what do you think about norfolk southern???

[Anonymous]

i dont know what you think about norfolk southern but i love them just tell me what you think...thankyou

[nsrayman]

i love them too !

[Anonymous]

My fondness for CSX stems from my love of the B&O, but I digress.
I admire the NS.
Back when the struggle was going on for Conrail, NS was painted as the evil villain, and by a lot of Conrail employees. CSX seemed to be the one most wanted to work for.. Is the sentiment the same now?
NS seems to be a well run outfit, and the darling of the government agencies around Washington, while CSX seems to do everything wrong.
I don't know if all of this is possibly overblown, but it sure seems that NS has emerged as the post Conrail top dog.
Jimmy

[Junctionfan]

I like NS' style. Even though they act like a business, they still are very self expansive concentrating on perfecting what they have and not trying to buy other railroads for the sake of a rail line or motive power.

David Goode strikes me as a bit of a railfan who tries to fit in some experimental operations for the exploration of what is profitable. So far it has payed off. I watched a stock market show and saw him on T.V talking about NS. He was very articulate and simplified explainations which meant I could understand majority of what he was saying. This is the kind of man who in my mind can make NS profitable enough to not need to merge anymore.

I wish some of the other railroads would follow suit.

[espeefoamer]

Goode runs a tight ship.N S is well managed,and makes money.Some policies may seem a bit strict,but whatever they are doing,it works.

[canazar]

I kinda get the imression that CSX and UP at one end ofthe spectrum and BNSF and NS at the other...

Best regards,
john k

[Anonymous]

got to love that new NS paint job with the horsehead on the side

[Anonymous]

The NS can be very stubborn and hard to deal with.

They couldn't manage Ford's mixing center in Kansas City and Ford had to hire UPS to manage the center instead.

The UP sent people to talk to the NS and CSXT and brief them on the
problems they had with the SP merger, what to do and what not to do when
they merged with the CR. And amazingly enough, both railroads turned
around and did some of the very things the UP warned them wouldn't work.
And both the NS and CSXT melted down.

A friend of mine that works for another eastern railroad was in on some
meetings when NS was merging with part of CR. The NS rolled out their
plans and said they were going to operate their trains on such and such a
route. The other people in the room told them no that won't work. The NS
people again said they were going to operate on that route and were again
told that wouldn't work. The NS people were screaming and shouting and
raising cain about their rights and what the contract said, yadda, yadda.
One of the other people in the meeting pointed out that the connection the
NS was insisting on using had been abandoned by CR for over a year and was
physically not there. In another case the NS would beat up another
railroad they had operating rights over about their rights under the
contract and in every meeting made it perfectly clear they expected the
other railroad to comply with the contract TO THE LETTER. The NS had a
shipment of wide loads for export. There were two loads that got bad
ordered enroute and the NS was pressuring the other railroad to hurry up
and clear the wide loads so they could catch up with the others and let the
ship go. The other railroad pointed out to the NS the contract required 2
days advance notice on wide loads so as soon as the NS gave them the
dimensions they would clear the loads two days later, to make sure they
complied TO THE LETTER, per the NS's demands.

Smith

[Anonymous]

I can only respond from the point of view of a railfan and a cop. I like NS because they are here in town and active... not sure how long that's going to last, there's a rumor they are closing down the yard here in Columbus, Georgia... but the folks here have always been friendly and always busy. So... I like 'em.

Erik

[Anonymous]

Might not be a rumor after all. Here's an article by a friend of mine in the local paper....

Westmoreland boosts effort to relocate downtown rail yard

Freshman congressman seeks funds for feasibility study; city covets 88-acre space

BY CHUCK WILLIAMS

Staff Writer


WASHINGTON - Columbus city officials have been talking for more than a decade about the possibility of moving a downtown railroad yard.

The problem has been the rail yard is owned and operated by Norfolk Southern Corp., and the Virginia-based company has shown little interest in listening to proposals from the city and Greater Col- umbus Chamber of Commerce.

That appears to be changing, but they are still miles and many millions of dollars from an agreement.

But the city and chamber officials have found a new ally in the battle to free 88 acres of prime real estate east of Veterans Parkway.

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., has offered his help. Westmoreland, a freshman congressman who represents a portion of north Columbus, serves on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. But more importantly, he is vice-chairman of the Railroad Subcommittee.

Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mike Gaymon said it does not hurt to have Westmoreland involved.

"We have had an audience with Norfolk Southern in the past," Gaymon said. "But we have not had federal pressure put on Norfolk Southern saying we want you guys to come to the table and look at willing to be a partner to do this."

Westmoreland is requesting $250,000 in federal funds to study the project's feasibility.

The Chamber of Commerce has asked the congressman to help secure the money. The chamber plans to hire a consultant for what is expected to be a six-month study.

Westmoreland has asked Congress to fund a study that would: "Determine the feasibility of the relocation of the railroad marshalling yards out of the central business district into a more rural, compatible site in the region. The study will determine the current rail facilities and traffic patterns, present and future yard functions including switching and signaling needs. The determination of the new location sites will include the estimated cost of construction, the construction schedule, drafts of the yard layouts, initial operations plan and mainline alignments."

There are no guarantees the federal funding can be obtained.

Westmoreland has been talking to Norfolk Southern officials about opening a conversation with people in Columbus.

"I am continually mentioning it to them," Westmoreland said last week. "I know in the past they have turned a deaf ear. If they don't have any interest, they should at least offer the courtesy to sit down and talk to them."

It appears those conversations are beginning to happen.

There has already been one meeting between chamber officials and Norfolk Southern representatives. Another meeting is scheduled April 27 that will include Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheff.

A Norfolk Southern spokesperson said Friday the railroad is aware of the wishes of Columbus business and political leaders.

"Norfolk Southern recognizes there is an issue of having a rail yard in the center of a city," said Norfolk Southern's Susan Terpay. "We know it is of great interest to some people in Columbus."

Disaster threat

One of the reasons for the renewed focus on moving the rail yard is because of safety concerns, Gaymon said.

The Norfolk Southern trains carry potentially explosive and deadly chemicals. It would make sense to remove that threat from the center of a populated city, proponents say.

"The rail yard would be better off in Talbot County or Bleeker, Ala.," said former Columbus mayor Frank Martin. "It poses the threat of an honest accident that could create the opportunity for a disaster."

If the pu***o acquire the land from Norfolk Southern is successful, it is going to need one person who becomes the project's advocate, Gaymon said.

Martin, a local attorney, was asked to lead the effort but declined because of his law practice. Martin was an obvious choice because during his term as mayor, he met with Norfolk Southern officials to discuss the rail yard's relocation.

"We went to Atlanta to talk to Norfolk Southern and they were courteous," Martin said. "They said they would look into it. And that was the end of that."

Norfolk Southern is a large railroad company that operates freight trains in 22 states east of the Mississippi River. The company uses more than 21,000 miles of track.

Norfolk Southern said moving the rail yard could disrupt its business.

"We have to retain the ability to serve our customer," Terpay said. "If the network changes one operation, it affects the entire system."

Norfolk Southern said the other downside was the potential cost to relocate tracks and other infrastructure. Terpay would not estimate what that cost would be. Columbus officials have estimated the cost could be $50 million or more to purchase the land, clean up the site and relocate the railroad.

That still hasn't stopped Columbus from pushing. But Martin said the decision will come down to economics.

"There is an excellent argument for moving, both for the railroad as well as the city of Columbus," Martin said. "The problem is as big as Norfolk Southern is with its billions of dollars in income, it's not subject too much to pressure or appeal on the civic side."

Point person sought

The chamber and city will continue to look for the right person to lead the effort.

Gaymon compared the relocation efforts to the Gateways Project and the new Columbus Public Library, two successful efforts that required an advocate pushing it through.

Columbus businessman John Flournoy led the Gateways effort, which beautified interstates, entrances and interchanges along Muscogee County's main roads. Columbus attorney Pete Robinson led the successful effort to build a new main library.

"We need a long-ball hitter to step up," Gaymon said. "Take the Gateways. John was the champion. The Feds said we could not put sprinklers in the medians. He refused to let a bureaucratic decision dictate what happened. If it had not been for John, we might have had one intersection with a few plants."

Martin said if it is done right, it will require many hours of work and preparation.

"I don't believe I could give it the attention it deserves and requires," Martin said. "To do it right, it is almost a full-time project."

[Anonymous]

NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROAD ROCKS!!! But the other railways do too, but NS is my favorite. The paint scheme is so cool and they're one of the safest railways we have

[Anonymous]

Of the major four railroads, I am a fan of Norfolk Southern for a variety of reasons. Yes, they run a tight ship, and seem to be totally business oriented, but what I like about them is their employees.

Employees are what make a company, in Norfolk Southern's case I have an experience, which I will always remember.

In 2002 my 2nd cousin passed away due to an undiagnosed case of diabetes. He was a conductor and an engineer trainee with NS and truly seemed to love his work. At his viewing while the family was standing around a large portion of his co-workers showed up to pay their respects. Included in this group was an official who had with him a mounted certificate stating that my cousin had completed his engineer qualifications. This certification was buried with him for we all knew it was something he would be proud of. This jester had a profound impact on his family. It was just one of those things where someone went out of their way to show gratitude for a job well done. That is a side of big business that we do not always see, but I can tell you first hand that there are many in my family who will never forget that act of kindness.

[squeeze]

In this day of mergers, it is only a matter of time before the larger railroads merge to form a conglomerate. Possibilities include the CSX and UP merging to give coast to coast line and/or the NS merging with BNSF. So it is only a matter of time before all main lines go bankrupt and Big Brother has them all. Maybe it's time to enjoy the little bit we have left. The writing is on the wall.

[Anonymous]

[:)]
I think the NS is a very good road for the reasons Junctionfan and conrail gave above. NS big shots and employees know what they're doing (or in business speak, have a well-defined mission). Judging by their respective annual reports, CSX seems to understand that they are a transportation service that has something to do with the running of "trains," specifically "intemodal units" made possible by "advanced logistics" and such.

NS on the other hand is very business (i.e., very SHIPPER) oriented because that's how railroads make money. Also very friendly to the individual investor.

I grew up just across the road from the Norfolk & Western portion of what is now NS' Birmingham-Washington line. The route has been steadily and well modernized over the ensuing 35-plus years; and while the company can be sticky at local negotiating it nonetheless seems to know what it's about besides greed. Let's not forget that N&W plumped for auto-carrier trains 30 years before the merger with Southern.

In fact, I think the Norfolk is underrated. Reading other people's description of the company puts us on Appalachian spur lines way too much. Despite the history of mallets and friendly coal companies, NS was never quite as "hillbilly" as Clinchfield, which for a while was virtually an arm of L&N. [:0]

The notion that an eastern railroad is somehow suffering in a post-industrial climate and has to nurture an overelaborate system prone to rot--well, there's no good in overgeneralizing but if one must, that describes Chessie better than the Norfolk today. Stock analysts don't even treat CSX as a transportation company but as a "mature cyclical"; that is, something that exists and is run in a way such as to guarantee diminished earnings and a dull future. Analysts like NS, though, but clearly the western lines are easier to understand.

NS has been immensely successful monetarily of late, of course, and thus the irony is that if Junctionfan's aggressive-acquisition mode of mergers between railroads starts up again, well, the NS does have plenty of cash on its hands. BNSF and NS are probably too good for each other--not in the sense of "stuck up" but in the sense of where the mutual rubbings-off of a superior railroad culture exist. Moreover, why on earth would NS deal with CSX? And UP's
We're Number One and You're Not attitude? NS might want the KCS' "speedway" but not much else. And CN is too much of a gladiator.

Maybe it's just sentiment but I would love to see the NS and CP get together (IF AND ONLY IF FURTHER MERGERS ARE INEVITABLE ANYHOW). Otherwise, I like the status quo. But CP and NS are more alike than most people understand, with their custom services, fast routes, an ability to make some money in good times and lean, and and just a generally "clean" approach to its capital equipment and, I assume, employee pride.

And that thoroghbred logo is the BEST! Makes BNSF's swoosh look like the blazing mediocrity of corporate design that it is.[V][:(][:(] Pity, 'cuz I love BNSF too.[:D]

[Anonymous]

Norfolk Southern is the best railroad in the United States. The Norfolk Southern employees seem to have good company spirit. Norfolk Southern might merge someday with another railroad, but for now, and a long time into the future I strongly believe they will be independent and strong. I like Norfolk Southern so much that I am even considering purchasing stock in NSC. I live along Norfolk Southern's St. Louis line in Fairfield Illinois, 62837. They are constantly making improvements to the tracks through here. Earlier this year they applied more ballast to the tracks, replaced some rails, and cut down a bunch of trees beside the tracks. I have grown up with Norfolk Southern, and everyone here thinks they're a good railroad.