The Expected Happens

As most steam fans expected, or deeply suspected, Norfolk Southern announced on December 21 that the 21^st Century Steam program is over.  This means, according to the railroad, that no steam trips will be operated in conjunction with either the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum or the Ft. Wayne Railroad Historical Society in 2016.  One can reasonably assume that this will remain the case for the next several years, possibly forever.  

The announcement also included the news that NS will work with the Virginia Museum of Transportation to run trips in Virginia and the Carolinas behind 611 in 2016, provided that VMT meets the “operational and financial requirements.”  Not being an expert on the details of operational and financial requirements, I can only assume that VMT can meet these, and that there is a good chance of 611 running on NS rails in 2016.

Norfolk Southern also noted that the discontinuance of the 21^st Century Steam program was not tied to the retirement of former Chairman and CEO Wick Moorman.  That’s a bit hard to swallow, although one would not expect them to say that this is the reason they’re ending the program.  My guess is that if Moorman were still in the CEO’s chair, the termination of the program would not have occurred.  Maybe severely cut back, but not eliminated.

So, what to make of all this?  First and foremost, Norfolk Southern and Wick Moorman deserve our most sincere appreciation for what they did with the program since 2011.  Their efforts resulted in at least two new generations learning of steam’s beauty and power through the operation of four locomotives on multiple mainline trips.  In addition, the steam program, along with the NS heritage units, put NS and the rail industry in the public eye as effectively as most advertising programs.  And, the operation of these locomotives being captured by still and video photographic technology that didn’t exist in 1994 (i.e., digital) has left us with the highest quality images and videos ever made of mainline steam in the east.

It’s disappointing that the program has ended.  Yet, with NS facing several “headwinds,” such as declining energy traffic, the need to complete PTC in the next few years, along with the merger pot being heated and stirred, one can’t be upset with the railroad.  Moreover, after NS quit steam in 1994, then brought it back in 2011, and capped it off with the running of 611 in 2015, which will likely run in 2016, who knows what the future will bring?  My advice is to keep those goggles and your favorite railroad hat where you can find them – you may need them sooner than you think.