Norfolk Southern

Producer: Kalmbach / Trains Magazine

Locations: system

Timeframe: 1982-2022

Length: 68 minutes

Sources: Marshall Beecher, more

The 40th Anniversary of Norfolk Southern. Trains magazine show. June 1, 1982 was the Norfolk and Western with Southern Railway to create Norfolk Southern. The Conrail split added additional trackage.

Contemporary NS stretches most of the East Coast to Midwest cities such as, Chicago and St. Louis. Precision Scheduled Railroading implementation in 2018. Heritage Diesel paint jobs are plentiful. Beautiful scenery.

Commentary from top NS executives and knowledgeable contributors. Viewers can learn about Operations. Future and current plans regarding freight traffic. The host narrative includes routes.

A single DVD. Pro cinematography. Live environmental audio. Professional production throughout.

Main Chapter Menu. A chapter advance. Subtitles list locations. System maps are referenced. Narrated by Steve Sweeney.

To the Trains 👉

Historical information of predecessors with still photographs leads off this program.

Precision Railroading discussion. NS 8018 (General Electric ES44AC) heads a Unit Coal at Christiansburg, Virginia.

The three key mainline routes are reviewed. Southern Crescent is explained first. History with commentary by Bill Schafer. Begins in New Orleans to Atlanta. North across the Carolinas. Virginia to Hagerstown to Harrisburg. Tour starts in Atlanta.

Follow the former Southern Railroad route to the North.

NS 4123 crosses a trestle at Lynchburg, VA. Norfolk Southern locomotive fleet is reviewed. Altoona Shops are visited.

The Chicago Line, aka Premier Corridor. Old Pennsylvania Railroad route from Newark to Pittsburgh to ex: NYC for Cleveland to Chicago. A helper set led by NS 7265 (SD70ACU) passes on the inside track. Pulling hard has NS 6307 (SD40E) on the point of a long Double-stack . Horseshoe Curve.

NS 8141 fronts an Intermodal through Pittsburgh. This is the Premier Corridor aka Chicago Line.

Heritage Penn Central with Harrisburg Intermodal traffic. This city has become a key point for NS Distribution traffic.

Switches to the North – South mainline.

This action is at Tateville, Kentucky. Central of Georgia 8101 is on Cincinnati Northern iron.

Former Southern Rathole Division leased from CNO&TP. NS 9936 exits a remaining tunnel with a Double-stack at Oakdale, Tennessee. The Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway is a railroad that owns the Cincinnati Southern Railway from Cincinnati, Ohio, south to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Leases it to the Norfolk Southern.

Towering at around 300 feet high. New River Bridge is in Tennessee.

The Heartland Corridor. Pocahontas subdivision. Ohio to Roanoke on the former Norfolk and Western. Twenty engines displayed at Spencer, North Carolina. These were Heritage Series. Assorted Heritage locomotives are seen in operation.

Norfolk Southern

Here is an extensive overview of modern era Norfolk Southern. Historical anecdotes and visuals are interpolated throughout the program. Plays similar to an educational PBS style show.

Coverage highlights key mainlines. Southern – Crescent Corridor. Chicago Line – Premier Corridor.  CNO& TP. N&W – Heartland Corridor.

Precision Railroading is explained. Altoona Shops are visited. Heritage Units are highlighted.

Outstanding videography from many sources. Many beautiful scenes that resemble magazine covers. Fine vintage photographs augment the narrative. Very interesting and intelligent narrative with some keynote speakers. Balanced soundtrack.

In short. A fascinating look at Norfolk Southern. See and develop a knowledge base of this successful railroad. It may take a few viewings to absorb this rather quickly paced release. Trains magazine has knocked it out of the park. Highly recommended.

Rating: Rating: 5 Stars