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Friday, May 12, 2017
Reminder GSD Spring Meet - This Saturday
Received via email
Norfolk Southern is delivering on commitments, CEO tells shareholders
Received via email
Norfolk Southern is delivering on commitments, CEO tells shareholders
Successful execution of strategic plan is driving service, profitability, growth, and shareholder value
NORFOLK, Va., May 11, 2017 – Norfolk Southern is delivering on commitments to improve corporate performance through successful execution of its strategic plan, CEO James A. Squires said in remarks to the annual meeting of shareholders.
Noting that the best strategy is tested and proven by results, Squires said, “We have a sound strategy, and we are producing results that drive sustainable profitability, high-quality growth, and enhanced shareholder value. We are delivering on our commitments.”
2016 was the first full year of Norfolk Southern’s five-year strategic plan to operate a faster, lower-cost, and more profitable railroad. Achievements in 2016 included an all-time best operating ratio of 68.9 percent, productivity savings of $250 million, near record levels of network service performance, and record locomotive fuel efficiency.
“Through successful execution of our plan, we achieved our key first-year financial and operational targets,” Squires said, “and we are well on pace to achieve our 2020 performance goals.”
Norfolk Southern is off to a strong start on the second year of the strategic plan, Squires said, citing 2017 first-quarter records achieved in operating ratio, income from operations, and earnings per share. The company’s 2020 goals include annual expense savings of more than $650 million; double-digit percentage compound annual growth rate in earnings per share; and an operating ratio – a key measure of operating and financial performance – below 65 percent.
“We are driving growth by providing superior service that optimizes pricing and increases volume and top-line revenue,” Squires said. “We are relentlessly focused on meeting the unique needs of our customers – and we are measuring service excellence as they define it.”
In the long term, service will be a major competitive differentiator for Norfolk Southern and will propel shareholder value, he added.
Squires’ remarks are posted on the “Investor Relations” section of the Norfolk Southern website.
In official business, based on preliminary results, shareholders re-elected 12 directors for terms expiring in 2018:
· Thomas D. Bell Jr., chairman of Mesa Capital Partners
· Erskine B. Bowles, senior advisor and nonexecutive vice chairman of BDT Capital Partners LLC
· Wesley G. Bush, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Northrop Grumman Corporation
· Daniel A. Carp, former chairman and chief executive officer of Eastman Kodak Company
· Mitchell E. Daniels Jr., president of Purdue University
· Marcela E. Donadio, former partner and Americas Oil & Gas Sector Leader of Ernst & Young LLP
· Steven F. Leer, former chief executive officer and chairman of Arch Coal Inc.
· Michael D. Lockhart, former chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Armstrong World Industries Inc.
· Amy E. Miles, chair and chief executive officer of Regal Entertainment Group Inc.
· Martin H. Nesbitt, co-founder of The Vistria Group
· James A. Squires, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Norfolk Southern
· John R. Thompson, former senior vice president and general manager of Best Buy.com LLC
In other preliminary results, shareholders ratified appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditors, approved an advisory resolution on the compensation of executive officers, and approved a nonbinding resolution in support of an annual advisory resolution on the compensation of executive officers.
About Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 19,500 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial products.
Media Inquiries:
Tom Werner, 757-629-2710 (tom.werner@nscorp.com)
Investor Inquiries:
Katie Cook, 757-629-2861 (katie.cook@nscorp.com)
Friday, May 05, 2017
News about RBB&B's final circus train runs...
Received via email
From a Internet website...
RBBB CIRCUS TRAIN -- ONE MORE TIME -- this coming Mon/Tues. the Blue Unit has its final train-run with everyone aboard, with the MONDAY portion through the beautiful W.Va. mountains out of Deepwater, WV (same as last year's Red Unit final elephant run), and the TUES. MORNING portion northward through Virginia's scenic Shenandoah Valley (Waynesboro, Va. expected by sunrise, or thereabouts) ... that will be THE LAST RBBB Circus Train-run with all personnel aboard. There should be another update Friday afternoon to be posted on the Trainorders.com com website (Eastern and Western discussion boards).
Now, here comes a "PURPLE UNIT" Circus Train to Florida:
A final posting will also be made during the last week in Uniondale NY as the big news we are being told is that this coming week, after the 145th Edition's (Red Unit) train is secured to head home from Providence, Rhode Island, it will be taken south and HELD AT OAK ISLAND YARD in New Jersey for 2 weeks .. then WILL BE COMBINED with the Blue Unit's train for a DOUBLE ("PURPLE UNIT") CIRCUS TRAIN-RUN to Florida on CSXT via Richmond Va.... there will be only two Ringling' officials aboard to oversee the ops (they might be dropping cars in various towns along the way to new owners, but that's not confirmed) ... AND ... this Sat. the Blue Unit will have their coaches SHUFFLED AROUND (unknown if this will occur on Red Unit, but it probably will) into the "SET-OFF-ALONG-THE-WAY-TO-FLOR
The departure day for the run to Florida will NOT be the day after the last show (May 21) in New York; the Blue Unit may be in Uniondale at least through Tues., May 23 .... there's no word on the actual departure day at this time. This will save the company a lot of RR charges as it will be ONE move to Florida instead of two. This has been done only one prior time, I'm told, perhaps as early as the late 1970s or perhaps during the early 1980s, and was also on a run from New Jersey to Florida for December of whatever year that was; the two shows were moving the same day on the same route so it made sense to combine them that way. Otherwise there has never been a "combined" RBBB train like this one. We are only sad that all of our Circus Family spread out across the two Units won't be able to ride together; that has been a dream for many of us for along time, but alas with the cars being set off, that wouldn't be practicle.
The "PURPLE UNIT" Circus Train, from New Jersey to Florida on CSXT, is expected to be around 100 cars long!
Now, here comes a "PURPLE UNIT" Circus Train to Florida:
A final posting will also be made during the last week in Uniondale NY as the big news we are being told is that this coming week, after the 145th Edition's (Red Unit) train is secured to head home from Providence, Rhode Island, it will be taken south and HELD AT OAK ISLAND YARD in New Jersey for 2 weeks .. then WILL BE COMBINED with the Blue Unit's train for a DOUBLE ("PURPLE UNIT") CIRCUS TRAIN-RUN to Florida on CSXT via Richmond Va.... there will be only two Ringling' officials aboard to oversee the ops (they might be dropping cars in various towns along the way to new owners, but that's not confirmed) ... AND ... this Sat. the Blue Unit will have their coaches SHUFFLED AROUND (unknown if this will occur on Red Unit, but it probably will) into the "SET-OFF-ALONG-THE-WAY-TO-FLOR
The departure day for the run to Florida will NOT be the day after the last show (May 21) in New York; the Blue Unit may be in Uniondale at least through Tues., May 23 .... there's no word on the actual departure day at this time. This will save the company a lot of RR charges as it will be ONE move to Florida instead of two. This has been done only one prior time, I'm told, perhaps as early as the late 1970s or perhaps during the early 1980s, and was also on a run from New Jersey to Florida for December of whatever year that was; the two shows were moving the same day on the same route so it made sense to combine them that way. Otherwise there has never been a "combined" RBBB train like this one. We are only sad that all of our Circus Family spread out across the two Units won't be able to ride together; that has been a dream for many of us for along time, but alas with the cars being set off, that wouldn't be practicle.
The "PURPLE UNIT" Circus Train, from New Jersey to Florida on CSXT, is expected to be around 100 cars long!
False Rumor About MTL Discontinuing Z Scale
Received via email
There is a rumor circulating that began on a forum thread that was needlessly allowed to continue without confirming directly with us if the rumor had any truth to it. This rumor is absolutely not true. We have no intentions of discontinuing production of our Z scale line.
Our Z scale line not only will continue, but will continue to expand with the release of a Heavyweight Modernized Business Car this coming fall, as well as the reintroduction of our SD40-2’s in the near future.
We would appreciate your help in sharing with any of your friends and contacts that the rumor is totally false.
Thank you,
Micro-Trains
Micro-Trains
NMRA GSD Spring Meet on Saturday, May 13, in Bridgewater
Received Via Email
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Wednesday, May 03, 2017
New train crew management system to boost NorfolkSouthern operating efficiency
Received Via Email
New train crew management system to boost Norfolk Southern operating efficiency
LOUISVILLE, Colo., and NORFOLK, Va., May 2, 2017 – A new train crew management and payroll system now being developed is expected to boost operating efficiency, lower costs and increase productivity, supporting goals of Norfolk Southern’s strategic plan to improve corporate performance.
Norfolk Southern and software company PS Technology have agreed to develop the automated system for phased future deployment throughout Norfolk Southern’s network.
“Incorporating PS Technology’s CrewPro software with our operating and data platforms will save costs and streamline Norfolk Southern’s train crew management and payroll processes,” said Fred Ehlers, NS vice president information technology. “When deployed, the system will expand Norfolk Southern’s digital capabilities to enhance interactions with our train crews.”
Ehlers said the software optimizes train crew assignments by factoring in employees’ work schedules and geographical operating credentials, federal regulations, and labor contract requirements. “In effect, the software analyzes data to come up with the best, most efficient match of crew and train,” Ehlers said.
Seenu Chundru, PS Technology president, said, “We are pleased to collaborate with our longtime business partner Norfolk Southern to develop CrewPro. The system leverages technology to reduce costs of managing train and engine service crews. Optimization tools enable automated decision-making support and efficiency improvements.”
In addition to crew assignments, CrewPro ultimately will manage payroll, taxi and lodging services, and vacation scheduling for some 11,700 Norfolk Southern transportation employees in train and engine service.
About PS Technology
PS Technology (PST) is committed to delivering significant and measurable returns to its clients and partners. For over three decades, PST has improved the processes and systems surrounding crew management, timekeeping and physics-based simulation solutions with integrity and a desire to create value.
PST’s asset management systems power the largest railroads in North America. PST’s crew management and timekeeping solutions have been used to manage the day-to-day operations of over 100,000 employees that run, maintain and support rail operations across more than 120,000 miles of rail. PST’s physics-based simulation solutions provide a premium learning environment.
About Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 19,500 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial products.
Inquiries:
PS Technology
Mark Bremmer, senior marketing manager, 303-527-2111 (mark.bremmer@pstechnology.com)
Norfolk Southern
Media:
Rick Harris, 404-529-2310 (rick.harris@nscorp.com)
Investors:
Katie Cook, 757-629-2861 (katie.cook@nscorp.com)
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