NS Highlights 2015 Responsibility Achievements

In a report published on its website Norfolk Southern said it is working to achieve cleaner-running locomotives, greater energy efficiency, support for safer communities, fewer workplace injuries and a more diverse workforce.

Those goals were outlined in the company sustainability report titled “What Efficiency Looks Like.”

The report touts key achievements that NS made in 2015 and provides details about its progress toward reaching a healthy balance between its business imperatives as a publicly traded company and its environmental and social commitments as a responsible corporate citizen.

“Efficiently moving freight trains across our 22-state network is a cornerstone of sustainability at Norfolk Southern,” said NS CEO Jim Squires in the report. “It’s about turning challenges into daily opportunities – keeping our people and communities safe, providing unequalled customer service, and being a good steward of the resources that contribute to our success.”

Among the highlights that NS cited achieving in 2015 were:

Rolled out a new class of low-emission Eco locomotives at rail yards in Atlanta and Chicago.

Introduced a custom plug-in engine-heating system at rail yards that reduces unnecessary locomotive idling in cold weather.

Adopted a five-year goal to improve locomotive fuel efficiency, which will contribute to the company’s goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

In the matter of economic performance, NS said it:

Returned more than $700 million in dividends to shareholders, representing a 6 percent increase in dividends per share for the year.

Supported the location of 61 new industries and 32 industry expansions along NS rail lines, representing $4.2 billion in customer investment and more than 6,100 new customer jobs.

Contributed more than $13.7 million in combined Norfolk Southern Foundation, corporate, and business giving in communities served by the railroad to support human service needs, arts and culture, environment and education.

In the area of social performance, NS said it:

Recorded a 13 percent decline in employee reportable injuries.

Hired a record number of female employees: 28 percent of management trainees and 7 percent of conductor trainees were women.

Formed local employee diversity and inclusion councils in each of the railroad’s 10 operating divisions.

Helped train more than 4,800 local emergency responders in safe response to potential incidents involving transport of product regulated as hazardous material.

NS Donates $25K to Help W.Va. Flood Victims

The Norfolk Southern Foundation is donating $25,000 to help West Virginia get back on its feet after a series of thunderstorms last week dumped up to 7 inches on parts of the state and the subsequent flooding resulted in the deaths of 26 people.

Thousands were forced out of their homes with more than 1,200 homes destroyed by the flooding or the fires that erupted.

The storm was the third deadliest in state history.

NS said it will send its donation to the American Red Cross, which is helping displaced West Virginians cope.

“The American Red Cross has the proven track record for delivering fast and effective help when disaster hits,” said Jim Squires, NS chairman, president, and CEO. “If our support can provide even the smallest measure of relief for our West Virginia employees, business partners, and neighbors, then we consider ourselves fortunate and grateful to be able to provide it.”

The flooding disrupted railroad operations for four days, but rail service has since resumed operating.

611 Ferry Move back to Roanoke Set for May 30

The long-awaited return of Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 after its restoration will occur on May 30 when the 4-8-4 will travel under steam from North Carolina to its home in Roanoke, Va.

The 220-mile trip will begin on the former Southern Railway main line with No. 611 entering its former home rails at Lynchburg, Va.

From there the 611 will traverse a route that it once traveled in scheduled passenger service in the 1950s.

No public tickets are being sold for the ferry move to Roanoke, which the 611 is expected to make without any diesel helpers.

However, a welcome home reception for the 611 in Roanoke at the former N&W passenger station will be open to the public. The 611 is expected to arrive in Roanoke between 2 and 6 p.m.

Among the VIPs who will be aboard the excursion train to Roanoke will be NS CEO Wick Moorman and President Jim Squires.

The 611 is owned by the Virginia Museum of Transportation and officials say that the May 30 date is significant because it is 65 years and one day after the engine entered revenue service and one year after its appearance at the Streamliners at Spencer festival that in part served as a kickoff for the locomotive’s restoration at the North Carolina Transportation Museum.

In the meantime, workers have completed insulating the 611’s boiler. Jacketing and painting the locomotive are the next tasks to complete. A testing firing will then be conducted before the locomotive makes its test runs.

The 611 was one of 14 Class J passenger locomotives built at Roanoke in 1950 and ran in revenue service through 1959.

It was displayed in Roanoke’s Wasena Park until being restored to operating condition in 1981. It pulled numerous excursions through late 1994 when it was placed on display at the Virginia transportation museum in Roanoke.

The museum in 2013 began a study that concluded that the 611 could be restored for $3.5 million with another $1.5 million needed for an endowment.

The museum has thus far raised more than $3 million from across the United States and 19 countries.

Fund raising continues for an on-campus shop and education facility that the museum hopes to begin constructing this summer.