Enola improvements complete
redesigned network

Norfolk Southern has completed network improvements for its Thoroughbred Operating Plan (TOP) for merchandise traffic. Enola Yard, near Harrisburg, Pa., is the last piece of the puzzle to complement the company's efforts to reduce transit times and car handling for merchandise trains. Classification operations began Jan. 21.

The company has quadrupled the switching capacity at Enola Yard. The project enables NS to streamline routings between certain origins and destinations, while enhancing the quality of service it offers.

"This project symbolizes Norfolk Southern's aggressive pursuit of freight business moving between the Northeast and the South and further solidifies Harrisburg's position as a major freight hub for the Mid-Atlantic," said David Brown, general manager Northern Region. "Shippers should realize immediate benefits from the capacity increase at Enola, including improved transit times and equipment utilization."

The improvements allow NS to process 600 cars per day, compared to 125 previously. The $9.8 million project involved rehabilitating nearly 13 miles of track, constructing nine miles of new track and replacing 10 miles of railroad ties. Also included in the project was the renovation of an unused office building and the installation of 12 light towers.

"With this last piece in place, we can offer our customers more consistent, reliable service," said Dale Schaub, senior director service design and transportation planning. Schaub is part of a team located in Atlanta that monitors daily merchandise traffic performance in a command center. Performance is measured by on-time departures at origins, point-to-point transit and on-time arrivals at destinations. The team can make changes to the plan as conditions change, to ensure consistency.

Enola Yard was built in 1905 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, an NS predecessor, and at one point was the largest rail freight classification yard in the U.S. Traffic through the yard reached its peak in the 1940s. Enola's role as a major railroad classification facility ended in 1993, when Conrail ceased hump operations.

New bulk transfer facility opens in Chicago

Norfolk Southern announced the opening of a new Thoroughbred Bulk Transfer (TBT) terminal operation in Chicago.

TBT facilities handle the transfer of bulk products, such as plastic pellets and liquid sweeteners, from one mode of transportation to another. Bulk transfer permits off-rail shippers and receivers of varied commodities to combine rail's long-haul efficiencies with truck's convenient door-to-door delivery.

"The equipment and services provided by this facility will enable shippers to increase distribution in the Chicago area with truck-served customers and allow them to gain the benefits of rail economics," said Mike Webb, manager of MODALGISTICS, NS' new supply chain and distribution services group.

NS has 23 TBT and other bulk transload facilities in 14 states.

Atlanta employees rush
to help stricken woman

Four concerned Atlanta Norfolk Southern employees went out of their way on Feb. 1 to help a woman complaining of chest pains. She was walking near the parking lot of the 125 Spring St. office building when she became ill.

"They went out of their way to help someone in need," said Jerry Brooks, supervisory special agent. "It could easily have been another employee needing this assistance, and it's good we have concerned employees who are willing to step forward."

Thomas O'Dwyer, engineer real estate; Donald Pfaadt, customer account representative; Arianne Sherman, customer account representative and Pat Torres, manager equipment planning, did what they thought was necessary to help someone in need. They notified police and waited with the woman.

"Police officers see these type of incidents all the time," said Brooks. "The majority of the time you see no one getting involved or assisting, but on this incident people got involved in their own way."

Petersburg auto unloading facility
receives record high marks

Norfolk Southern's multilevel unloading facility in Petersburg, Va., received the highest quality score in North America given by an industry audit team that makes unannounced inspections.

The Petersburg facility earned a 99 percent rating in the audit, called a Destination Quality Review. The surprise inspection was conducted in September 2001 by representatives of RAILINC. An integral part of the North American rail industry, RAILINC maintains extensive industry databases, applications and services which are embedded in industry operations and financial systems.

The Petersburg facility's score matched its score for a previous inspection in March 1999.

"We consider anything above a 95 on an unannounced review pretty good," said Paul Davis, senior director auto operations and damage prevention.

Auditors grade multilevel unloading facilities on multilevel placement, end doors/decks/bridge plates, unloading and baying procedures.

General Motors and Honda use the facility to help in the distribution of their vehicles.

Performance, teamwork recognized
by steel producer

Norfolk Southern received recognition for its great performance and teamwork during 2001 from Steel Dynamics, Inc. (SDI).

SDI is located in Butler, Ind., and produces steel sheet for products ranging from automobiles to lawn and garden equipment.

During 2001, NS moved over 12,000 cars of scrap metal and finished steel for SDI. Finished steel moves in open and covered coil cars, carrying four to five coils each. Each coil can weigh up to 40,000 pounds. Just in the last two weeks of December 2001, over 400 cars were moved outbound behind NS locomotives.

"They had a huge amount of steel to be shipped that month," said Bob Hagen, national account manager, metals and construction, Chicago. "And we were able to cover their car needs."

According to Hagen, NS has had a strong business relationship with SDI since its start in 1995.

"Everyone involved does an outstanding job for SDI," said Hagen. "From the car ordering and car distribution, to local switching and road crews, it's not just marketing and sales, but a great overall NS team effort."

Samuels receives national honor

John M. Samuels

John M. Samuels, senior vice president operations planning and support, has been recognized for his dedication and service to the National Academies. The organization includes the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council.

Samuels was honored for his voluntary service on the National Research Council, on which he serves as vice chairman of the executive committee of its Transportation Research Board.

The board is the working arm of the National Research Council. Its mission is to promote innovation and progress in transportation by stimulating and conducting research, facilitating the dissemination of information and encouraging the implementation of research results.

Light named to senior law position

Henry D. Light

Henry D. Light was named senior vice president law for Norfolk Southern Corporation effective Jan. 22.

As NS' chief legal officer, Light succeeded J. Gary Lane, who died Jan. 17 after a yearlong illness.

Light earned degrees in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1962 and in law from the University of Virginia in 1969. He joined NS in 1973 and served in positions of increasing responsibility before being named general counsel operations in 1996 and vice president law in 2000.

Transportation employees recognized
for exceptional service

A number of Norfolk Southern transportation department employees were recognized for exceptional service to PRO-TEC Coating Company in Liepsic, Ohio. That dedication to reliable and consistent service earned NS PRO-TEC's first-ever Outstanding Service Supplier award in 2001.

Dave Latta (left) and Tom Beeber were honored for their dedication to providing reliable, consistent service to PRO-TEC Coating Company.

At a luncheon, NS Conductor Tom Beeber, Engineer Dave Latta, Trainmaster Mark Pruden, Division Superintendent Wayne Mason and Western Region General Manager Greg Comstock were on hand to accept the award from Paul Worstell, president and general manager of PRO-TEC, for their dedication in providing PRO-TEC excellent service. Also in attendance were members of the sales and marketing department, including Don Seale, senior vice president.

"It's an honor that they think that much of us to recognize us the way they did," said Beeber.

"This crew demonstrates the professional attitude displayed by many of our employees," said Mason. "They always do what is asked of them, even at the last minute."

PRO-TEC is owned by both Kobe Steel, in Japan, and America's US Steel Group. PRO-TEC employs about 90 people supplying hot-dip galvanized steel to automotive, appliance and construction customers.

Coiled steel is interchanged from the EJ&E at Van Loon, Ill., and crosses the Lake Division to the PRO-TEC plant in Leipsic through two dispatcher territories - Chicago and Fostoria.

From Van Loon, the steel travels on Train 323 to Fort Wayne, Ind., where it is switched to Local L75 to continue the trip to Leipsic and the PRO-TEC plant.

"This was a team award," said Pruden. "It makes you feel good when a crew that does as well as this one gets this type of recognition from one of our customers."

Pocahontas Land Corporation continues its 100th anniversary celebration with photo exhibit

Visitors to Norfolk Southern's headquarters building can see a bit of history in an exhibit of photos from NS subsidiary Pocahontas Land Corporation's (PLC) archives.

The Bluefield, W.Va., company owns or controls more than 1.7 billion tons of coal reserves. It also works to find new ways to use post-mining land.

The exhibit is located on the third floor at Three Commercial Place in Norfolk.

Click here for a sampling of photos.