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      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_SeniorNoteFivePointSixFourPercentDueTwoThousandTwentyNineMember"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeDomain to SeniorNoteFivePointSixFourPercentDueTwoThousandTwentyNineMember" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"
      xlink:to="nsc_SeniorNoteFivePointSixFourPercentDueTwoThousandTwentyNineMember"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeDomain to SeniorNoteFivePointSixFourPercentDueTwoThousandTwentyNineMember"
      order="5"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_SeniorNoteFivePointFiveNinePercentDueTwoThousandTwentyFiveMember"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_SeniorNoteFivePointFiveNinePercentDueTwoThousandTwentyFiveMember"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeDomain to SeniorNoteFivePointFiveNinePercentDueTwoThousandTwentyFiveMember" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"
      xlink:to="nsc_SeniorNoteFivePointFiveNinePercentDueTwoThousandTwentyFiveMember"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeDomain to SeniorNoteFivePointFiveNinePercentDueTwoThousandTwentyFiveMember"
      order="6"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_SeniorNoteSevenPointEightPercentDueTwoThousandTwentySevenMember"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_SeniorNoteSevenPointEightPercentDueTwoThousandTwentySevenMember"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeDomain to SeniorNoteSevenPointEightPercentDueTwoThousandTwentySevenMember" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"
      xlink:to="nsc_SeniorNoteSevenPointEightPercentDueTwoThousandTwentySevenMember"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeDomain to SeniorNoteSevenPointEightPercentDueTwoThousandTwentySevenMember"
      order="7"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_SeniorNoteSevenPointZeroFivePercentDueTwoThousandThirtySevenMember"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_SeniorNoteSevenPointZeroFivePercentDueTwoThousandThirtySevenMember"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeDomain to SeniorNoteSevenPointZeroFivePercentDueTwoThousandThirtySevenMember" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"
      xlink:to="nsc_SeniorNoteSevenPointZeroFivePercentDueTwoThousandThirtySevenMember"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeDomain to SeniorNoteSevenPointZeroFivePercentDueTwoThousandThirtySevenMember"
      order="8"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_PreviouslyIssuedNotesMember"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_PreviouslyIssuedNotesMember"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeDomain to PreviouslyIssuedNotesMember" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"
      xlink:to="nsc_PreviouslyIssuedNotesMember"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeDomain to PreviouslyIssuedNotesMember"
      order="9"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="us-gaap_ProceedsFromShortTermDebt"
      xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2012/elts/us-gaap-2012-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ProceedsFromShortTermDebt"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to ProceedsFromShortTermDebt" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="us-gaap_ProceedsFromShortTermDebt"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to ProceedsFromShortTermDebt"
      order="1"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="us-gaap_RepaymentsOfShortTermDebt"
      xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2012/elts/us-gaap-2012-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RepaymentsOfShortTermDebt"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to RepaymentsOfShortTermDebt" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="us-gaap_RepaymentsOfShortTermDebt"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to RepaymentsOfShortTermDebt"
      order="2"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_AccountsReceivableSecuritizationBalance"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_AccountsReceivableSecuritizationBalance"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to AccountsReceivableSecuritizationBalance" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="nsc_AccountsReceivableSecuritizationBalance"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to AccountsReceivableSecuritizationBalance"
      order="3"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="us-gaap_ShortTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate"
      xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2012/elts/us-gaap-2012-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShortTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to ShortTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="us-gaap_ShortTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to ShortTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate"
      order="4"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_AccountReceivableSecuritizationFacilityTermDays"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_AccountReceivableSecuritizationFacilityTermDays"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to AccountReceivableSecuritizationFacilityTermDays" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="nsc_AccountReceivableSecuritizationFacilityTermDays"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to AccountReceivableSecuritizationFacilityTermDays"
      order="5"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt"
      xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2012/elts/us-gaap-2012-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt"
      order="6"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"
      xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2012/elts/us-gaap-2012-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"
      order="7"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateDescription"
      xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2012/elts/us-gaap-2012-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateDescription"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to DebtInstrumentMaturityDateDescription" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateDescription"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to DebtInstrumentMaturityDateDescription"
      order="8"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_AuthorityToIssueDebtEquitySecurities"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_AuthorityToIssueDebtEquitySecurities"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to AuthorityToIssueDebtEquitySecurities" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="nsc_AuthorityToIssueDebtEquitySecurities"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to AuthorityToIssueDebtEquitySecurities"
      order="9"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_NewDebtDebtExchange"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_NewDebtDebtExchange"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to NewDebtDebtExchange" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="nsc_NewDebtDebtExchange"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to NewDebtDebtExchange"
      order="10"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_NewRateDebtExchange"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_NewRateDebtExchange"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to NewRateDebtExchange" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="nsc_NewRateDebtExchange"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to NewRateDebtExchange"
      order="11"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_NewDueDateDebtExchange"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_NewDueDateDebtExchange"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to NewDueDateDebtExchange" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="nsc_NewDueDateDebtExchange"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to NewDueDateDebtExchange"
      order="12"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_OriginalDebt"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_OriginalDebt"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to OriginalDebt" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="nsc_OriginalDebt"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to OriginalDebt"
      order="13"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_OriginalRate"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_OriginalRate"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to OriginalRate" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="nsc_OriginalRate"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to OriginalRate"
      order="14"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_OriginalDueDateYear"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_OriginalDueDateYear"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to OriginalDueDateYear" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="nsc_OriginalDueDateYear"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to OriginalDueDateYear"
      order="15"
      use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="nsc_CashPremiumDebtExchange"
      xlink:href="nsc-20120930.xsd#nsc_CashPremiumDebtExchange"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to CashPremiumDebtExchange" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"
      xlink:to="nsc_CashPremiumDebtExchange"
      xlink:title="definition: DebtInstrumentLineItems to CashPremiumDebtExchange"
      order="16"
      use="optional" />
  </definitionLink>
  <definitionLink xlink:type="extended"
    xlink:role="http://www.nscorp.com/role/DisclosureDebtUnauditedDetails">
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"
      xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2012/elts/us-gaap-2012-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeAxis to LongtermDebtTypeDomain" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator"
      xlink:label="us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"
      xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2012/elts/us-gaap-2012-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeAxis to LongtermDebtTypeDomain" />
    <definitionArc xlink:type="arc"
      xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default"
      xlink:from="us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"
      xlink:to="us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"
      xlink:title="definition: LongtermDebtTypeAxis to LongtermDebtTypeDomain"
      order="2"
      priority="1"
      use="optional" />
  </definitionLink>
</linkbase>