Train Basics Ask Trains Norfolk Southern’s business cars

Norfolk Southern’s business cars

By Angela Cotey | October 18, 2012

| Last updated on November 3, 2020

Ask Trains from the January 2012 issue

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Q What happened to the permanently coupled two business cars, the “Virginia” and the “Carolina,” that the Southern Railway provided for its president and chairman?
— Bob Sewell, Marysville, Wash.

A The Virginia (NS 1) and the Carolina (NS 2) have been paired since they were built in 1928. Pullman originally constructed them for Southern Railway. The Virginia, a dining-observation car, is the perfect traveling complement to the five-bedroom sleeper Carolina. Southern first numbered the Virginia SOU 16 and the Carolina SOU 17. In 1979, car 16 became SOU 1, and car 17 was renumbered SOU 1A. Six years after the creation of Norfolk Southern in 1982, the cars were given their current names and were renumbered NS 1 and NS 2. Historically, the Virginia/Carolina set has been reserved for the railroad’s president or chairman of the board.

Today, Norfolk Southern Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Charles W. “Wick” Moorman enjoys hosting guests on the cars. Over the years, many of the cars’ fixtures have been carefully preserved, and attention to detail is apparent throughout. In the Virginia, metal walls have been painstakingly painted to look like wood.

Norfolk Southern Railway

Norfolk Southern Railway
Permanently coupled Virginia and Carolina have long served railroad top executives, first for Southern Railway, now for Norfolk Southern. The Virginia is a dining-observation car.

2 thoughts on “Norfolk Southern’s business cars

  1. What happened to The Virginia's Clerestory Roof, in pictures of Mr. Claytor on it the car had a clerestory roof. Did NS add that for its executives?

  2. Why doesn't the Norfolk Southern use the Peavine route from Portsmouth,Ohio for the shorter route to Cincinnati. David Marshall Knoxville ,Tn.

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