Norfolk Southern is one of the two major class one railroads that operate in Ohio, the other being CSX. Norfolk Southern, like the other major class one’s, was built mainly through mergers and acquisitions. The modern company came into existence in 1982 when the Norfolk and Western Railway merged with the Southern Railway. The name was taken from a previous Norfolk Southern that had been acquired by the Southern in 1974.
Norfolk Southern operates 20,832 miles of mainline track. There locomotive fleet is currently around 4,000 and approximately 95,000 cars make up the owned and leased freight car fleet. The railroad currently operates 25 major classification yards.
In 1998, Norfolk Southern acquired 58% of Conrail, with the other 42% going to CSX. It’s acquisitions included most of Conrail’s former PRR lines including the famous Horseshoe Curve in western Pennsylvania.
Major Routes
Rather than attempt to list every Ohio line that eventually became part of the Norfolk Southern System, I’m going to instead outline the major lines and subdivisions that Norfolk Southern currently operates in the state of Ohio. As of 2009 Norfolk Southern operates 2,233 miles of lines throughout the state. Below is a map I took from a 2009 Report by the Ohio Rail Development Commission.
Fostoria District
The Fostoria District is a former Norfolk & Western line runs between Bellevue and Fort Wayne, IN. It is named for the major junction with CSX’s Toledo and Fostoria Subdivisions at Fostoria. It is single-tracked.
Chicago Line
The Chicago Line is a former Conrail line that runs between Cleveland and Chicago. It was originally built by a number of companies and became a crucial part of the New York Central’s water level route from New York to Chicago. It is doubled track and has provided Norfolk Southern a release valve for some of the traffic on its former Nickel Plate east-west mainline. Amtrak operates the Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited over this line.
Cincinnati District
Nicknamed the Peavine due to its hills and curves, this former N&W line was originally built in segments by the narrow gauge Cincinnati & Eastern starting in 1876. The line was completed from Cincinnati to Portsmouth in 1883. It is currently closed to traffic east of Peebles.
Cleveland District
The Cleveland district is an ex-N&W line that spans from Bellevue to Cleveland. The Wheeling & Lake Erie has trackage rights over the duration of the line.
Cleveland Line
The Cleveland Line is an ex-Conrail route that runs between Cleveland and Rochester, PA. Amtrak operates the Capitol Limited over this line.
Columbus District
This former Norfolk & Western double-track line runs from Columbus to Portsmouth. It is a major part of Norfolk Southern’s Heartland Corridor project.
Dayton District
The Dayton District is a former Conrail line that runs between Columbus and Cincinnati. Originally built as part of the CCC&StL (Big Four), it became part of the New York Central when they acquired the Big Four in 1920. When the NYC became part of the Penn Central in 1968 much of the line east of London was abandoned in favor of the Pennsylvania route. The I&O currently has trackage rights over the Dayton District between Hamilton and Cincinnati.
Detroit/Huntington Districts
A small segment of the Detroit District cuts through the northwest corner of the state on its route from Detroit, MI to Fort Wayne, IN. About 28.5 miles of this former N&W line are located in Ohio.
Lake Erie District
The Lake Erie District is a former N&W line that runs from Buffalo, NY to Cleveland. The line has a junction with the Bessemer & Lake Erie at Conneaut. CSX has trackage rights from Conneaut to Ashtabula.
Lima District
The minor line is a former N&W line that runs approximately 47 miles between Lima and Arcadia. It is single track with manual block control.
New Castle District
At one time a PRR owned line, the New Castle District was sold to the Norfolk Western as part of the Penn Central bankruptcy. It runs between Cincinnati and Fort Wayne, IN. Between Hamilton and Cincinnati CSX has trackage rights as part of their directional running agreement for Cincinnati, and the I&O has switching rights that it inherited from Conrail.
Toledo District
The Toledo district is a former Wheeling & Lake Erie line that runs between Toledo and Bellevue. The new Wheeling & Lake Erie has trackage rights over the line. It intersects the Chicago Line at Oak Harbor.
Sandusky District
The Sandusky District is a 110 mile route that runs between Columbus and the coal docks at Sandusky on Lake Erie. Built by the Sandusky and Columbus Short Line Railway in 1893 the line eventually came to be owned by the PRR and became a major coal hauler. In 1964 the line was purchased by the N&W. It gained new importance as a route to connect the recently purchased Nickel Plate system (with a major yard at Bellevue) to the Columbus District and the rest of the N&W system.
West Virginia Secondary
The West Virginia Secondary is an ex-Conrail (nee-NYC) line that runs from Columbus to Charleston, WV. It is currently single tracked and features 4 tunnels.
Youngstown Line
Located in the Northeast Corner of the state, the Youngstown Line is an ex-Conrail route between Ashtabula and Rochester, PA. It is single track and CSX has trackage rights over the entire line.
Radio Frequencies (Subject to change and revision)
- 160.245 – Dispatcher to Train
- 160.365 – ex-Southern carmen
- 160.380 – MOW
- 160.440 – Yard (Watkins Yard)
- 160.485 – Ex-N&W Carmen
- 160.620 – NS Police
- 160.770 – Ex-Southern Road
- 160.830 – Ex-Southern Dispatcher
- 160.950 – Ex-Southern Road (Gest Street Yard)
- 160.980 – Road (Dayton District)
- 161.055 – MOW
- 161.070 – Road (West Virginia Branch)
- 161.115 – EOT Devices
- 161.190 – Road (Sandusky District)
- 161.205 – NS Police
- 161.250 – Yard (Gest Street Yard, Watkins Yard)
- 161.490 – Ex-Southern Yard
Roster
For an up to the minute Norfolk Southern locomotive roster visit NS Dash 9.com.
References
- Landrum, J. E. “Norfolk Southern in Cincinnati.” Cincyrails.
- “Ohio Statewide Rail Plan Draft Final Report.”Ohio Rail Development Commission. December 18, 2009.
- “Our History.” Norfolk Southern.