NS hosts event designating Atlanta a Freight Rail Smart Zone

With millions of rail cars moving through Atlanta annually, the city is a vital hub for freight rail service. That's why Norfolk Southern, the Association of American Railroads and CSX Transportation joined together in late September to designate the Atlanta area a Freight Rail Smart Zone for the efficient movement of consumer goods and products.

Wick Moorman, senior vice president corporate services (l), and David Goode, chairman, president and chief executive officer, look on as Mike Wright, general road foreman of engines (r), explains the finer points of NS' locomotive simulator to Gov. Sonny Perdue, seated.

NS hosted the event behind its 99 Spring Street building. Participants included NS and CSXT customers, elected leaders and other government officials. They got up close and personal with locomotives and Triple Crown Services Roadrailer equipment, and they even tried operating a locomotive using NS' locomotive simulator van. In the process, they learned more about rail transport.

"Atlanta is undeniably a regional and global cargo-handling powerhouse - a city truly deserving recognition for valuing rail's role in moving consumer goods and products," said David Goode, NS chairman, president and chief executive officer.

That role figures prominently in NS' investment of $150 million in the Atlanta market to support intermodal initiatives through economic and industrial development in the past seven years. In addition to its regional headquarters, NS has four major rail facilities in the region: Inman Yard in Atlanta, Doraville Yard, Industry Yard at East Point, and its newest and largest intermodal facility east of the Mississippi River, the Whitaker Intermodal Terminal in Austell, west of Atlanta. The company also has worked closely with the Georgia Ports Authority on the construction of a new intermodal container transfer facility at Savannah.

Goode was joined by Ed Hamberger, AAR president and chief executive officer; Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue; State Sen. Tommie Williams, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee; Charles Graves, Atlanta commissioner of planning, development and neighborhood conservation; Chick Krautler, executive director of the Atlanta Regional Commission; and Clarence Gooden, senior vice president merchandise service for CSXT.

Hamberger told the audience that 60 percent of the rail traffic moving through Atlanta is consumer goods and products. Using rail is a smart way to do it.

"Last year, we moved 9 million intermodal units by rail - up from 3 million 20 years ago, and it is expected to double in the next 20 years," he said. "That means fewer trucks on the roads, less pollution and less energy use."

It is estimated that rail shipments to and from the region eliminate 6 million trucks from the highways.

Customers give NS high marks for service improvements

The latest annual survey of Norfolk Southern customers shows marked improvements in service and customer satisfaction. The survey was conducted in May and June.

The survey measured customer opinions in a number of areas, including overall transportation performance, equipment availability and condition, pricing, marketing and sales support, freight claims, billing, e-commerce offerings and commitment to customer service. This year's results show marked improvement in almost every major category.

"Our customers are noticing the results of the successful implementation of our Thoroughbred Operating Plan and other initiatives to improve our services to them," said Rob Martínez, vice president marketing services and international. "We saw double digit improvements in many categories and a 5 percent improvement in the perception of NS' overall performance."

While there was progress across the board, Martínez said there is room for improvement.

"I believe we will see better results in local operations because of local operating plan adherence implementation this year," he said. "And, we will work continuously to improve in all areas we measure through the survey."

Preparation and planning bring quick response to Isabel's damage

A month after a massive blackout threatened operations, Norfolk Southern employees faced the challenge of preparing for a more serious threat - a hurricane 300 miles across packing winds of up to 100 mph.

As Hurricane Isabel approached the East Coast, NS employees began to prepare equipment and facilities.

The Piedmont Division's preparations started more than a week before the storm hit. "We weren't sure where it would hit us, so we had to be well prepared," said Charlie Rickman, division superintendent.

As the storm turned northward, the Virginia Division took action. "Each day we implemented more of our strategy. As the hurricane advanced, the intensity of our responses increased," said Mel Crawley, division superintendent.

As Isabel's projected path became clearer, the Northern Region positioned people and generators. At many coastal locations, NS employees moved trains to higher locations such as Bluefield, W.Va., and Knoxville, Tenn. Rail equipment was loaded onto trailers so it could be moved if necessary. NS employees went to industrial sites to secure all rail cars.

"We pumped all hazardous material and oil tanks in case we got heavy rains," said Scott Kershaw, division manager mechanical, Harrisburg Division. All hazardous materials were moved out of the potential path of the storm.

The day before Isabel made landfall, preparations were drawing to a close.

"Operations in the projected path ceased well in advance to protect employees and property. We also kept our customers informed of our operating plans," said Eastern Region General Manager Wayne Mason.

Jeff Pair, Norfolk Terminal superintendent, spent the night before the hurricane in his office. His task was to protect equipment, ensure that locomotives were on high ground and stock supplies for recovery efforts.

"We worked with Norfolk International Terminals to move equipment away from flood areas," Pair said.

At approximately 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18, the hurricane slammed into the North Carolina coast, cutting a wide path as it moved inland. It left 2,700 downed trees on NS tracks in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Some eastern North Carolina tracks were under water, and a bridge in the Shenandoah District suffered a partial washout. Fortunately, the Northern Region did not experience flooding problems.

NS people went to work restoring service in affected areas. Where power was out, communications and signals people and maintenance of way teams worked around the clock to operate more than 200 generators placed at rail crossings. The engineering department patrolled tracks and removed trees from main lines.

"We were able to resume operations on the Virginia Division and in Norfolk successfully before most major industries. That was due to the dedication and sacrifice of our people plus solid planning and execution," Crawley said.

"The quick and safe response of our employees helped us open all our main lines the very next afternoon," said Ray Rumsey, Eastern Region chief engineer. The partially washed-out bridge was repaired and in service by midnight Saturday. All service was restored by Sunday.

Lawmen perform at centennial commemoration of the "Wreck of the Old 97"

On Sept. 27, 1903, Norfolk Southern predecessor Southern Railway's southbound mail express train No. 97, traveling from Washington to Atlanta, careened from a curved wooden trestle and crashed into Stillhouse Creek 75 feet below. Eleven men died and six sustained injuries, making it one of the worst wrecks in railroad history.

A popular ballad immortalizing the "Wreck of the Old 97" was the first song to sell more than a million records and was a catalyst for the rise in popularity of country music.

On that same date 100 years later, the NS Lawmen kicked off festivities commemorating that event with their version of the song and received a standing ovation at the Carrington Pavilion in Danville, Va.

"This was a great event," said Stan West, the band's manager. "To be singing the song that commemorates this event on the same spot and same date that it took place 100 years later is something to remember."

NS salutes its veterans in November

Norfolk Southern salutes its veterans past and present in November in a special celebration, Veterans Month.

"The skills and expertise our veterans bring to our company add to our ability to serve our customers and to be the Thoroughbred of Transportation. They help strengthen our corporate foundation based on safety, teamwork and a drive to successfully meet any challenge," said David Goode, chairman, president and chief executive officer.

The celebration is a project of the company's Diversity Council.

"We wanted to highlight the contribution our veterans make to our company's diversity," said Peggy Scholzen, labor relations officer and Diversity Council member.

The company's Web site, www.nscorp.com, has a page devoted to the celebration. Information about community activities across the system, a weekly quiz, military facts of the day and personal recollections of NS employees who are veterans are on the site. Information will be updated throughout the month. Links to other information about the U.S. Armed Forces also are on the page.

A special poster was designed and distributed to all NS facilities to remind employees and visitors to "thank a veteran in November."

"Traditionally, we honor American veterans on Nov. 11 -- Veterans Day -- but we believe that every day is a good day to honor the contributions of our veterans," said Dave Brown Jr., locomotive engineer and Diversity Council member.

In addition to Scholzen and Brown, Veterans Month team members include: Pam Blakeney, assistant manager centralized yard operations; Curtis McElroy, locomotive engineer; Ed Trinkle, general superintendent terminal operations, transportation; Ron Spradlin, senior claim agent; J.C. Holland, locomotive engineer; Tom Ables, manager technical resources, public relations; Robin Chapman, manager online communications, public relations; Alphonso Tabb, manager diversity; David Cobbs Jr., assistant vice president diversity and EEO; and Andrea Just, manager internal communications, public relations.

This poster is displayed throughout the system to honor Norfolk Southern's veterans.

How Veterans Day came about

In 1921, an unknown American World War I soldier was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A few years earlier, similar ceremonies took place in England and France. These memorial gestures all took place on Nov. 11, giving universal recognition to the end of World War I combat at 11 a.m., Nov. 11, 1918. The date became known as Armistice Day.

Armistice Day officially received recognition in the United States in 1926 by congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later. A few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. World War II saw 16.5 million Americans take part, with more than 407,000 of them dying in service and more than 292,000 in battle.

To pay tribute to those who had served in WWII, Armistice Day became Veterans Day and was intended to honor those who had served the U.S. in all wars. In 1954, President Eisenhower officially proclaimed Nov. 11 "Veterans Day."

Veterans' stories tell of service and sacrifice

When Newsbreak asked for stories from Norfolk Southern's veterans, we received more than could fit in the publication. Every one tells an important story about service and sacrifice. We've posted all of them on the Veterans Month page of the NS Web site, www.nscorp.com. Here are some excerpts.

"The sun set as we steamed away from Vietnam for the last time. We had witnessed the death of a nation and flight of a people in unprecedented numbers. It was said that we rescued more than 120,000. It is impossible to pass through such events unchanged, although we probably never really realize how much we are affected by them."

William F. Perdue, senior systems coordinator, financial Planning, Norfolk, recalling his participation in the Vietnam evacuation

"The Hot Line rang and you could see the shock in all our eyes. Was that really the Hot Line ringing? The captain answered the phone. He and the 2nd lieutenant began to write down the code coming across the phone ... 'tango - bravo - six - Charlie - ... ' Was this really happening?"

Bob Sorber, train dispatcher, Harrisburg, Pa., recalling a day in 1977 when he might have had to fire a Titan II missile

"I was the officer of the day on Jan. 15, 1991, the day the United Nations resolution deadline expired. I waited, but nothing happened. However, just after midnight the following day, I awoke to the sound of the first attack on Iraqi targets. Desert Storm had begun."

Dan Motley, manager industrial development, Roanoke, as Operation Desert Storm began

"Sandstorms blew so hard it felt like you continually were being hit with BB pellets. You couldn't see. You couldn't breathe. Sand was everywhere … in your clothing, your eyes, your mouth. It was inescapable."

Jim Phillips, conductor trainee, Greenville, S.C., telling of his experience in Operation Iraqi Freedom

"Just as in the movie Private Benjamin, I walked in the recruiting station and simply said, 'Sign me up. I'm ready for a good challenge.' My 7-year journey began after a train ride to Boot Camp from Virginia to Orlando, Fla."

Jutta Spencer, chief clerk superintendent's office, Norfolk, telling how she enlisted in the Navy

"Our mission is to provide a safe and secure environment for the people of Kosovo. Our units do presence patrols throughout the sector."

Richard Kos and Mark Decker, machinists, Juniata Locomotive Shop; and John Hammond, senior general foreman, wheel shop, Altoona, Pa., reporting from Kosovo about their current duties for Operation Enduring Freedom

"There were oil wells burning around us the whole time we were there, so even at noon most days, the sky was black with smoke. And on the horizons you could see the flames and black funnels at various intervals all the way around you."

Richard Scott, supervisor of imaging-archives, Atlanta, describing the scene in Operation Desert Storm

"When we came under attack and the rockets, mortars, etc., came raining down on us, the younger airmen would ask me what to do. Mostly, I advised them to take cover as trained, and then begin praying. It got us through those most difficult times."

Sam Chalton, district claim agent, Atlanta, relating his experience in Vietnam

"Sixteen mortars came into the base at 01:00 hrs. I was awakened by the attack, and I counted every mortar as they made their target. We lost a few helicopters and several buildings, plus a few good men. At age 18, this was the most terrifying experience I ever had been involved in."

William Dobbins, special agent, Police, Croxton, N.J., as he experienced his first mortar attack in Vietnam

In Memoriam
Stanley Crane

Stanley Crane, who served as chairman of Norfolk Southern predecessors Southern Railway and Conrail, was honored at a memorial service in Philadelphia.

Oct. 18. Crane died July 15 of complications from pneumonia.

His railroad career spanned 50 years. He joined Southern Railway in 1938. After a brief stint with the Pennsylvania Railroad, he returned to Southern in 1965 and retired as its chairman in 1980. Under his leadership, Southern was the second most profitable railroad in the country.

His retirement was short-lived as he took on the challenge of making federally owned and financially strapped Conrail a viable company. His leadership and determination put Conrail "in the black" by 1982. In 1987, he engineered a $1.58 billion IPO for Conrail. At the time, it was the largest IPO in the history of the New York Stock Exchange. He retired in 1988.

Crane was remembered by former Southern and Conrail employees as one of the great railroaders and an inspirational hands-on leader who cared deeply about the people who worked for the company.

NS 2004 wall calendars available

Norfolk Southern 2004 wall calendars can be purchased for $9.95 (including tax, postage and handling) using a credit card by calling toll-free 1-800-264-4394 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, or by sending a check or money order for that amount to:

Nyberg, Fletcher and White
2915 Whittington Ave.
Baltimore, Md. 21230