Received the following via email. This concerns NS’ “Employee Appreciation Excursions” using steam locomotives. These trips could provide interesting opportunities for railfan photographers. Harrisburg Division would be closest to us.
might be an interesting month of August depending upon where this trip goes!
TO: ALL NORFOLK SOUTHERN EMPLOYEES
Norfolk Southern employees soon will enjoy opportunities to ride behind steam-powered excursion trains. NS’ “Employee Appreciation Excursions” will be operated on weekends this summer and fall in recognition of the corporation’s 30th anniversary. Each of the railroad’s 11 divisions will host several excursions.
The tentative schedule is:
June 2-3, Georgia Division
June 9-10, Piedmont Division
June 30-July 1, Virginia Division
July 14-15, Central Division
July 21-22, Lake Division
July 28-29, Dearborn Division
Aug. 4-5, Pocahontas Division
Aug. 11-12, Pittsburgh Division
Aug. 18-19, Harrisburg Division
Sept. 8-9, Illinois Division
Sept. 15-16, Alabama Division
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and the Fort Wayne Historical Society are providing the steam locomotives, equipment, and services to make these excursions memorable, fun, and of course, safe.
Southern Railway 630 will be used for the trips on the southern part of the system. No. 630 was built in 1904 by the American Locomotive Company at Richmond, Va., and is one of the three locomotives that will be used in NS’ 21st Century Steam program over the next four years.
Nickel Plate Road 765 will be used for the trips on the northern part of the system. No. 765 was built in 1944 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio, and is familiar to many railroaders, having been in
excursion service on and off since 1979.