Norfolk Southern Railroad has its headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, and operates freight services throughout the United States.
Its main lines run through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York. The railway also serves points in Canada.
Why is it called Norfolk Southern?
Norfolk Southern is a publicly traded railroad company based in Norfolk, Virginia.
The company was founded in 1838 as the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad and changed its name to the Norfolk Southern Railway in 1982.
In the late 1990s, Norfolk Southern merged with the neighboring Southern Railway, forming a larger rail network that stretched from the East Coast to the Midwest.
Why does Norfolk southern have a horse logo?
The Norfolk Southern Railroad has used a horse logo since its establishment in 1982.
The logo is based on the prancing horse symbol used by the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, a historic 19th-century railway in the western US.
This railroad was the first to use the prancing horse logo and was the inspiration for the NS logo.
The logo is made up of a blue shield with a white horse inside. The horse is surrounded by red, yellow and white stripes, which represent the colors of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad.
The horse also stands for strength, agility, and speed – qualities that Norfolk Southern also values. The shield with the words “Norfolk Southern” in it represents protection and stability.
The symbolism of the logo makes it one of the most recognizable railroad logos in the country. It’s a reminder of NS’s long history and commitment to safety, reliability and excellence.
NS by the numbers
Norfolk Southern Railroad is one of the largest railroads in North America and a major player in the transportation industry.
It was established in 1982 with the merger of two railroads, Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway.
Since then, it has grown to become the fourth-largest Class I railroad in the United States and serves 22 states, the District of Columbia, and Ontario, Canada.
Here are some numbers that provide insight into the scope and size of this impressive railroad.
Norfolk Southern operates 19,500 route miles of track over a 22-state area. It owns over 6,000 locomotives, and nearly 32,000 freight cars, and employs more than 28,000 people.
The railroad operates two intermodal facilities with a total capacity of more than one million containers per year and more than 500 bulk terminals.
It also handles an average of more than 20,000 carloads per day, moves about three million tons of coal each week, and transports about 1.3 million tons of chemicals each month.
In terms of financial performance, Norfolk Southern reported an operating income of $4.1 billion for 2019, an increase of 7% from 2018.
It had an operating ratio of 69.7%, a 4.3% improvement from the previous year. The company generated revenues of $12 billion in 2019 and had an operating margin of 37%.
These numbers demonstrate Norfolk Southern’s importance as a leader in the railroad industry and its commitment to providing top-notch service to its customers.
What railroads make up Norfolk southern?
Norfolk Southern is made up of several smaller railroads that have been acquired over the years. These include the former Nickel Plate Road, Wabash Railroad, Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, and others.
The railroad operates in 21 states, primarily in the east and Midwest, as well as in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
The merger of Norfolk & Western Railway and Southern Railway Company in 1982 created the foundation for what would become Norfolk Southern.
This merger created a system that stretched from Virginia to Louisiana, encompassing 15 states and approximately 8,000 miles of track.
Today, NS is one of the most prominent Class I railroads in the United States.
Norfolk Southern has continued to expand its operations by acquiring smaller railroads over the years, including the Michigan-based Grand Trunk Corporation in 1990 and Conrail in 1999.
As a result of these acquisitions, NS now serves more than 25 states and 3 Canadian provinces. Its rail network covers more than 22,000 route miles, making it one of the largest rail networks in North America.
The combination of these smaller railroads has allowed NS to expand its service offerings and reach a larger customer base across a broader geography.
In addition to freight services, NS also offers intermodal and passenger services in some markets. The company is constantly looking for ways to expand its operations and improve service quality.
What is the largest Norfolk southern rail yard?
The largest Norfolk Southern rail yard is located in Linwood, North Carolina. It is a modern facility, featuring 110 tracks with more than 18 miles of track.
The yard can accommodate over 1,200 freight cars and offers direct service to all major markets served by Norfolk Southern.
It is also one of the most efficient intermodal yards in the nation, with the capability to move containers between trains and trucks in less than two minutes.
The Linwood yard is designed to handle unit trains, including coal, auto parts, and containers. It is capable of sorting and assembling trains up to 3,000 feet long.
This allows Norfolk Southern to move freight more efficiently and quickly while saving customers time and money.
In addition to its size and efficiency, the Linwood yard is also designed to be environmentally friendly.
The yard has implemented numerous green initiatives such as using recycled materials in construction and utilizing energy-efficient lighting and climate control systems.
This commitment to the environment has earned the yard numerous awards from the EPA and other organizations.
What is the busiest Norfolk southern line?
The busiest Norfolk Southern line is the railroad’s Crescent Corridor, stretching from Louisiana to New Jersey.
The railway runs between New Orleans and Jersey City with connections to multiple cities in between, including Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, and Charlotte.
This highly utilized line carries freight trains loaded with goods that are shipped across the United States.
The Crescent Corridor sees a staggering number of freight trains on a daily basis, transporting products from companies like Amazon and Walmart.
This line is estimated to hauls nearly 4 million tons of freight daily.
In addition, the route also serves as a passenger service for Amtrak’s Crescent train, which connects many cities throughout the region.
With such an impressive amount of activity taking place along this line, it’s no wonder why it’s considered the busiest line in the Norfolk Southern system.
What locomotive does Norfolk southern use?
Norfolk Southern primarily utilizes General Electric (GE) locomotives for its fleet. The GE locomotives are highly efficient and provide a reliable source of power for the railroad.
Norfolk Southern is the largest single user of GE locomotives in North America and is the only Class I railroad that operates solely GE locomotives.
The majority of Norfolk Southern’s locomotives are powered by either a 7FDL-16 or 8FDL-16 diesel engine. These engines are designed to be highly efficient and provide maximum fuel economy.
The engines range in power output from 3,800 horsepower to 4,500 horsepower and are capable of pulling long trains over steep grades.
Norfolk Southern also uses a variety of GE C40-9, C40-8W, and AC4400CW locomotives for freight service.
The AC4400CW was the first AC-traction locomotive on the NS system and has proven to be a reliable and powerful option for moving freight across the country.
In addition to these mainstays, Norfolk Southern also operates several specialty locomotives. The most common are the GP38-2 and GP39-2 switchers which are used for switching operations within railyards.
Norfolk Southern also has some “Heritage Units” which were painted to commemorate the heritage of the company.
These units feature paint schemes from the past, such as black and white passenger cars, the old orange and white NS logo, and other designs.
How fast do Norfolk southern trains go?
Norfolk Southern trains can reach top speeds of up to 79 miles per hour, depending on the type of train and route.
The average speed of NS trains is usually around 40 to 50 miles per hour.
NS has an extensive network of tracks across the eastern US, so many trains move at different speeds depending on where they are traveling.
On some mainlines, trains can reach speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. Trains that are traveling through curves and on mountain grades usually move slower than other types of trains.
Norfolk Southern also operates a fleet of freight locomotives that can reach top speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, though the average speed of these locomotives is usually closer to 20-30 miles per hour.
Interesting facts about NS
1. NS operates in the East and Midwest, but not in the West. It has 19,500 route miles of track stretching from Norfolk, Virginia to Chicago, Illinois, and as far west as Memphis, Tennessee.
2. Norfolk Southern operates one of the oldest railroads in the U.S., dating back to 1838 with its original route connecting Petersburg, Virginia to Weldon, North Carolina.
3. NS has the most extensive intermodal network in the Eastern U.S., including more than 400 dedicated intermodal facilities and terminals.
4. NS is a leader in the use of advanced technologies such as precision scheduled railroading (PSR). PSR allows NS to move more freight faster while using fewer resources and less energy.
5. NS is also a leader in railroad safety. It achieved a record-low train accident rate of 0.37 per million train miles in 2018, down from 1.11 in 2017.
6. Norfolk Southern is an active partner in environmental sustainability initiatives, including environmental restoration projects and energy conservation initiatives.
7. NS is also an active participant in community programs that are aimed at improving education and health initiatives.
Resource
https://www.nscorp.com
