N&W. Where did it go?

[Anonymous]

Hi All.

I was hoping someone could give me some info on the N&W Railroad...

When did it stop running as the "N&W"?

And if you could give me any more info on the railroad...

Thanks heaps...

Matt

[coalminer3]

Good Morning:

Stopped being the N&W when it merged with the Southern to become present-day Norfolk Southern.

The "old" N&W, however, was one of the first to enlarge itself through merger when it acquired the Nickel Plate Road and the Wabash.  This version of the N&W operated from Norfolk, Virginia as far west as Chicago, Omaha, DesMoines, and Kansas City.  It operated as far NE as Buffalo, NY and also into Canada.  The heart of the old system was, of course, its coal operations in southern WV, aka the Pocahontas. 

There are lots of good publications out there which you can find via an internet search

Hope this helps

Work safe 

 

[BigJim]

The "old" N&W, however, was one of the first to enlarge itself through merger when it acquired the Nickel Plate Road and the Wabash. 

Before this the N&W merged with the Virginian.

There are two new books to hit the shelves lately. "Norfolk & Western...Steams Last Stand"* and "N&W Steam...in color". Both are very good pictorials. *Note, if you are new to the N&W, there are several typographical errors in "...Steam's Last Stand". Nothing big enough not to buy this beautiul book, but just enough to give someone a black eye and get you in trouble making bets. It is correctly spelled "Shaffer's Crossing", not Staffers Crossing and correctly spelled "Scioto" not Sciotto.

[JanOlov]

Hi there. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about Norfolk & Western Railway.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_and_Western

[Alco83]

Indeed, carrying on steam power until the early 1960s and using a black livery fit the N&W very well as a good majority of its traffic was coal (and much of it from southern West Virginia coal fields).  Of note, the N&W was a major lifeline for the dying Pennsylvania Railroad prior to its merger with New York Central.  Since the Pennsy held a majority ownership in the N&W it could use the coal hauler's handsome profits to offset its red ink (which is the only reason it showed profits by the 1960s).  Here is another link that will give you a quick overview on the N&W.

If you a really interested in the N&W consider joining the Norfolk & Western Historical Society.

[Anonymous]

Always seemed strange to me that the new name for the merged SR and N&W was Norfolk Southern because that was the name of a short line, mainly in North Carolina, that had Norfolk as its northeastern terminus.

I think it got merged into the N&W sometime after 1971 (date of my last Railway Guide), but it caused some confusion in the ranks of mid-western railroaders who would usually call the newly merged Southern and N&W as the Norfolk and Southern; a rather logical name, if you asked me.

Art 

[Anonymous]

Hi Again...

And thank you all for your fantastic info. As i live in Australia we don't get all the info we need when we are modeling your railroads... I just wish it was easier to get a hold on the N&W rolling stock.

Anyway... you have been great... Thanks

Matt

[nanaimo73]

I just wish it was easier to get a hold on the N&W rolling stock.

This site has 3000 pictures of N&W rolling stock-
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsList.aspx?id=NW

[Alco83]

Indeed, Matt, if you are looking for photos of N&W rolling stock you may also want to check out George Elwood's fallen flag photos website.  All kinds of good stuff, there!

[arkansasrailfan]

the N&W merged with the SR i think back in around 1980. I have photos of some freight cars, even some that say, "Norfolk and Western", but I haven't seen any recently. DEFINITLY no engines!!!!

[Alco83]

Wyoming, while they are disappearing more and more a number of N&W freight cars still rumble through West Virginia quite a bit, paticularly around the Bluefield and Pokey areas.

[arkansasrailfan]

I still see a ton of SR cars. but only the unique cars, which amount to nip!-zero!-all gone! But it must be because it's 12:42 AM. Only thing unique really is cabooses, but they don't count, they're all in parks. i'm slowly going nut's- I won't be in bed until 2:00........