News & Reviews News Wire Norfolk Southern nominates four railroads for next heritage locomotive

Norfolk Southern nominates four railroads for next heritage locomotive

By Trains Staff | October 31, 2024

The railroad is seeking votes on social media

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Norfolk Southern’s heritage locomotive fleet gathered at the former Southern Railway Spencer Shops in North Carolina in July 2012. Norfolk Southern

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern will add another heritage locomotive to its original 20-unit fleet.

“We’ve narrowed it down to four iconic railroads, but only one will get to roll out of Altoona,” the railroad said in a recent LinkedIn post, referring to its paint shop in Pennsylvania.

The railroad has selected four predecessor railroads as candidates: Tennessee, Alabama, & Georgia Railway; Atlantic & East Carolina Railroad; Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway; and the Delaware & Hudson Railway.

The railroad is accepting votes in comments on its social media channels. “#TeamNS is voting too, and we’ll be combining the votes to select the winner,” NS said. “Stay tuned for the big reveal!”

NS has begun repainting locomotives from its original 2012 heritage fleet.

21 thoughts on “Norfolk Southern nominates four railroads for next heritage locomotive

  1. D&H seems off topic as it’s CP Rail now. I’m not familiar with the other candidate railroads.

    When the subject turns to CSX heritage, I will strongly advocate for my home town New Haven Railroad, while grudgingly advocating for Boston and Maine in honor of the late George H. Drury’s home town.

  2. Pittsburgh and West Virginia! P&WV made the Norfolk and Western the powerhouse it is today. The small and mighty railway moved freight with its Alphabet partners like the bigs boys, the PRR and B&O. Was the links to great success in the Alpha Route days.

  3. I see a lot of comments for D&H…but does NS have any ownership of the rights to that railroad’s image? Last I heard CPKC held them because they bought D&H.

    1. That’s an interesting question, because NS, in turn, has purchased former D&H lines from CPKC, but not all of them. Presume the NS legal dept. has checked this out. If all is well, I vote for D&H.

  4. Since CSX announced their 20th heritage locomotive yesterday (Clinchfield ES44AH 1902), I’d keep all four names in NS’ back pocket if they want to stay ahead in the race.

  5. D&H definitely–It is an historic line with beginnings related to a canal created to move Pennsylvania coal.

    1. Since D&H is/has been CP territory for years to say nothing about back in the 60/70 period when D&H need N&W NS should pick Tennessee, Alabama & GEORGIA!!! (go Dawgs)

    2. My comment got cut some where, but what it should have noted is D&H needed N&W in the 60/70 period and N&W wanted nothing to do with D&H, so why now make it a heritage NS scheme? Maybe CPKS can make a D&H heritage locomotive sometime, I’ll vote of TAG!!!!

    3. John, since it took over two years for CPKC to paint a few of their loco’s in their new livery (in acknowledgement of KCS being more than just a conquered property) and left the rest of their fleet in battered, dirty CP red with white lettering and the CP Beaver shield, I would very much doubt that they will now splurge for a heritage unit of any railroad because that is just not the way Keith Creel does things. Now, if someone offered to paint it for him I am sure he would jump at it but on their own, it will be a very cold day in Winnipeg before that will ever happen. Most people would be happy if they would just wash their units once it while so people can see what is under all that dirt and diesel residue. It sure isn’t pride…

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