Coal Equipment

At Norfolk Southern, we are dedicated to providing customers with quality coal cars.

NS has a fleet of approximately 35,000 coal cars, including manual hopper cars for bottom drop customers, gondolas for rotary dump service, high cubic capacity coke hoppers, and air-operated quick discharge hoppers.

Beginning in December 2006, NS will begin a multi-year process to replace the oldest steel hoppers and gondola cars in its fleet as the cars come to the end of their productive lives and are retired. The old cars - with carbon steel bodies and low payload capacities - will be replaced with new, high-capacity equipment and built to new industry standards for 286,000 lbs gross weight on rail loadings.  These new cars will be the first all new cars in NS’ fleet since 1998. 

NS will receive 400 new, aluminum bodied, air-operated, quick discharge hoppers in December 2006. These cars will be used in dedicated train sets and will have maximum payloads over 117 tons. These 400 cars will replace old steel manual hoppers currently in operation. Beginning in the first quarter of 2007, NS will take delivery of 1,200 new coal gondolas. These twin tub designed cars will be constructed of carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum. These rugged, lightweight cars will be compatible with all NS-served car dumpers and typical thaw shed operations utilized by NS customers.

2006 NS Coal Fleet Summary

Whatever your needs, Norfolk Southern is committed to providing safe and reliable equipment from our extensive fleet of more than 36,500 coal hoppers and gondolas.

�