Received the following via email.
July 28, 2009
Norfolk Southern Reports Second-Quarter 2009 Results
For second-quarter 2009:
· Railway operating revenues were $1.9 billion.
· Income from railway operations was $468 million.
· Net income was $247 million.
· Diluted earnings per share were $0.66.
· The railway operating ratio was 74.8 percent.
Financial Statements [pdf]
Quarterly Financial Review [pdf] Second Quarter 2009
Earnings Presentation Slides Second Quarter 2009
NORFOLK, VA. - For the second quarter of 2009, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) reported net income of $247 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, compared with $453 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2008.
"Second-quarter results obviously reflect the impact of the recession," said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. "However, the measures we are taking to control expenses while maintaining our industry-leading service levels have enabled us to post solid second-quarter results, while at the same time we continue to invest in projects that position us for the eventual economic recovery."
Second-quarter railway operating revenues were $1.9 billion, down 33 percent, compared with the second quarter of 2008, primarily the result of a 26 percent reduction in traffic volume and lower fuel-related revenues.
General merchandise revenues were $978 million, 33 percent lower compared with the same period last year. Coal revenues declined 34 percent to $511 million compared with second-quarter 2008 results. Intermodal revenues decreased 31 percent to $368 million compared with the second quarter of last year.
Railway operating expenses for the quarter were $1.4 billion, a decrease of 29 percent over the same period of 2008.
The railway operating ratio was 74.8 percent, compared with 71.1 percent during second-quarter 2008.
Norfolk Southern Corporation is a leading North American transportation provider. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Norfolk Southern Declares Quarterly Dividend
Received the following via email.
July 28, 2009
Norfolk Southern Declares Quarterly Dividend
NORFOLK, VA. - Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) today announced the regular quarterly dividend of 34 cents per share on its common stock, payable on Sept. 10, to stockholders of record on Aug. 7.
Since its inception in 1982, Norfolk Southern has paid dividends on its common stock for 108 consecutive quarters.
Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
July 28, 2009
Norfolk Southern Declares Quarterly Dividend
NORFOLK, VA. - Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) today announced the regular quarterly dividend of 34 cents per share on its common stock, payable on Sept. 10, to stockholders of record on Aug. 7.
Since its inception in 1982, Norfolk Southern has paid dividends on its common stock for 108 consecutive quarters.
Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Michigan trip Day 3
Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text and captions are his. Photos are by Nate Haydt.
Spent the day tracking ALCO switchers across Ohio. The AC&J was high on the list....for some reason, it had always escaped my notice. Operations usually start at 0500 and are over by 0900....hmm, need to go back during the longest day!! The Toledo Lake Erie & Western still has all its Alco's, but condition of both track and equipment has really deteriorated since the last time I visited them.Tomorrow....Lake States!!!
Kermit Geary, JR
Nathan Haydt
Spent the day tracking ALCO switchers across Ohio. The AC&J was high on the list....for some reason, it had always escaped my notice. Operations usually start at 0500 and are over by 0900....hmm, need to go back during the longest day!! The Toledo Lake Erie & Western still has all its Alco's, but condition of both track and equipment has really deteriorated since the last time I visited them.Tomorrow....Lake States!!!
Kermit Geary, JR
Nathan Haydt
PC 9752 at Grand Rapids, OH on TLEW
+at+Jefferson,+OH_7-23-09.jpg)
AC&J 107 (ex FP&E, nee NKP) at Jefferson, OH
AC&J 7371 at Jefferson, OH
Day Two of Michigan Trip
Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text and captions are his. Photos are by Adam Christman.
Day two of our excursion to Michigan found us tracking down a few Pennsylvania Shortlines. Unfortunately the digital SD card corrupted between the time I removed it from the camera and inserted it the computer.
NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thankfully Adam has graciously allowed me to send out a few of his shots from the day, Thank You Adam!!!
Kermit Geary, JR
Adam Christman
Nathan Haydt
Jon Eau Claire
WNYP 421 leaving Oil City, PA
Day two of our excursion to Michigan found us tracking down a few Pennsylvania Shortlines. Unfortunately the digital SD card corrupted between the time I removed it from the camera and inserted it the computer.
NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thankfully Adam has graciously allowed me to send out a few of his shots from the day, Thank You Adam!!!
Kermit Geary, JR
Adam Christman
Nathan Haydt
Jon Eau Claire
WNYP 421 leaving Oil City, PA 
B&P 452 leads Northbound train out of DuBois, PA
LVRR 238 at Avis, PA
LVRR 5510 - 5514 at Faxon, PA
Friday, July 24, 2009
Weekly Rail Carloading Report - Week 28, 2009
There is an interesting report available on the web that is "A Weekly Report of North American Rail Freight Traffic by Major Railroad and Commodity." It is currently showing data for week 28 of 2009.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
Note: This web site has new tables and graphs every Thursday. So, if I am late or miss a week with this blog posting, you can check for new data on Thursdays.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Middletown & Hummelstown Photo Freight
Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text is his, photos are by Nate Haydt.
Greetings All: Spent a WONDERFUL Sunday with good friends and a GREAT ALCO S-6....WM 151 on the Middletown & Hummelstown RR. This was the superb photo freight charter by Brian Saul of Brian's Model Train Shop of Myerstown, PA. Enjoy these photos of the event taken by my good friend, Nate Haydt.....I was shooting Kodachrome!!!
+by+Nate+Haydt_7-19-09.jpg)
MIDH 151 crossing Swatara Creek (Westbound)
Greetings All: Spent a WONDERFUL Sunday with good friends and a GREAT ALCO S-6....WM 151 on the Middletown & Hummelstown RR. This was the superb photo freight charter by Brian Saul of Brian's Model Train Shop of Myerstown, PA. Enjoy these photos of the event taken by my good friend, Nate Haydt.....I was shooting Kodachrome!!!
+by+Nate+Haydt_7-19-09.jpg)
MIDH 151 crossing Swatara Creek (Westbound) 
Amtrak 934 passing Middletown & Hummelstown 151 at Middletown, PA
MIDH 151 at Clifton, PA
WM 151 at Horse Thief Cave, PA
WM 151 crossing Swatara Creek, PA
MIDH 151 passes Kuppy's Diner in Middletown, PA
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
This is one long load!
(Train sightings on 7-19-09.)
CSX 892 is seen heading south down the Trenton Line past former Reading station in Belle Mead (NJ) around 9:15 on Sunday (7-18-09). It is carrying a 348 foot long LNG heat exchanger that is bound for Africa. This particular heat exchanger might be the largest one Air Products has built. From the Air Products plant in Pennsylvania where these are manufactured, the trip to Manville over mainly the Lehigh Line has taken five days due to clearance issues with this heat exchanger's size. Motive power consisted of two GP38-2s (PRR 5296, ex-CR 8102 and NS 5287, ex-CR 5287). Note the run down condition of the Belle Mead station, a sorry state considering how ornate it once was.
CSX 892 is seen heading south down the Trenton Line past former Reading station in Belle Mead (NJ) around 9:15 on Sunday (7-18-09). It is carrying a 348 foot long LNG heat exchanger that is bound for Africa. This particular heat exchanger might be the largest one Air Products has built. From the Air Products plant in Pennsylvania where these are manufactured, the trip to Manville over mainly the Lehigh Line has taken five days due to clearance issues with this heat exchanger's size. Motive power consisted of two GP38-2s (PRR 5296, ex-CR 8102 and NS 5287, ex-CR 5287). Note the run down condition of the Belle Mead station, a sorry state considering how ornate it once was.
NS CEO - Rail Can Help Relieve Highway Congestion Crisis
Received the following via email.
July 20, 2009
Rail Can Help Relieve Highway Congestion Crisis, Norfolk Southern CEO Tells Nation's Governors
NORFOLK, VA - Wick Moorman, CEO of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), called on the nation's governors Saturday to consider railroads as "a vital part of the solution to our nation's transportation crisis."
Addressing the National Governors Association at Biloxi, Miss., Moorman said "railroads offer significant economic and environmental benefits while helping relieve highway congestion - which is fast becoming public enemy number one."
"Our nation's transportation network is a complex, interdependent system that demands our combined creative efforts to operate it most efficiently," Moorman said. "Our experience at Norfolk Southern has shown that by working together in public-private partnerships, we can achieve far more in far less time and with far greater public benefits than any of us can by working alone."
Moorman cited two rail routes - the Heartland Corridor between the Port of Virginia and Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago, and the Crescent Corridor linking New Jersey to New Orleans and Memphis, Tenn. - as examples of how public-private partnerships "can create additional capacity in our rail transportation network, with public benefits of jobs creation, less highway congestion, lower environmental emissions, and fuel savings." He said the Crescent Corridor project alone will result in 41,000 "green" jobs over the next decade and move more than a million trucks annually off the highways onto rail, saving more than 150 million gallons of fuel every year and reducing carbon emissions by nearly two million tons per year.
"It's clear we must do something," Moorman said. "Freight volumes in this country are projected to grow 88 percent by 2035 alone. To handle that freight, we must improve our national transportation infrastructure."
Norfolk Southern Corporation is a leading North American transportation provider. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
July 20, 2009
Rail Can Help Relieve Highway Congestion Crisis, Norfolk Southern CEO Tells Nation's Governors
NORFOLK, VA - Wick Moorman, CEO of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), called on the nation's governors Saturday to consider railroads as "a vital part of the solution to our nation's transportation crisis."
Addressing the National Governors Association at Biloxi, Miss., Moorman said "railroads offer significant economic and environmental benefits while helping relieve highway congestion - which is fast becoming public enemy number one."
"Our nation's transportation network is a complex, interdependent system that demands our combined creative efforts to operate it most efficiently," Moorman said. "Our experience at Norfolk Southern has shown that by working together in public-private partnerships, we can achieve far more in far less time and with far greater public benefits than any of us can by working alone."
Moorman cited two rail routes - the Heartland Corridor between the Port of Virginia and Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago, and the Crescent Corridor linking New Jersey to New Orleans and Memphis, Tenn. - as examples of how public-private partnerships "can create additional capacity in our rail transportation network, with public benefits of jobs creation, less highway congestion, lower environmental emissions, and fuel savings." He said the Crescent Corridor project alone will result in 41,000 "green" jobs over the next decade and move more than a million trucks annually off the highways onto rail, saving more than 150 million gallons of fuel every year and reducing carbon emissions by nearly two million tons per year.
"It's clear we must do something," Moorman said. "Freight volumes in this country are projected to grow 88 percent by 2035 alone. To handle that freight, we must improve our national transportation infrastructure."
Norfolk Southern Corporation is a leading North American transportation provider. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
Monday, July 20, 2009
New Norfolk Southern Intermodal Terminal in Tennessee
Received the following via email.
July 16, 2009
Norfolk Southern Selects Fayette County Site for New Memphis Regional Intermodal Terminal, Supporting Crescent Corridor Initiative
NORFOLK, VA. - Norfolk Southern announced today that it will construct a new intermodal terminal in Rossville, Tenn., in Fayette County, to serve the Memphis region, as part of the railroad's Crescent Corridor initiative to establish a high-speed intermodal rail route between the Mid-South and Gulf Coast and the Northeast. The $129 million facility, in which freight is transferred between truck and rail, will occupy a 570-acre site and is expected to open in January 2012.
Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor initiative is a multistate network of infrastructure improvements and other facilities intended to enhance Norfolk Southern's 2,500-mile rail network that supports the supply chain from the Gulf Coast, Birmingham and Memphis to Philadelphia and the New York metropolitan area and enable it to handle more freight traffic faster and more reliably. The railroad is in the process of implementing Corridor projects, including straightening curves, adding passing tracks, improving signal systems, and building new terminals.
Altogether, nearly $2.5 billion in Crescent Corridor projects have been identified, and based on the public benefits that stand to be derived in the form of highway congestion relief, NS plans to implement the Crescent Corridor initiative through a series of public-private partnerships. If and when the Crescent Corridor initiative is fully implemented, it is anticipated that more than one million truckloads of freight will be absorbed from the highways to the rails annually, saving the U.S. more than 170 million gallons of fuel per year.
"Because of its strategic location and growing intermodal demands in the South, the Memphis regional terminal will be an anchor for the Crescent Corridor, and the new facility will help make possible truck-competitive freight transportation between the South and major Northeast markets," said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. "We commend Gov. Phil Bredesen and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development for their collective vision and partnership in recognizing the economic development opportunities and job growth potential this project brings to Tennessee."
Annual benefits to Tennessee as a result of the Crescent Corridor are expected to include more than half a million trucks diverted to rail, nearly 27 million gallons of fuel saved, carbon dioxide reductions of almost 300,000 tons, close to $17 million in annual congestion savings, avoidance of an estimated $23 million in accident costs, and the creation of more than 5,100 jobs.
"The Greater Memphis Region is home to the world's largest cargo airport and one of the nation's biggest cargo river ports. The Crescent Corridor and the Memphis intermodal terminal will expand the role of freight rail, further enhancing our competitiveness and spurring economic growth," said Gov. Bredesen. "I appreciate all those who have worked in partnership to bring the benefits of this project to Fayette County, the Greater Memphis Region and the state of Tennessee."
The Memphis terminal also will represent opportunities for economic development and job growth for Marshall County, Miss., and the State of Mississippi. Annual benefits to Mississippi as a result of the Crescent Corridor are expected to include more than half a million trucks diverted to rail, 8.5 million gallons of fuel saved, carbon dioxide reductions of 94,000 tons, close to $6 million in annual congestion savings, avoidance of more than $7 million in accident costs, and the creation of more than 1,000 jobs.
"Mississippi is pleased to participate in this five-state effort, through the Crescent Corridor, to improve the national freight transportation network, and I am enthusiastic about the economic development opportunities it will bring," said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. "Working together in a partnership with Norfolk Southern, we are laying the groundwork for thousands of new jobs in logistics at a critical time for the American economy."
NS conducted an extensive site search of the Memphis region for a suitable location. Site selection was given careful and exhaustive consideration to minimize impacts on surrounding communities, roadway facilities, and the environment. For commercial purposes, it was imperative that the site be located along the Norfolk Southern main line east of Memphis.
The Memphis regional intermodal facility will have the capacity to handle more than 327,000 containers and trailers annually. There will be a paved area to park 2,177 trailers and containers mounted on chassis. The terminal will utilize the latest in gate and terminal automation technology, which will reduce the waiting time to get into the terminal, thereby reducing emissions. Four trains will serve the terminal daily. Further, the location selected will allow for adjacent economic development opportunities, including the development by others of an integrated logistics park and possible industrial park. This would add significant employment opportunities to Fayette County, the Memphis region, and Marshall County.
Rail intermodal traffic uses one-third of the fuel required by long-haul trucks on the highway and greatly reduces congestion caused by this truck traffic. These reductions can result in significantly reduced emissions and highway maintenance costs, helping the environment and the burden on state budgets.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is a leading North American transportation provider. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Any statements contained in this news release that are not related to historical facts are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties (noted in the Norfolk Southern's filings with the SEC), which could cause actual results to differ materially.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Susan Terpay 757-823-5204 susan.terpay@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
July 16, 2009
Norfolk Southern Selects Fayette County Site for New Memphis Regional Intermodal Terminal, Supporting Crescent Corridor Initiative
NORFOLK, VA. - Norfolk Southern announced today that it will construct a new intermodal terminal in Rossville, Tenn., in Fayette County, to serve the Memphis region, as part of the railroad's Crescent Corridor initiative to establish a high-speed intermodal rail route between the Mid-South and Gulf Coast and the Northeast. The $129 million facility, in which freight is transferred between truck and rail, will occupy a 570-acre site and is expected to open in January 2012.
Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor initiative is a multistate network of infrastructure improvements and other facilities intended to enhance Norfolk Southern's 2,500-mile rail network that supports the supply chain from the Gulf Coast, Birmingham and Memphis to Philadelphia and the New York metropolitan area and enable it to handle more freight traffic faster and more reliably. The railroad is in the process of implementing Corridor projects, including straightening curves, adding passing tracks, improving signal systems, and building new terminals.
Altogether, nearly $2.5 billion in Crescent Corridor projects have been identified, and based on the public benefits that stand to be derived in the form of highway congestion relief, NS plans to implement the Crescent Corridor initiative through a series of public-private partnerships. If and when the Crescent Corridor initiative is fully implemented, it is anticipated that more than one million truckloads of freight will be absorbed from the highways to the rails annually, saving the U.S. more than 170 million gallons of fuel per year.
"Because of its strategic location and growing intermodal demands in the South, the Memphis regional terminal will be an anchor for the Crescent Corridor, and the new facility will help make possible truck-competitive freight transportation between the South and major Northeast markets," said Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman. "We commend Gov. Phil Bredesen and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development for their collective vision and partnership in recognizing the economic development opportunities and job growth potential this project brings to Tennessee."
Annual benefits to Tennessee as a result of the Crescent Corridor are expected to include more than half a million trucks diverted to rail, nearly 27 million gallons of fuel saved, carbon dioxide reductions of almost 300,000 tons, close to $17 million in annual congestion savings, avoidance of an estimated $23 million in accident costs, and the creation of more than 5,100 jobs.
"The Greater Memphis Region is home to the world's largest cargo airport and one of the nation's biggest cargo river ports. The Crescent Corridor and the Memphis intermodal terminal will expand the role of freight rail, further enhancing our competitiveness and spurring economic growth," said Gov. Bredesen. "I appreciate all those who have worked in partnership to bring the benefits of this project to Fayette County, the Greater Memphis Region and the state of Tennessee."
The Memphis terminal also will represent opportunities for economic development and job growth for Marshall County, Miss., and the State of Mississippi. Annual benefits to Mississippi as a result of the Crescent Corridor are expected to include more than half a million trucks diverted to rail, 8.5 million gallons of fuel saved, carbon dioxide reductions of 94,000 tons, close to $6 million in annual congestion savings, avoidance of more than $7 million in accident costs, and the creation of more than 1,000 jobs.
"Mississippi is pleased to participate in this five-state effort, through the Crescent Corridor, to improve the national freight transportation network, and I am enthusiastic about the economic development opportunities it will bring," said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. "Working together in a partnership with Norfolk Southern, we are laying the groundwork for thousands of new jobs in logistics at a critical time for the American economy."
NS conducted an extensive site search of the Memphis region for a suitable location. Site selection was given careful and exhaustive consideration to minimize impacts on surrounding communities, roadway facilities, and the environment. For commercial purposes, it was imperative that the site be located along the Norfolk Southern main line east of Memphis.
The Memphis regional intermodal facility will have the capacity to handle more than 327,000 containers and trailers annually. There will be a paved area to park 2,177 trailers and containers mounted on chassis. The terminal will utilize the latest in gate and terminal automation technology, which will reduce the waiting time to get into the terminal, thereby reducing emissions. Four trains will serve the terminal daily. Further, the location selected will allow for adjacent economic development opportunities, including the development by others of an integrated logistics park and possible industrial park. This would add significant employment opportunities to Fayette County, the Memphis region, and Marshall County.
Rail intermodal traffic uses one-third of the fuel required by long-haul trucks on the highway and greatly reduces congestion caused by this truck traffic. These reductions can result in significantly reduced emissions and highway maintenance costs, helping the environment and the burden on state budgets.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is a leading North American transportation provider. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Any statements contained in this news release that are not related to historical facts are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties (noted in the Norfolk Southern's filings with the SEC), which could cause actual results to differ materially.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Susan Terpay 757-823-5204 susan.terpay@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
Friday, July 17, 2009
Weekly Rail Carloading Report - Week 27, 2009
There is an interesting report available on the web that is "A Weekly Report of North American Rail Freight Traffic by Major Railroad and Commodity." It is currently showing data for week 27 of 2009.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
Note: This web site has new tables and graphs every Thursday. So, if I am late or miss a week with this blog posting, you can check for new data on Thursdays.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
NS and UP New Refrigerated Service Los Angles to Atlanta
Received the following via email.
July 13, 2009
Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific Offer Refrigerated Trailer Shippers the Rail Industry's Fastest Intermodal Delivery from Los Angeles to Atlanta with New Expedited Service
NORFOLK, VA. AND OMAHA, NE., - Norfolk Southern Railway and Union Pacific Railroad today announced they have launched a new expedited intermodal service specifically designed for refrigerated trailer shippers between Los Angeles and Atlanta. This new service gives customers the option to have their refrigeration units serviced during the stop in El Paso, Texas, significantly reducing the risk of protective service failure during transit. New rail customers will find this premier service a seamless shift from over-the-road transportation by providing truck-like speed (more than 500 miles per day) and reliability.
This is the industry's fastest intermodal service between Los Angeles and Atlanta.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UPN) owns one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers and provides Americans with a fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly and safe mode of freight transportation. Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad emphasizes excellent customer service and offers competitive routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Robin Chapman 757-629-2713 robin.chapman@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
Union Pacific contacts
Media Tom Lange 402-544-3560 tomlange@up.com
For customer inquiries, please contact your Norfolk Southern or Union Pacific sales representative.
July 13, 2009
Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific Offer Refrigerated Trailer Shippers the Rail Industry's Fastest Intermodal Delivery from Los Angeles to Atlanta with New Expedited Service
NORFOLK, VA. AND OMAHA, NE., - Norfolk Southern Railway and Union Pacific Railroad today announced they have launched a new expedited intermodal service specifically designed for refrigerated trailer shippers between Los Angeles and Atlanta. This new service gives customers the option to have their refrigeration units serviced during the stop in El Paso, Texas, significantly reducing the risk of protective service failure during transit. New rail customers will find this premier service a seamless shift from over-the-road transportation by providing truck-like speed (more than 500 miles per day) and reliability.
This is the industry's fastest intermodal service between Los Angeles and Atlanta.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UPN) owns one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers and provides Americans with a fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly and safe mode of freight transportation. Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad emphasizes excellent customer service and offers competitive routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Robin Chapman 757-629-2713 robin.chapman@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
Union Pacific contacts
Media Tom Lange 402-544-3560 tomlange@up.com
For customer inquiries, please contact your Norfolk Southern or Union Pacific sales representative.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Photo freight on Middletown & Hummelstown RR
Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr.
Just a reminder that there will be a photo charter on the Middletown & Hummelstown RR using their recently restored Western Maryland S-6 and vintage freight cars on Sunday July 19th, 2009. Train leaves Middletown, PA depot at 0800 and will feature street running as well as rural railroading at its finest.
Fare is $45.00.
You will be required to sign a release prior to boarding the train.
For more info and tickets contact:
http://www.briansmodeltrains.com
or
Brian Saul briansmodeltrains@yahoo.com
Send ticket requests to:
Brian's Model Trains
109 West Main Street
Myerstown PA 17067
Space is limited to 50 people...ticket sales have been brisk, order yours TODAY!!!
Just a reminder that there will be a photo charter on the Middletown & Hummelstown RR using their recently restored Western Maryland S-6 and vintage freight cars on Sunday July 19th, 2009. Train leaves Middletown, PA depot at 0800 and will feature street running as well as rural railroading at its finest.
Fare is $45.00.
You will be required to sign a release prior to boarding the train.
For more info and tickets contact:
http://www.briansmodeltrains.com
or
Brian Saul briansmodeltrains@yahoo.com
Send ticket requests to:
Brian's Model Trains
109 West Main Street
Myerstown PA 17067
Space is limited to 50 people...ticket sales have been brisk, order yours TODAY!!!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Norfolk Southern Names Julian To Lead Safety Efforts
Received the following via email.
July 6, 2009
Norfolk Southern Names Julian To Lead Safety Efforts
NORFOLK, VA. - Norfolk Southern Corporation has named David F. Julian vice president safety and environmental, effective July 1, with office in Roanoke, Va. He reports to Mark D. Manion, executive vice president operations.
NS' safety and environmental department is responsible for employee safety training and awareness, grade crossing safety and trespassing abatement programs, and environmental protection, including hazardous materials safety and industrial hygiene.
Julian succeeds Charles J. Wehrmeister, who retired from NS' lead safety position after a 40-year career with Norfolk Southern.
Julian joined NS in 1971 in the mechanical department and later served in a variety of marketing positions, including district sales manager, regional sales manager, director automotive, and group vice president, before being named in 2005 to his most recent position, president automotive and supply chain services. Julian holds a management degree from Jacksonville University and attended the University of South Alabama Graduate School of Business.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
July 6, 2009
Norfolk Southern Names Julian To Lead Safety Efforts
NORFOLK, VA. - Norfolk Southern Corporation has named David F. Julian vice president safety and environmental, effective July 1, with office in Roanoke, Va. He reports to Mark D. Manion, executive vice president operations.
NS' safety and environmental department is responsible for employee safety training and awareness, grade crossing safety and trespassing abatement programs, and environmental protection, including hazardous materials safety and industrial hygiene.
Julian succeeds Charles J. Wehrmeister, who retired from NS' lead safety position after a 40-year career with Norfolk Southern.
Julian joined NS in 1971 in the mechanical department and later served in a variety of marketing positions, including district sales manager, regional sales manager, director automotive, and group vice president, before being named in 2005 to his most recent position, president automotive and supply chain services. Julian holds a management degree from Jacksonville University and attended the University of South Alabama Graduate School of Business.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
Friday, July 10, 2009
Weekly Rail Carloading Report - Week 26, 2009
There is an interesting report available on the web that is "A Weekly Report of North American Rail Freight Traffic by Major Railroad and Commodity." It is currently showing data for week 26 of 2009.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
Note: This web site has new tables and graphs every Thursday. So, if I am late or miss a week with this blog posting, you can check for new data on Thursdays.
Train versus Tornado
Received the following via email. Link to video follows text.
A spectacular meteorological event was recorded earlier this year (Jan. 7, 2008) by an automatic video camera mounted inside the cab of a locomotive hustling across Illinois. These forward-facing cameras are installed to document information through a locomotive's front windshield of grade-crossing and train/pedestrian accidents. This locomotive (and thus its camera) was, however, facing backwards, as it was the 'trailing' engine of a multiple-unit locomotive consist. The gray Union Pacific covered hopper car visible from the beginning and through most of the clip is the first car behind the engines on a long manifest freight. The passing scenery barely visible along the periphery of the camera's view suggests to my eyes that this train was making perhaps between 40 and 50 m.p.h. at the time it was struck by the hand of Mother Nature.
The tornado that intercepted the train apparently lifted and threw several cars right out of the front of the train, just behind the first car. As the rear of that first car is then dragged off the rails by derailing equipment behind it, the trailing freight cars can be seen independently sliding on their sides down the embankment at left. Lots of sparks! Also note that the track structure behind the engines, where all of those cars had just derailed, remained intact! The integrity of the track is, however, about to be compromised, big time.
The engines grind to a fairly abrupt halt on a bridge: their air brakes went into emergency application when the compressed air brake line between the train's cars was broken in the initial derailment. They had only their own mass to stop. The rest of the train's automatic brakes are still engaging and trying to soak the momentum out of many more thousands of tons of moving steel and lading. This is why, out of the mists like some terrifying specter, being shoved ahead at a pretty high rate by the inertia of the rest of the train still in motion behind it, comes a white -- and derailed -- tank car loaded with Ethylene Oxide, bouncing along the track centerline, throwing sparks of molten metal as freight car steel grinds hard in a most unnatural manner along the steel rails. Had the tank car been breached, these sparks would almost certainly have been a (literally!) "sure-fire" source of ignition.
The careening tank car collides with that derailed U.P. covered hopper still coupled to the rear locomotive (tight-lock couplers DO work), which then unceremoniously flips off the bridge. The still-moving tank car immediately glances off the back of the locomotive and veers over into the vacant area of the bridge spans where there had once been a second track between the girders. A Hi-Cube Norfolk Southern box car that had been coupled behind the tank car then does a hyper-dramatic "high-speed/slow-motion" pirouette around the end of the now-stopped tank car. Just before the whole caravan of angry, twisted steel finally comes to a tangled, crumpled halt, you can see the end of one last Hi-Cube car being launched and plunging down the embankment and into the gully at left, rolling on its side as it dissipates the last of its stored kinetic energy. The physics at work here are staggering, when you consider that the cars, themselves, weight 30-40 tons when empty, and may be carrying up to 100 tons of cargo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azV5bC2br-Q
A spectacular meteorological event was recorded earlier this year (Jan. 7, 2008) by an automatic video camera mounted inside the cab of a locomotive hustling across Illinois. These forward-facing cameras are installed to document information through a locomotive's front windshield of grade-crossing and train/pedestrian accidents. This locomotive (and thus its camera) was, however, facing backwards, as it was the 'trailing' engine of a multiple-unit locomotive consist. The gray Union Pacific covered hopper car visible from the beginning and through most of the clip is the first car behind the engines on a long manifest freight. The passing scenery barely visible along the periphery of the camera's view suggests to my eyes that this train was making perhaps between 40 and 50 m.p.h. at the time it was struck by the hand of Mother Nature.
The tornado that intercepted the train apparently lifted and threw several cars right out of the front of the train, just behind the first car. As the rear of that first car is then dragged off the rails by derailing equipment behind it, the trailing freight cars can be seen independently sliding on their sides down the embankment at left. Lots of sparks! Also note that the track structure behind the engines, where all of those cars had just derailed, remained intact! The integrity of the track is, however, about to be compromised, big time.
The engines grind to a fairly abrupt halt on a bridge: their air brakes went into emergency application when the compressed air brake line between the train's cars was broken in the initial derailment. They had only their own mass to stop. The rest of the train's automatic brakes are still engaging and trying to soak the momentum out of many more thousands of tons of moving steel and lading. This is why, out of the mists like some terrifying specter, being shoved ahead at a pretty high rate by the inertia of the rest of the train still in motion behind it, comes a white -- and derailed -- tank car loaded with Ethylene Oxide, bouncing along the track centerline, throwing sparks of molten metal as freight car steel grinds hard in a most unnatural manner along the steel rails. Had the tank car been breached, these sparks would almost certainly have been a (literally!) "sure-fire" source of ignition.
The careening tank car collides with that derailed U.P. covered hopper still coupled to the rear locomotive (tight-lock couplers DO work), which then unceremoniously flips off the bridge. The still-moving tank car immediately glances off the back of the locomotive and veers over into the vacant area of the bridge spans where there had once been a second track between the girders. A Hi-Cube Norfolk Southern box car that had been coupled behind the tank car then does a hyper-dramatic "high-speed/slow-motion" pirouette around the end of the now-stopped tank car. Just before the whole caravan of angry, twisted steel finally comes to a tangled, crumpled halt, you can see the end of one last Hi-Cube car being launched and plunging down the embankment and into the gully at left, rolling on its side as it dissipates the last of its stored kinetic energy. The physics at work here are staggering, when you consider that the cars, themselves, weight 30-40 tons when empty, and may be carrying up to 100 tons of cargo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azV5bC2br-Q
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
A quiet July 4th holiday weekend is ending...
(Train sightings on 7-3 & 4-09.)
...with the only real noise being caused by the neighborhood kids setting off fireworks. Went trackside on Friday and Saturday but there wasn't much to see. On Friday, NS 64J was coming east through Flemington Junction with its consist of empty muncipal waste containers for refills.
...with the only real noise being caused by the neighborhood kids setting off fireworks. Went trackside on Friday and Saturday but there wasn't much to see. On Friday, NS 64J was coming east through Flemington Junction with its consist of empty muncipal waste containers for refills.
On Saturday, after reading about the freight cars being stored on former CNJ tracks in Asbury, I decided to take a trip and check it out for myself. It is quite an unusual sight and quite indicative of the economic hard times being experienced not only by this country but around the world. There were cars of every type-gondolas, coil cars, spine cars, etc.that could be seen from the Vliet Farm Road grade crossing in Asbury. Hopefully, the economy will soon start to get better and these cars will once again be back in revenue service.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Disney World monorail crash kills driver
This happened early (2 AM) Sunday morning, 7-5-09. Story and photo on CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/05/u.s.disney.monorail/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/05/u.s.disney.monorail/index.html
R&N's 4th of July celebration trip
Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, photos, and captions are his.
Vacation started out on a good note...the R&N ran an OCS from Reading to Jim Thorpe on 7/3/09 and then used the 425 on the regularly scheduled Lehigh Gorge trips on July 4th....providing much fireworks as she run up the Gorge!!!
R&N 425 passes under PRR Schuykill Branch in Kernsville, PA
Vacation started out on a good note...the R&N ran an OCS from Reading to Jim Thorpe on 7/3/09 and then used the 425 on the regularly scheduled Lehigh Gorge trips on July 4th....providing much fireworks as she run up the Gorge!!!
R&N 425 passes under PRR Schuykill Branch in Kernsville, PA 
R&N 425 pases CNJ 56 at Jim Thorpe, PA
R&N 425 along 'the Wall' in the Lehigh River Gorge, PA
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Weekly Rail Carloading Report - Week 25, 2009
There is an interesting report available on the web that is "A Weekly Report of North American Rail Freight Traffic by Major Railroad and Commodity." It is currently showing data for week 25 of 2009.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
Note: This web site has new tables and graphs every Thursday. So, if I am late or miss a week with this blog posting, you can check for new data on Thursdays.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
There is an old adage...
(Train sightings on 6-28-09.)
...that says when a person is trackside that "ten minutes after you depart, that is when a train will appear." Such was the case on my Sunday morning trip up to the Lansdown Road grade crossing. My goal was to get a shot of the solar powered friction management system NS had installed there as an eastbound train was passing by. With good sunlight this morning, I decided to see if I could accomplish that goal. The first train to come through at 9:06 was NS 22V, Not a bad shot but not what I was hoping for. About thirty-five minutes later, NS 18G came through around 9:42.
...that says when a person is trackside that "ten minutes after you depart, that is when a train will appear." Such was the case on my Sunday morning trip up to the Lansdown Road grade crossing. My goal was to get a shot of the solar powered friction management system NS had installed there as an eastbound train was passing by. With good sunlight this morning, I decided to see if I could accomplish that goal. The first train to come through at 9:06 was NS 22V, Not a bad shot but not what I was hoping for. About thirty-five minutes later, NS 18G came through around 9:42.
Okay, each scene was getting better. At 11 o'clock, with no activity on the scanner, I decided to call it a morning and head for home. Wouldn't you know it, driving home on Route 31, the scanner came alive! It was NS 212 coming east. Since it was too late to turn around and drive back. I opted to catch it at Stanton Station (which was shaded in!) to see it come through with a ex-CR diese l as its leader. Ahhh... if only I had waited ten minutes more, that would have been the shot I was hoping for at Lansdown Road.
Norfolk Southern Quarterly Earnings Conference Call - 2nd quarter 2009
Received the following via email.
Norfolk Southern Quarterly Earnings Conference Call
We cordially invite you to join us on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at 9 a.m. ET to review our second-quarter results. We expect to issue earnings results after market close on Tuesday, July 28, 2009.
For those interested in participating, we will broadcast via teleconference that will be available by dialing U.S. 877-869-3847 or International 201-689-8261 several minutes prior to the start of the call. At the conclusion of the event, you may listen to an audio replay which will be available until August 5, 2009. The replay numbers are U.S. 877-660-6853 or International 201-612-7415, and the PIN 2861 and access code is 324409 for both numbers.
In conjunction with the call, a live webcast will be accessible and presentation materials will be posted on the company's Web site at www.nscorp.com under the Investors section. Following the earnings call, an Internet replay of the presentation will be archived on the company's Web site. In addition, the replay will be available for download to a portable audio player or computer as a MP3 - or podcast - file. Both the replay and MP3 file can be found at www.nscorp.com in the Investors section.
For electronic notification of future earnings events, we invite you to subscribe to NSInvest, Norfolk Southern's e-mail distribution list for news releases on earnings and issues pertaining to the financial performance of Norfolk Southern. To subscribe, please follow directions on our website under the Investors section.
Sincerely,
Leanne D. Marilley
Director Investor Relations
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Norfolk Southern Quarterly Earnings Conference Call
We cordially invite you to join us on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at 9 a.m. ET to review our second-quarter results. We expect to issue earnings results after market close on Tuesday, July 28, 2009.
For those interested in participating, we will broadcast via teleconference that will be available by dialing U.S. 877-869-3847 or International 201-689-8261 several minutes prior to the start of the call. At the conclusion of the event, you may listen to an audio replay which will be available until August 5, 2009. The replay numbers are U.S. 877-660-6853 or International 201-612-7415, and the PIN 2861 and access code is 324409 for both numbers.
In conjunction with the call, a live webcast will be accessible and presentation materials will be posted on the company's Web site at www.nscorp.com under the Investors section. Following the earnings call, an Internet replay of the presentation will be archived on the company's Web site. In addition, the replay will be available for download to a portable audio player or computer as a MP3 - or podcast - file. Both the replay and MP3 file can be found at www.nscorp.com in the Investors section.
For electronic notification of future earnings events, we invite you to subscribe to NSInvest, Norfolk Southern's e-mail distribution list for news releases on earnings and issues pertaining to the financial performance of Norfolk Southern. To subscribe, please follow directions on our website under the Investors section.
Sincerely,
Leanne D. Marilley
Director Investor Relations
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
It's been a while...
(Train sightings on 6-27-09.)
Being given a break from what seemed like a unending stretch of rainy weather, NJ was finally given a Saturday morning in which the sun shone brightly. That enabled me to get trackside to see what was running along the Lehigh Line. From 9 AM until 10:30, I only saw four trains, two eastbounders and two westbounders. No foreign power but the still was some ex-CR units to be seen. The trains seen were as follows:
Lansdown Junction: NS 21M had NS 2758, NS 2778 and NS 7529 for power at 8:45.
NS 214 must have been holding for 21M at Pattenburg because it came east at 9:02. Motive power consisted of NS 9732, PRR 6769 (ex-CR 5512) and NS 9415. Note the solar panel that has been recently installed in the accompanying scene.
Heading down to Three Bridges, I was fortunate to catch NS 22V at 9:50. Its leader was PRR 8335 (ex-CR 6086) and NS 8372.
My final train for today was NS 213 with NS 9839 and NS 9157 for power.
At both of my locations, there was also piles of ballast that had been recently placed there off to the side. Perhaps for more LEHL MOW to be done in the near future?
Being given a break from what seemed like a unending stretch of rainy weather, NJ was finally given a Saturday morning in which the sun shone brightly. That enabled me to get trackside to see what was running along the Lehigh Line. From 9 AM until 10:30, I only saw four trains, two eastbounders and two westbounders. No foreign power but the still was some ex-CR units to be seen. The trains seen were as follows:
Lansdown Junction: NS 21M had NS 2758, NS 2778 and NS 7529 for power at 8:45.
NS 214 must have been holding for 21M at Pattenburg because it came east at 9:02. Motive power consisted of NS 9732, PRR 6769 (ex-CR 5512) and NS 9415. Note the solar panel that has been recently installed in the accompanying scene.
Heading down to Three Bridges, I was fortunate to catch NS 22V at 9:50. Its leader was PRR 8335 (ex-CR 6086) and NS 8372.
My final train for today was NS 213 with NS 9839 and NS 9157 for power.
At both of my locations, there was also piles of ballast that had been recently placed there off to the side. Perhaps for more LEHL MOW to be done in the near future?
Monday, June 29, 2009
17 Beautiful Train Stations that fell to the Wrecking Ball
Received the following links via email. If you have an appreciation for architecture, railroads, history or all three, you will likely recognize some of these lost landmarks:
http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/06/22/11-beautiful-train-stations-that-fell-to-the-wrecking-ball/
http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/06/25/6-more-great-train-stations-lost-to-the-wrecking-ball/
Columbus (OH) Union Station (all that is left)...one of the few major rail station demolitions where an effort to save anything tangible was made, though this giant relocated arch is still but a token hint of what it used to be connected with, downtown:
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM3863
http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/06/22/11-beautiful-train-stations-that-fell-to-the-wrecking-ball/
http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/06/25/6-more-great-train-stations-lost-to-the-wrecking-ball/
Columbus (OH) Union Station (all that is left)...one of the few major rail station demolitions where an effort to save anything tangible was made, though this giant relocated arch is still but a token hint of what it used to be connected with, downtown:
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM3863
Saturday, June 27, 2009
What do D&RGW, SP, UP and the late Michael Jackson have in common?
Received the following via email.
Michael Jackson's death leaves AEG in the lurch
"The death of Michael Jackson came just weeks before he was to start a series of comeback concerts that the onetime King of Pop hoped would relaunch his career and straighten out his finances. Now concert promoter AEG Live is left in the lurch. The company, which is owned by reclusive media mogul Philip Anschutz, had shelled out more than $20 million on the concerts."
"In 1984, he [Anschutz] entered the railroad business by purchasing the Rio Grande Railroad's holding company, Rio Grande Industries. Four years later, in 1988, the Rio Grande Railroad purchased the Southern Pacific Railroad under his direction. With the merger of the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Corporation in September 1996, Anschutz became Vice-Chairman of Union Pacific."
Michael Jackson's death leaves AEG in the lurch
"The death of Michael Jackson came just weeks before he was to start a series of comeback concerts that the onetime King of Pop hoped would relaunch his career and straighten out his finances. Now concert promoter AEG Live is left in the lurch. The company, which is owned by reclusive media mogul Philip Anschutz, had shelled out more than $20 million on the concerts."
"In 1984, he [Anschutz] entered the railroad business by purchasing the Rio Grande Railroad's holding company, Rio Grande Industries. Four years later, in 1988, the Rio Grande Railroad purchased the Southern Pacific Railroad under his direction. With the merger of the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Corporation in September 1996, Anschutz became Vice-Chairman of Union Pacific."
Friday, June 26, 2009
Weekly Rail Carloading Report - Week 24, 2009
There is an interesting report available on the web that is "A Weekly Report of North American Rail Freight Traffic by Major Railroad and Commodity." It is currently showing data for week 24 of 2009.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
Note: This web site has new tables and graphs every Thursday. So, if I am late or miss a week with this blog posting, you can check for new data on Thursdays.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Hal Carstens has passed away
Hal Carstens passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2009. He was the founder of Carstens Publications, publishers of Railroad Model Craftsman, Railfan & Railroad, and Flying Models magazines plus numerous books on railroads and model railroading.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
It's Over, Folks: Kodak retires Kodachrome
Received the following via email. We can all weep - no more NEAT Train pictures in Kodachrome :(
Kodak retires Kodachrome
The company will discontinue the color film after 74 years
Posted by Elizabeth Strott on Monday, June 22, 2009 10:52 AM
"They give us those nice bright colors. They give us the greens of summers. Makes you think all the world's a sunny day," Paul Simon sang in the 1973 song "Kodachrome."
It looks like Simon will have to come up with a new song now that Eastman Kodak (EK) is retiring its Kodachrome color film after a 74-year run. Kodachrome sales have plunged since the introduction of both new films and digital technology, and the product now makes up less than 1% of Kodak's still-picture-film sales, the company said. About 70% of Kodak's revenue now comes from its commercial and consumer digital businesses.
"It was certainly a difficult decision to retire it, given its rich history," Mary Jane Hellyar, president of Kodak’s Film, Photofin ishing and Entertainment Group, said in a statement. "However, the majority of today's photographers have voiced their preference to capture images with newer technology -- both film and digital."
Hellyar said current supplies of Kodachrome will likely last until early fall. Dwayne's Photo, in Parsons, Kan., is the only photofinishing lab that still processes the complex Kodachrome film, Kodak said, and it will continue to do so through 2010.
Photojournalist Steve McCurry's famous National Geographic cover of an Afghan refugee girl was shot on Kodachrome in 1985. McCurry will shoot one of the last rolls of Kodachrome film and donate the images to the George Eastman House museum, which honors the company's founder, in Rochester, N.Y. Kodak will also compile other iconic images and post them on its Web site.
Shares of Kodak stock were down 18 cents, or 6.3%, to $2.67 th is afternoon. The stock has plunged more than 76% over the past year.
Kodak retires Kodachrome
The company will discontinue the color film after 74 years
Posted by Elizabeth Strott on Monday, June 22, 2009 10:52 AM
"They give us those nice bright colors. They give us the greens of summers. Makes you think all the world's a sunny day," Paul Simon sang in the 1973 song "Kodachrome."
It looks like Simon will have to come up with a new song now that Eastman Kodak (EK) is retiring its Kodachrome color film after a 74-year run. Kodachrome sales have plunged since the introduction of both new films and digital technology, and the product now makes up less than 1% of Kodak's still-picture-film sales, the company said. About 70% of Kodak's revenue now comes from its commercial and consumer digital businesses.
"It was certainly a difficult decision to retire it, given its rich history," Mary Jane Hellyar, president of Kodak’s Film, Photofin ishing and Entertainment Group, said in a statement. "However, the majority of today's photographers have voiced their preference to capture images with newer technology -- both film and digital."
Hellyar said current supplies of Kodachrome will likely last until early fall. Dwayne's Photo, in Parsons, Kan., is the only photofinishing lab that still processes the complex Kodachrome film, Kodak said, and it will continue to do so through 2010.
Photojournalist Steve McCurry's famous National Geographic cover of an Afghan refugee girl was shot on Kodachrome in 1985. McCurry will shoot one of the last rolls of Kodachrome film and donate the images to the George Eastman House museum, which honors the company's founder, in Rochester, N.Y. Kodak will also compile other iconic images and post them on its Web site.
Shares of Kodak stock were down 18 cents, or 6.3%, to $2.67 th is afternoon. The stock has plunged more than 76% over the past year.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Red Caboose/InterMountain "Partnership"
Following text is from the Red Caboose web site concerning the recently announced "partnership" with InterMountain. We carry both manufacture's products when we can get them. Getting InterMountain directly from the manufacturer hasn't been too difficult if the items are in stock. Orders for future runs can take a long time. Getting Red Caboose products directly from the manufacturer has been difficult for some reason. Maybe with this "partnership" things will be better.
RED CABOOSE/INTERMOUTAIN "PARTNERSHIP"
Red Caboose and InterMountain Railway Company have entered into a "partnership" arrangement under which InterMountain will be responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of all Red Caboose product beginning May 1, 2009. InterMountain will provide information to its dealer network for Advance Reservations on all new releases, and production quantities will be determined by the interest shown through the reservations. The reservation period will be approximately seven weeks and production will follow within four to five months.
InterMountain will also have access to all of the existing Red Caboose inventory and will make that product available through its dealer network as well. All Red Caboose finished product will be shown on both the Red Caboose and InterMountain websites. Undecorated kits and miscellaneous parts will continue to be available directly from Red Caboose.
Both Red Caboose and InterMountain are pleased to announce this new relationship and to continue providing this fine line of railroad models to the model railroad hobby.
More information on the Red Caboose web site.
http://www.red-caboose.com/cgi-bin/e_catalog/catalog.cgi
RED CABOOSE/INTERMOUTAIN "PARTNERSHIP"
Red Caboose and InterMountain Railway Company have entered into a "partnership" arrangement under which InterMountain will be responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of all Red Caboose product beginning May 1, 2009. InterMountain will provide information to its dealer network for Advance Reservations on all new releases, and production quantities will be determined by the interest shown through the reservations. The reservation period will be approximately seven weeks and production will follow within four to five months.
InterMountain will also have access to all of the existing Red Caboose inventory and will make that product available through its dealer network as well. All Red Caboose finished product will be shown on both the Red Caboose and InterMountain websites. Undecorated kits and miscellaneous parts will continue to be available directly from Red Caboose.
Both Red Caboose and InterMountain are pleased to announce this new relationship and to continue providing this fine line of railroad models to the model railroad hobby.
More information on the Red Caboose web site.
http://www.red-caboose.com/cgi-bin/e_catalog/catalog.cgi
Friday, June 19, 2009
A Blue Day in Binghamton, NY
Received the following from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text and photos are his.
Finally made it from Syracuse to Binghamton, NY on the NYSW....80 miles, 324 defects...whew!!! Starting on the CNYK to Port Jervis tomorrow, then down the Southern Div to Little Ferry, NJ. From there ...who knows! Might be heading back to the A&O before taking two weeks off for a Photo Charter on the MIDH and the Steam Fest in Owosso, MI. Hope all is well.
Finally made it from Syracuse to Binghamton, NY on the NYSW....80 miles, 324 defects...whew!!! Starting on the CNYK to Port Jervis tomorrow, then down the Southern Div to Little Ferry, NJ. From there ...who knows! Might be heading back to the A&O before taking two weeks off for a Photo Charter on the MIDH and the Steam Fest in Owosso, MI. Hope all is well.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Video of Miniatur Wunderland in Germany
Below is a link to the official YouTube video of the Miniatur Wunderland train set in Hamburg, Germany. (See our posting of Sunday, March 29, 2009, titled World's largest model train layout.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN_oDdGmKyA&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN_oDdGmKyA&feature=player_embedded
Monday, June 15, 2009
Lackawanna Cutoff Chugs Closer to Federal Funding
Following article is from the Daily Record web site.
Lackawanna Cutoff chugs closer to federal funding
June 14, 2009
The plan to restart rail service on the Lackawanna Cutoff - which runs from Port Morris in Roxbury to the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River - has entered the final stage of it environmental review.
If the Federal Transit Authority adopts a revised environmental assessment for the proposed rail line, the project would be eligible for further funding.
Advocates for rebuilding the historic cutoff, which operated from 1911 to 1979 and is a necessary link to restore passenger service between Scranton, Pa. to Hoboken, a 133-mile trip, would help reduce the daily traffic clogging Route 80.
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-Harding, a long-time supporter, said, "This development is welcome news to all of us who want to get cars off our clogged highways and will assist our efforts to secure funding for the entire Lackawanna Cutoff."
The Federal Transit Authority next week will publish a revised environmental assessment, which after a 30-day public comment period, could result in the issuance of a finding of no significant impact, or FONSI, which would give the project environmental approval.
The assessment generally concluded that there would be limited environmental damage from the construction of the rail line because the work would be done on an existing rail right-of-way or on state-owned land that once supported rail activities.
"This is the end of the environmental review,'' said Joe Dee, spokesman for NJ Transit, the lead agency for the $551 million restoration project.
The FTA already issued a FONSI for the 7.3-mile section of the cutoff between Port Murray, near Landing in Roxbury, to Andover. NJ Transit last year announced a $36 million project to rebuild tracks along that stretch.
Gerald Rohsler, Morris County's transportation director, said, the FTA announcement means "this is essentially done. This is a good thing."
The release of the FONSI will trigger a three-year period in which action on the project must occur, or the environmental approval will be withdrawn, Rohsler said.
What hampered progress on the cutoff for years was the lack of rail capacity in the eastern end of the line into New York, Rohsler said. That was resolved last week with the start of a project to build an $8 billion transit tunnel from New Jersey to New York City. It will be the third transit tunnel into Manhattan.
Norman Ressler of Lake Hopatcong, president of the Penn-Jersey Rail Coalition, a longtime advocate of the cutoff, said the release of the environmental assessment will finally move the project along.
The project calls for eight passenger stations.
The project has been panned by some environmentalists.
At a 2007 public hearing Rich Anoh of Blairstown asked, "What is the possible logic in this, making it easy, in fact subsidizing a person's choice to travel from Scranton to Hoboken on a daily basis? How is traveling 260 miles a day environmentally responsible?"
The environmental assessment estimates the new train service will carry 40,640 two-way passengers annually in 2012, increasing to 66,040 by 2030. It would serve part of eastern Pennsylvania where population has been increasing, as well as parts of Sussex and Morris counties.
Lackawanna Cutoff chugs closer to federal funding
June 14, 2009
The plan to restart rail service on the Lackawanna Cutoff - which runs from Port Morris in Roxbury to the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River - has entered the final stage of it environmental review.
If the Federal Transit Authority adopts a revised environmental assessment for the proposed rail line, the project would be eligible for further funding.
Advocates for rebuilding the historic cutoff, which operated from 1911 to 1979 and is a necessary link to restore passenger service between Scranton, Pa. to Hoboken, a 133-mile trip, would help reduce the daily traffic clogging Route 80.
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-Harding, a long-time supporter, said, "This development is welcome news to all of us who want to get cars off our clogged highways and will assist our efforts to secure funding for the entire Lackawanna Cutoff."
The Federal Transit Authority next week will publish a revised environmental assessment, which after a 30-day public comment period, could result in the issuance of a finding of no significant impact, or FONSI, which would give the project environmental approval.
The assessment generally concluded that there would be limited environmental damage from the construction of the rail line because the work would be done on an existing rail right-of-way or on state-owned land that once supported rail activities.
"This is the end of the environmental review,'' said Joe Dee, spokesman for NJ Transit, the lead agency for the $551 million restoration project.
The FTA already issued a FONSI for the 7.3-mile section of the cutoff between Port Murray, near Landing in Roxbury, to Andover. NJ Transit last year announced a $36 million project to rebuild tracks along that stretch.
Gerald Rohsler, Morris County's transportation director, said, the FTA announcement means "this is essentially done. This is a good thing."
The release of the FONSI will trigger a three-year period in which action on the project must occur, or the environmental approval will be withdrawn, Rohsler said.
What hampered progress on the cutoff for years was the lack of rail capacity in the eastern end of the line into New York, Rohsler said. That was resolved last week with the start of a project to build an $8 billion transit tunnel from New Jersey to New York City. It will be the third transit tunnel into Manhattan.
Norman Ressler of Lake Hopatcong, president of the Penn-Jersey Rail Coalition, a longtime advocate of the cutoff, said the release of the environmental assessment will finally move the project along.
The project calls for eight passenger stations.
The project has been panned by some environmentalists.
At a 2007 public hearing Rich Anoh of Blairstown asked, "What is the possible logic in this, making it easy, in fact subsidizing a person's choice to travel from Scranton to Hoboken on a daily basis? How is traveling 260 miles a day environmentally responsible?"
The environmental assessment estimates the new train service will carry 40,640 two-way passengers annually in 2012, increasing to 66,040 by 2030. It would serve part of eastern Pennsylvania where population has been increasing, as well as parts of Sussex and Morris counties.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Excursion train hit by car in North Carolina
Following is an article from The News & Observer newspaper of Raleigh, NC, about an accident that occured on Sunday, 6/7/09 on the New Hope Valley Railway. This accident was also caught on video by a passenger on the train. That video has been posted on YouTube, and the link is below also.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enkh9A5jdUI
Excursion train hit by car
BY JACK HAGEL AND ROBERT WILLETT, Staff Writers
BONSAL, NC - On the first Sunday of most months, hundreds come to this small town, about half an hour southwest of Raleigh, to get a close look at old trains.
But few, if any, have gotten as close a look as Brian Kielty got Sunday -- and certainly not without paying the fare.
Kielty, 50, of Apex was driving about 10 mph in a 21-year-old, blue-with-wood-trim Mercury Colony station wagon, approaching a railroad crossing on Daisey Street shortly before 4 p.m.
Problem is, a New Hope Valley Railway train, operated by a volunteer crew as part of the N.C. Railroad Museum, was making use of that crossing at the time, finishing a nine-mile trek carrying about 100 train enthusiasts.
"You're obviously not going to move a train with a car, especially at that speed," Trooper Ricardo Quiñones said.
Nobody was injured in the collision, which happened near the Chatham-Wake county line, Quiñones said. But he estimated that there was about $1,000 in damage to the train.
The station wagon was rendered undriveable.
Kielty said he was all right, but he declined to comment further before eventually being driven home by a family member.
Kielty was charged with failure to reduce speed, Quiñones said. "I've never seen anything like this," said the seven-year law enforcement veteran.
Indeed, train-on-car collisions are the ones we tend to remember, not the other way around.
But Bob Crowley, corporate secretary of the New Hope Valley Railway, says it's much more common than one would think.
"You'd be surprised at the number of people who just don't pay attention and drive into the side of the train," he said.
Yet it's never happened to New Hope Valley Railway, he said.
For 21 years, Triangle train fanatics have flocked here to ride the New Hope Valley Railway.
The rides run on the first Sunday of each month from May to December, and have been known to draw 1,000 passengers a day for five round-trim runs on 41/2 miles of track in Chatham and Wake counties. Tickets usually sell out weeks in advance.
The volunteer organization, with about 100 members, maintains and operates seven locomotives, including one of about 100 steam engines still in operation in the country.
Engine No. 17 was pulling the 50-year-old excursion car that was struck in the wreck.
The collision caused the railway to cancel the day's last run.
But the trains are expected to run on schedule next month, Crowley said. "About the only thing we're going to have to do different," he added, "is put a little paint on the car."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enkh9A5jdUI
Excursion train hit by car
BY JACK HAGEL AND ROBERT WILLETT, Staff Writers
BONSAL, NC - On the first Sunday of most months, hundreds come to this small town, about half an hour southwest of Raleigh, to get a close look at old trains.
But few, if any, have gotten as close a look as Brian Kielty got Sunday -- and certainly not without paying the fare.
Kielty, 50, of Apex was driving about 10 mph in a 21-year-old, blue-with-wood-trim Mercury Colony station wagon, approaching a railroad crossing on Daisey Street shortly before 4 p.m.
Problem is, a New Hope Valley Railway train, operated by a volunteer crew as part of the N.C. Railroad Museum, was making use of that crossing at the time, finishing a nine-mile trek carrying about 100 train enthusiasts.
"You're obviously not going to move a train with a car, especially at that speed," Trooper Ricardo Quiñones said.
Nobody was injured in the collision, which happened near the Chatham-Wake county line, Quiñones said. But he estimated that there was about $1,000 in damage to the train.
The station wagon was rendered undriveable.
Kielty said he was all right, but he declined to comment further before eventually being driven home by a family member.
Kielty was charged with failure to reduce speed, Quiñones said. "I've never seen anything like this," said the seven-year law enforcement veteran.
Indeed, train-on-car collisions are the ones we tend to remember, not the other way around.
But Bob Crowley, corporate secretary of the New Hope Valley Railway, says it's much more common than one would think.
"You'd be surprised at the number of people who just don't pay attention and drive into the side of the train," he said.
Yet it's never happened to New Hope Valley Railway, he said.
For 21 years, Triangle train fanatics have flocked here to ride the New Hope Valley Railway.
The rides run on the first Sunday of each month from May to December, and have been known to draw 1,000 passengers a day for five round-trim runs on 41/2 miles of track in Chatham and Wake counties. Tickets usually sell out weeks in advance.
The volunteer organization, with about 100 members, maintains and operates seven locomotives, including one of about 100 steam engines still in operation in the country.
Engine No. 17 was pulling the 50-year-old excursion car that was struck in the wreck.
The collision caused the railway to cancel the day's last run.
But the trains are expected to run on schedule next month, Crowley said. "About the only thing we're going to have to do different," he added, "is put a little paint on the car."
Weekly Rail Carloading Report - Week 22, 2009
There is an interesting report available on the web that is "A Weekly Report of North American Rail Freight Traffic by Major Railroad and Commodity." It is currently showing data for week 22 of 2009.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
Note: This web site has new tables and graphs every Thursday. So, if I am late or miss a week with this blog posting, you can check for new data on Thursdays.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Welcome to Syracuse, NY
Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, photos, and captions are his.
Started the very slooooow test of the Squeak today....made 8 miles and about 40 defects! This is going to take a while....on top of the slow test, Sperry has instituted a policy of not allowing the trucks to be driven at posted speed limits. All movements must be made AT LEAST 5 miles/ hour under the posted limits! if you are in a 15 mph school zone, one MUST be at 10 mph. GRRR, never gonna be able to catch anything again! And with the GPS, all movements are recorded.
Any good lawyers out there that want to sue these people for invasion of privacy???
CSXT 4581 & train at Syracuse, NY
Started the very slooooow test of the Squeak today....made 8 miles and about 40 defects! This is going to take a while....on top of the slow test, Sperry has instituted a policy of not allowing the trucks to be driven at posted speed limits. All movements must be made AT LEAST 5 miles/ hour under the posted limits! if you are in a 15 mph school zone, one MUST be at 10 mph. GRRR, never gonna be able to catch anything again! And with the GPS, all movements are recorded.
Any good lawyers out there that want to sue these people for invasion of privacy???
CSXT 4581 & train at Syracuse, NY 
NYSW 3010, SRS 811, NHRX 95038 at Syracuse, NY
Sunday, June 07, 2009
M&H Photo freight 7-19-2009
Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr.
Greetings all: This is a general announcement that there will be a Photo Freight on the Middletown & Hummelstown RR using the WM-painted ALCO S-6 # 151 and vintage freight equipment.
The fare will be $45.00.
You will be required to sign a release prior to boarding the train.
Date: Sunday July 19th, 2009
For more info and tickets contact:
http://www.briansmodeltrains.com
or
Brian Saul briansmodeltrains@yahoo.com
Greetings all: This is a general announcement that there will be a Photo Freight on the Middletown & Hummelstown RR using the WM-painted ALCO S-6 # 151 and vintage freight equipment.
The fare will be $45.00.
You will be required to sign a release prior to boarding the train.
Date: Sunday July 19th, 2009
For more info and tickets contact:
http://www.briansmodeltrains.com
or
Brian Saul briansmodeltrains@yahoo.com
Saturday, June 06, 2009
June 1st's Monday morning in Harrisburg...
Received the following via email.
...turned out to be a great day for being trackside in Harrisburg, PA. The sun was warm and there were no clouds to contend with when it came to doing some railroad photography from the Linglestown Road Bridge. One of the first trains I saw was a NS local with a string of mostly gondolas. Motive power was NS 5219 (GP38-2) and NS 2223 (SW1500, ex-CR 9567).
Around 12:30 came the news over the scanner I was waiting to hear. NS 047 was ready to roll west behind NS 2753 and NS 2607. That symbol was assigned to Ringling Brothers Red Unit circus train! There was a thirty-minute stop planned for Harrisburg to have a crew change and watering the animals. Once that was done, the circus train would continue its 1,213 mile trip to Omaha, Nebraska after closing out its engagement in Trenton, NJ on 5/31. The specifics of the Red Unit's train are as follows: there are 59 cars that weigh in at 4,290 tons for a length of 5,235 feet. That is a almost one mile long. Amtrak, CR, NS handled the moves until this train reached Chicago where it was handed over to UP for the remainder of its trip.
...turned out to be a great day for being trackside in Harrisburg, PA. The sun was warm and there were no clouds to contend with when it came to doing some railroad photography from the Linglestown Road Bridge. One of the first trains I saw was a NS local with a string of mostly gondolas. Motive power was NS 5219 (GP38-2) and NS 2223 (SW1500, ex-CR 9567).
Around 12:30 came the news over the scanner I was waiting to hear. NS 047 was ready to roll west behind NS 2753 and NS 2607. That symbol was assigned to Ringling Brothers Red Unit circus train! There was a thirty-minute stop planned for Harrisburg to have a crew change and watering the animals. Once that was done, the circus train would continue its 1,213 mile trip to Omaha, Nebraska after closing out its engagement in Trenton, NJ on 5/31. The specifics of the Red Unit's train are as follows: there are 59 cars that weigh in at 4,290 tons for a length of 5,235 feet. That is a almost one mile long. Amtrak, CR, NS handled the moves until this train reached Chicago where it was handed over to UP for the remainder of its trip.
Harrisburg - NS HBG local
Harrisburg - RBBB Red circus train
Harrisburg - Rear of circus train
Weekly Rail Carloading Report - Week 21, 2009
There is an interesting report available on the web that is "A Weekly Report of North American Rail Freight Traffic by Major Railroad and Commodity." It is currently showing data for week 21 of 2009.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
Note: This web site has new tables and graphs every Thursday. So, if I am late or miss a week with this blog posting, you can check for new data on Thursdays.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Pocono Delights
Received the following from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, photos, and captions are his.
Hope this finds everyone in Good Health, Spirits, and Employment!! After working in North Carolina for a couple of weeks, got a chance to head home for the Memorial Day holiday and then head to Scranton, PA and the Delaware Lackawanna test. Finishing that then head towards Lockport, NY and start on the Falls Road RR on Monday 6-1-2009. And then head on to the NYSW in Syracuse, NY. Got to see a grain train with the 405-1804-3000-3643 combo yesterday and today's PT-97 with the 2423 & 211. NICE variety and REAL NICE to see the 3000 in service!
Looking forward to seeing some of the good people in Rochester, NY this weekend and then through the NYS area along the NYSW. If you see the illustrious, notorious 811, stop by and say HI!!!!
SRS 811 at Moscow, PA
Hope this finds everyone in Good Health, Spirits, and Employment!! After working in North Carolina for a couple of weeks, got a chance to head home for the Memorial Day holiday and then head to Scranton, PA and the Delaware Lackawanna test. Finishing that then head towards Lockport, NY and start on the Falls Road RR on Monday 6-1-2009. And then head on to the NYSW in Syracuse, NY. Got to see a grain train with the 405-1804-3000-3643 combo yesterday and today's PT-97 with the 2423 & 211. NICE variety and REAL NICE to see the 3000 in service!
Looking forward to seeing some of the good people in Rochester, NY this weekend and then through the NYS area along the NYSW. If you see the illustrious, notorious 811, stop by and say HI!!!!
SRS 811 at Moscow, PA 
Sperry Car pilot Mike Vassallo watches DL 2423 lead PT-97 through Moscow, PA
DL 405 at Nay Aug, PA
DL 3642 at Moscow, PA
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Norfolk Southern CEO Moorman To Address Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Global Transportation Conference
Received the following via email.
June 1, 2009
Norfolk Southern CEO Moorman To Address Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Global Transportation Conference
NORFOLK, VA. - Norfolk Southern Corporation CEO Wick Moorman will address the Bank of America and Merrill Lynch 2009 Global Transportation Conference in New York City at 11:05 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 11.
Interested investors can listen via a simultaneous webcast at http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bas/transportation09/id16207177.cfm. After the webcast, 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 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
June 1, 2009
Norfolk Southern CEO Moorman To Address Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Global Transportation Conference
NORFOLK, VA. - Norfolk Southern Corporation CEO Wick Moorman will address the Bank of America and Merrill Lynch 2009 Global Transportation Conference in New York City at 11:05 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 11.
Interested investors can listen via a simultaneous webcast at http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bas/transportation09/id16207177.cfm. After the webcast, 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 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
Norfolk Southern Earns Automotive Logistics Excellence Award
Received the following via email.
June 1, 2009
Norfolk Southern Earns Automotive Logistics Excellence Award
NORFOLK, VA - UPS Autogistics, in conjunction with Ford Motor Company, has presented Norfolk Southern the 2008 Carrier of the Year Award for overall logistics excellence among all North American rail carriers for the transportation of Ford vehicles.
The award recognizes superior performance in on-time delivery, quality and damage-free handling, and total customer service. Norfolk Southern transported more than 1.4 million Ford vehicles in 2008.
Walter Lowe, Ford's manager for North America vehicle logistics, said, "Ford and Norfolk Southern have had a long, mutually beneficial relationship, and this award is a testament to their commitment to excellence and customer service."
"Ford Motor Company and Norfolk Southern have been very close supply chain partners for several decades, and over the years, we have remained strongly committed to providing Ford with industry leading rail transportation service and customer support," said David Julian, NS president, automotive and supply chain services. "We are honored to have earned this recognition for our overall performance during 2008."
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is a leading North American transportation provider. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
June 1, 2009
Norfolk Southern Earns Automotive Logistics Excellence Award
NORFOLK, VA - UPS Autogistics, in conjunction with Ford Motor Company, has presented Norfolk Southern the 2008 Carrier of the Year Award for overall logistics excellence among all North American rail carriers for the transportation of Ford vehicles.
The award recognizes superior performance in on-time delivery, quality and damage-free handling, and total customer service. Norfolk Southern transported more than 1.4 million Ford vehicles in 2008.
Walter Lowe, Ford's manager for North America vehicle logistics, said, "Ford and Norfolk Southern have had a long, mutually beneficial relationship, and this award is a testament to their commitment to excellence and customer service."
"Ford Motor Company and Norfolk Southern have been very close supply chain partners for several decades, and over the years, we have remained strongly committed to providing Ford with industry leading rail transportation service and customer support," said David Julian, NS president, automotive and supply chain services. "We are honored to have earned this recognition for our overall performance during 2008."
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is a leading North American transportation provider. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Somerset County 4-H Trainmasters Train Show - Spring, 2009
The Somerset County 4-H Trainmasters will be hosting their annual Spring Train Show on June 6 and 7, 2009 at the Somerset County 4-H Center.
Hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM both days.
The 4-H Center is located at 310 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, NJ. Directions can be found at
http://somerset.rce.rutgers.edu/directions
Admission is $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children under 12.
There will be door prizes and concessions will be available all day.
This show will be featuring demonstrations and hands-on activities as well as the ever-growing and ever-improving O-Scale trains and layout.
Hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM both days.
The 4-H Center is located at 310 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, NJ. Directions can be found at
http://somerset.rce.rutgers.edu/directions
Admission is $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children under 12.
There will be door prizes and concessions will be available all day.
This show will be featuring demonstrations and hands-on activities as well as the ever-growing and ever-improving O-Scale trains and layout.
Weekly Rail Carloading Report - Week 20, 2009
There is an interesting report available on the web that is "A Weekly Report of North American Rail Freight Traffic by Major Railroad and Commodity." It is currently showing data for week 20 of 2009.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
Note: This web site has new tables and graphs every Thursday. So, if I am late or miss a week with this blog posting, you can check for new data on Thursdays.
http://railfax.transmatch.com/
Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2008-2009 vs. 2007-2008. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.
Note: This web site has new tables and graphs every Thursday. So, if I am late or miss a week with this blog posting, you can check for new data on Thursdays.
Webcast Information For Norfolk Southern 2009 Investor Day
Received the following via email.
May 29, 2009
Webcast Information For Norfolk Southern 2009 Investor Day
ATLANTA, GA - Norfolk Southern Corporation will present an overview of the company's financial and strategic initiatives as part of its 2009 Investor and Financial Analyst Conference on June 3, 2009, in Atlanta.
Interested investors can listen via a simultaneous webcast and view presentation slides on the Investors section of Norfolk Southern's Web site at www.nscorp.com/investors. The webcast will start at 8 a.m. and conclude around noon.
After the webcast, the presentations will be made available as an audio download 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 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides superior 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 is an industry leader in safety, sustainability, and corridor development, using its resources in partnership with the communities it serves.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
May 29, 2009
Webcast Information For Norfolk Southern 2009 Investor Day
ATLANTA, GA - Norfolk Southern Corporation will present an overview of the company's financial and strategic initiatives as part of its 2009 Investor and Financial Analyst Conference on June 3, 2009, in Atlanta.
Interested investors can listen via a simultaneous webcast and view presentation slides on the Investors section of Norfolk Southern's Web site at www.nscorp.com/investors. The webcast will start at 8 a.m. and conclude around noon.
After the webcast, the presentations will be made available as an audio download 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 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides superior 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 is an industry leader in safety, sustainability, and corridor development, using its resources in partnership with the communities it serves.
Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com
Monday, May 25, 2009
Operation Lifesaver trip in New Jersey
On Wednesday, May 13th, a special Operation Lifesaver train was operated over the former Lehigh Valley line from Manville to Oak Island yard and back to Manville. This was a joint operation of NS, CSX, and Conrail, and the train was made-up of two NS locomotives (numbered 3352 and 5826) and two NS business cars. Passengers were local public safety officials and educators. I was onboard as a 4-H educator. There was a TV camera mounted on the lead locomotive, and there were large screen TV's in the cars. Thus, we were able to see and appreciate the railroad from the locomotive crew's perspective. The entire train was turned on the "Y" in Oak Island so we saw the railroad in both directions. We also learned some sobering statistics. For example, in New Jersey in 2008 there were 30 collisions with motor vehicles resulting in 15 deaths. Even more troubling, there were 21 deaths and 15 injuries involving people trespassing on railroad property. Below are some photos from this trip.
Train before departure from Manville.
Train before departure from Manville. 
Me getting on one of the business cars.
Nose of trailing locomotive from vestibule of first car.
CSX crew standing on their locomotive awaiting our arrival in Oak Island before they could depart.
Harry Brochinsky, a North Hunterdon H.S. teacher, and me.
Passengers departing at Manville.
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