Along with painting special locomotives to honor its history, Norfolk Southern has announced a schedule for employee steam excursions throughout its 20,000-mile system this summer, including two weekends that will involve trips in or near Toledo, to celebrate its corporate 30th anniversary. These will not be public excursions, so getting on board likely won't be possible for most, but they will still offer the public chances to see a big-time main line steam locomotive pulling a train across at least a little of the countryside. We imagine there will be lots of rail enthusiasts along the tracks to watch this one -- and probably a few police officers around to discourage anyone from doing anything dangerous, too.
Here's what NS has sent out to its workforce. It doesn't have specific times or terminals for the trains, but the Lake Division includes terminals in Fort Wayne, Ind., Columbus, and Bellevue, while the Dearborn Division includes Toledo, Detroit, and Elkhart, Ind. The Nickel Plate 765 is almost certain to be assigned to the local trains, given that it is based in Fort Wayne.
Norfolk Southern employees soon will enjoy opportunities to ride
behind steam-powered excursion trains.
NS’ “Employee Appreciation Excursions” will be operated on weekends
this summer and fall in recognition of the corporation’s 30th
anniversary. Each of the railroad’s 11 divisions will host several
excursions.
The tentative schedule is:
June 2-3, Georgia Division
June 9-10, Piedmont Division
June 30-July 1, Virginia Division
July 14-15, Central Division
July 21-22, Lake Division
July 28-29, Dearborn Division
Aug. 4-5, Pocahontas Division
Aug. 11-12, Pittsburgh Division
Aug. 18-19, Harrisburg Division
Sept. 8-9, Illinois Division
Sept. 15-16, Alabama Division
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and the Fort Wayne Historical
Society are providing the steam locomotives, equipment, and services
to make these excursions memorable, fun, and of course, safe.
Southern Railway 630 will be used for the trips on the southern part
of the system. No. 630 was built in 1904 by the American Locomotive
Company at Richmond, Va., and is one of the three locomotives that
will be used in NS’ 21st Century Steam program over the next four
years.
Nickel Plate Road 765 will be used for the trips on the northern part
of the system. No. 765 was built in 1944 by the Lima Locomotive Works
in Lima, Ohio, and is familiar to many railroaders, having been in
excursion service on and off since 1979.
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