erwin, Tennessee, yard, repaired or refurbished ten bridges and 255 road crossings, and completed nearly 650 track welds.

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. CSX's 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 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:
Carla Groleau
1 (877) TELL-CSX

CSX and Regional Partners Reduce Emissions to Help Bring Cleaner Air to Louisiana

Received the following via email.

CSX and Regional Partners Reduce Emissions to Help Bring Cleaner Air to Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS, La. - July 9, 2012 - CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Regional Planning Commission (RPC) for the New Orleans metropolitan area are contributing to better air quality in Louisiana through a jointly funded GenSet ultra-low emission locomotive. Housed at CSX's Gentilly Yard in New Orleans, the GenSet uses technology that reduces carbon emissions by 25 percent and nitrous oxide and particulate matter by more than 80 percent.

"This joint effort is a great example of public and private organizations working together to serve our communities," said Carl Gerhardstein, assistant vice president, environmental systems and sustainability, CSX. "CSX is committed to environmental stewardship, and this locomotive will contribute to our newly announced goal to reduce the company's greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 6 to 8 percent by 2020. That, in turn, helps to improve air quality in the communities we serve."

GenSet technology was incorporated in the retrofit of an existing locomotive used for switching rail cars at Gentilly Yard. The retrofit process replaces the traditional large, single diesel engine with three small diesel engines, allowing the locomotive to use only the energy it needs to pull its load. Monitoring technology takes the engines into "sleep" mode after a period of inactivity to conserve fuel and reduce emissions.

The GenSet retrofitting process was partially funded through a grant awarded to the Regional Planning Commission (RPC) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program as part of the 2005 Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA). CSX funded the remainder of the retrofit as part of the company's commitment to fuel efficiency and emissions reduction.

"Continuing to invest in sustainable technology is critical as we continue to rebuild the city of New Orleans," said Rebecca Otte, RPC's Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership Coordinator. "Supporting this initiative with CSX will improve air quality in our region and in turn serve the people of the New Orleans metropolitan area."

The Gentilly locomotive is one of three recently completed DERA-funded GenSets, and one of more than 30 GenSets in operation on CSX's network overall. Over the past decade, CSX has invested more than $1.75 billion to upgrade its locomotive fleet, helping the company to improve fuel efficiency by 90 percent since 1980. In 2011, CSX was the only railroad named to the Carbon Performance Leadership Index by the not-for-profit Carbon Disclosure Project.

More information about CSX's environmental commitment is available on the company's web site http://www.csx.com/.

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 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).

About the Regional Planning Commission
The Regional Planning Commission (RPC) for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Tammany Parishes, is a 26-member board of local elected officials and citizen members. This board is supported by a staff of 22 professionals with broad experience and education, in a variety of areas including urban and regional planning, community development, economics, engineering, government, history, law, landscape architecture, political science, sustainable development, transportation, geography and other disciplines.

About the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership
The Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership, housed at the RPC, is a U.S. Department of Energy-designated Clean Cities Coalition that brings together stakeholders in the public and private sectors to deploy alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction measures, fuel economy improvements, and emerging transportation technologies. For more information on the Clean Fuel Partnership visit: cleanfuelpartnership.org. For additional information on the Clean Cities program, visit: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/.


Contact:
Gary Sease
1 (877) TELL-CSX

Before it got too hot here in NJ!

(Train sightings on 7-7-12.)

I decided that getting up early on Saturday morning and trying to beat the forecasted temperature of 100 degrees was the only way to go on being trackside. My first stop would be Belle Mead (Trenton Line; MP 50) where there was some token relief from the sun provided by the shade trees. It wasn't much of a respite but it was better than standing out in the sun! Around 8:30, CSX 7600 and 7636 would bring its short consist of mixed freight east along with a breeze generated by its passing cars. 

From there I was headed over to NS's LEHL in Three Bridges (MP 48). After a twenty minute wait, the signal changed to indicate a eastbound train would be coming soon. It wasn't long before NS 212's headlight was seen in the distance approaching my location. After 212 passed, the heat and gnats were proving to be the deciding factors to call it a day for this trip.

Caboose Trains To Three Bridges!

Received the following via email.

Black River & Western Railroad

presents our

2012 Caboose Hops

Every Saturday this July we are operating caboose trains to Three Bridges. This is a very rare opportunity to ride a train made up entirely of cabooses all the way from Ringoes to Three Bridges and back!


On July 7, 14, 21, and 28, the caboose train will depart Ringoes Station at 6:30 PM for one round-trip to Three Bridges. Tickets are by reservation only, and seating is very limited. Seats are $15 per person (lap riders under age 3 ride free, no ticket required).

See you at the railroad!

Best regards,

Black River & Western Railroad

PS: Visit our website for information about more special events with tickets currently on sale, including Three Bridges Excursions, Photo Freights, the Eerie Limited, and the North Pole Express!

For information on upcoming trains and events Visit Our Website.

July 7, 14, 21, 28 Ride a train made up entirely of cabooses all the way from Ringoes to Three Bridges and back. Reservations required.

Buy Tickets Now

NS to host second-quarter 2012 earnings conference call

Received the following via email.

July 3, 2012

Norfolk Southern to host second-quarter 2012 earnings conference call

NORFOLK, VA. – Norfolk Southern Corporation will present its second-quarter 2012 earnings on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, at 4:30 p.m. EDT via teleconference and live Internet webcast. The company will issue its earnings results shortly after market close on July 24.

Those interested in participating via teleconference may dial 877-869-3847 several minutes prior to the call. An audio replay will be available until July 31, 2012, following the live broadcast, by dialing 877-660-6853, using PIN 2861, and replay number 397173.

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

For electronic notification of earnings 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 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)

Track NS (and other) heritage units

Following web site tracks movement of heritage locomotives for Amtrak, Union Pacific, and Norfolk Southern.

http://www.heritageunits.com/

Track NS heritage locomotives, report safety issues on upgraded Norfolk Southern app

Received the following via email.

July 2, 2012

Track heritage locomotives, report safety issues on upgraded Norfolk Southern app

NORFOLK, VA – Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) has released an upgrade to its mobile app featuring the ability to track and report sightings of the company’s 30th anniversary heritage locomotive fleet and to report safety issues to company police.

The latest version of the NS Corp app originally released last August now is available for iPhone, with a version for Droid phones to be available later. New buttons “Heritage” and “Protect NS” enhance the connection between users and the railroad.

“Heritage” gives users the ability to see where the NS heritage locomotives have been spotted and to report and post photographs of new sightings. To help celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, NS painted 20 new locomotives in the color schemes of some of its most prominent railroad predecessors. Release of the app upgrade coincides with a display of all 20 heritage locomotives July 3 and 4 at the North Carolina Transportation Museum at Spencer, N.C., after which the locomotives will return to freight service.

“Protect NS” enables reporting of safety issues on NS lines and the option of contacting NS police directly. It is a mobile extension of Norfolk Southern’s “Protect the Line” program launched in May whereby observers can report equipment maintenance issues, track obstructions, trespassing, vandalism, suspicious activity, and terrorism.

The upgraded version retains the original app’s functions. An enhanced, smoother moving time line highlights milestones reaching back to Norfolk Southern’s roots in the 1820s.

A “News” button gives users a choice of company news releases and real-time feeds of the NS Facebook and Twitter pages. “Stock” provides the latest available NS stock price and related industry financial news. “Gallery” offers photos and videos of locomotives, people, commodities, and scenery.

In “Trivia,” users can test their rail knowledge. The NS system map and other general company information are found under “About Us,” and “Contact Us” gives key NS telephone numbers.

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 (rwharris@nscorp.com)
(Investors) Michael Hostutler, 757-629-2861 (michael.hostutler@nscorp.com)

NS heritage locomotives at NC Transportation Museum

Here is a link to a local (Salisbury, NC) newspaper article about the display of the NS heritage locomotives at the NC Transportation Museum on July 3rd and 4th. 

http://www.salisburypost.com/News/070312-Transportation-Museum-Norfolk-Southern-heritage-locomotives-display-qcd

It certainly was hot on Saturday trackside...

(Train sightings on 6-30-12.)

... as the waiting along the Lehigh Line was proving to be challenge to wait it out under the shade of a few trees or head back home to the cool confines of an air-conditioned house. It wasn't that hot as NS 21M passed by Three Bridges with its consist of COFCs at 8:47. Another fifteen minutes would pass before the sound of NS 22V's horn blowing for its approach to the Rockafellow Mills grade crossing was heard. Leading this intermodal's colorful consist of COFCs was NS 7645 and NS 8976. After 22V's passage, the heat and humidity had sufficiently wilted me enough to call it a day!

 

CSX Urges Caution Around Tracks as July Fourth Holiday Gets Underway

Received the following via email.

CSX Urges Caution Around Tracks as July Fourth Holiday Gets Underway

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - July 3, 2012 - As the Fourth of July holiday approaches and summer travel continues, CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) and its employees remind neighbors, pedestrians and motorists to stay away from railroad tracks and to use caution at grade crossings.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, 427 people died in 2011 while trespassing on rail property. These tragedies could be avoided, and CSX conducts public safety outreach to raise awareness of potential hazards on tracks and at crossings.

"The summer months are a time to reconnect with family and friends, but we also see more people trespassing or taking unnecessary risks at crossings," said Cliff Stayton, Community Affairs and Safety director, CSX. "We encourage everyone to use common sense, never underestimate the dangers of trespassing, and to be alert while near railroad tracks."

To prevent injuries and save lives, CSX offers these safety reminders:

• . Always yield to trains. It can take more than a mile for a train to come to a complete stop;
• . Always be alert to passing trains. Trains do not always operate on predictable schedules; and
• . Never trespass on railroad property. It's illegal and dangerous.

CSX supports Operation Lifesaver, a national program that reaches more than one million people per year with safety messages.

In addition, CSX joined forces with a NASCAR race team and NCAA college basketball teams to promote the company's "Play it Safe" campaign. The campaign, which also uses billboards and online outreach, is a key program to reach males ages 18-34 years old and those most likely to be involved in  crossing or trespass incidents.

For more information on safe rail practices and CSX's commitment to serving the communities in which it operates, please visit http://www.beyondourrails.org/.

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. CSX's 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 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:

Carla Groleau

1 (877) TELL-CSX

All 20 NS heritage locomotives together

Following from RailPictures.Net

All 20 heritage units are gathered around the turntable at the Spencer Roundhouse, with 1030 holding down the table. For more information, visit http://www.nscorp.com/

Posted by BHBird on July 2, 2012
Folks- they are lined up by families. On the left- the IT, WAB, VGN and NKP were merged into the N&W. Going clickwise- the PRR and NYC formed the PC, which then with the Erie, Lackawanna, CNJ, RDG, LV (even kept the anthracite roads together), and Monongehela into Conrail. And the original NS, INT, CG, S&A into the Southern. A very knowledgeable and historic lineup. Bravo, NS!

Note: to see any photo on this blog at full size, simply click on the photo.  Then, user your browser's BACK button to return to the blog.

Also see our numerous posts over the past couple of months about the NS heritage locomotive program. 

Finally, I think the RDG and LV units should have been swapped.

Newly restored locomotive, Steamtown

Received the following via email from Richmond Bates.  Text and photo are his.

Steamtown recently completed the cosmetic restoration of Illinois Central 2-8-0 #790. Steamtown has used federal stimulus money to remove asbestos and cosmetically restore a number of its locomotives. IC #790 is the first of these to be completed. IC #790 was built by Alco in 1903 and is the oldest locomotive in the Steamtown collection.