History of Norfolk Southern Railway in Timeline
Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States. Formed in 1982 through the merger of Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway, it's headquartered in Atlanta. It operates over 19,420 route miles across 22 eastern states and the District of Columbia, with rights in Canada. Norfolk Southern Railway is the primary subsidiary of the Norfolk Southern Corporation.
2 hours ago : Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern consider merger to improve US rail transport.
Union Pacific refiled a merger application with Norfolk Southern, aiming to shift 2.1 million trucks from highways to rail. However, Union Pacific would withdraw if the STB mandates extensive line sales. The merger is part of a larger $85 billion rail project.
1953: Diesel-Electric Conversion
In 1953, the Southern Railway became the first major US railroad to completely switch from steam to diesel-electric locomotives.
1959: Acquisition of Virginian Railway
In 1959, the Norfolk & Western Railway (N&W) acquired the Virginian Railway, expanding its network.
1968: Penn Central Railroad Formation
In 1968, the Penn Central Railroad was formed by merging the Pennsylvania Railroad, the New York Central Railroad, and the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.
1976: Conrail Formation
In 1976, the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) was formed from the Penn Central Railroad and five other ailing northeastern railroads.
January 1979: Merger Application
In January 1979, Chessie System and Seaboard System Railroad applied to the Interstate Commerce Commission for approval to merge and create CSX Corporation, prompting Southern Railway and Norfolk & Western Railway to consider their own merger.
April 1979: Merger Plans Announced
In April 1979, the Southern Railway and Norfolk & Western Railway announced their merger plans in response to the proposed CSX Corporation merger.
1980: Conrail Profitability
In 1980, Conrail became profitable after the Staggers Act largely deregulated the US railroad industry.
1980: CSX Merger
In 1980, the Chessie System and Seaboard System Railroad merger went ahead, forming CSX Corporation.
1982: Retained Steam Excursion Program
After the 1982 merger, NS President Robert Claytor retained the Southern Railway's steam excursion program begun in the 1960s.
1982: Norfolk Southern Railway Formation
In 1982, the Norfolk Southern Railway was formed through the merger of the Norfolk and Western Railway and the Southern Railway. This established a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States.
1982: Norfolk Southern Corporation Creation
In 1982, the Southern Railway and Norfolk & Western Railway merger concluded, creating the Norfolk Southern Corporation.
1982: Known as Norfolk Southern
In 1982, the railway became widely known as simply "Norfolk Southern".
1982: Acquired Norfolk & Western 611
Merging with the Norfolk & Western Railway prompted the steam program to acquire and overhaul Norfolk & Western 611 in 1982.
1983: Initial Conrail Purchase Bid
In 1983, Norfolk Southern was among 18 bidders to make offers when the US government offered Conrail for sale.
1985: Planned Conrail Sale
By 1985, the government had begun planning to sell Conrail to Norfolk Southern, determining their offer was the best choice.
1987: Conrail IPO
In 1987, instead of a sale to one operator, an initial public offering was carried out to privatize Conrail.
1987: Acquired Norfolk & Western 1218
In 1987, the steam program acquired and overhauled Norfolk & Western 1218.
1990: Stock Transfer and Name Change
In 1990, Norfolk Southern Corporation transferred all the common stock of N&W to Southern, and Southern's name was changed to Norfolk Southern Railway Company.
1994: Expressed Interest in Conrail Purchase
In 1994, NS expressed interest in a Conrail purchase, but Conrail stated it had no interest in selling to another company at the time.
1994: Ended Steam Program
In late 1994, Norfolk Southern's management ended the steam program, citing safety concerns, rising insurance costs, the expense of maintaining the steam locomotives and decreasing rail network availability due to a surge in freight traffic.
October 1996: CSX Acquisition Announcement
In October 1996, Conrail and CSX made a surprise announcement that CSX would acquire the company, leading Norfolk Southern to enter a bidding war.
January 1997: Agreement to Split Conrail
In January 1997, an agreement was reached to split Conrail between Norfolk Southern and CSX, resolving the bidding war.
June 1997: Application to Purchase Conrail
In June 1997, NS and CSX applied to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for authority to purchase, divide, and operate the assets of Conrail.
June 8, 1998: STB Approval of Conrail Division
On June 8, 1998, the STB approved the NS-CSX application to purchase, divide, and operate the assets of Conrail, effective August 22, 1998.
August 22, 1998: Effective Date of STB Approval
August 22, 1998, was the effective date for the STB's approval of the division of Conrail's assets between NS and CSX.
1998: Norfolk and Western Merger
In 1998, Norfolk and Western was merged into Norfolk Southern Railway, forming one, united, railroad. Headquarters for the new NS were established in Norfolk, Virginia.
1998: Pennsylvania Lines LLC Formation
In 1998, Pennsylvania Lines LLC was formed to own Conrail lines assigned to Norfolk Southern in the split of Conrail.
June 1, 1999: NS Operations on Former Conrail Network
On June 1, 1999, Norfolk Southern began operating its trains on its portion of the former Conrail network, marking the end of the 1990s merger era.
1999: Acquisition of Conrail Trackage
In 1999, Norfolk Southern Railway acquired most of Conrail's former Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) trackage, leading to the creation of Pennsylvania Railway Lines and the use of PRR reporting marks on former Conrail motive power and rolling stock.
September 15, 2002: Train Derailment in Farragut, Tennessee
On September 15, 2002, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in Farragut, Tennessee, resulting in the release of oleum or fuming sulfuric acid. Roughly 2,600 residents were evacuated, and seventeen people were injured.
2003: Approval to Absorb Pennsylvania Lines LLC
In November 2003, the Surface Transportation Board approved a plan allowing Norfolk Southern to fully absorb Pennsylvania Lines LLC.
August 27, 2004: Absorption of Pennsylvania Lines LLC
On August 27, 2004, Norfolk Southern fully absorbed Pennsylvania Lines LLC, following approval from the Surface Transportation Board in November 2003.
January 6, 2005: Derailment in Graniteville, South Carolina
On January 6, 2005, a derailment in Graniteville, South Carolina, resulted in the release of chlorine and diesel fuel. A toxic cloud covered the city, resulting in nine deaths and thousands of injuries.
2007: Established Chief Sustainability Officer
In 2007, Norfolk Southern established the rail industry's first chief sustainability officer to improve environmental sustainability.
May 15, 2008: Announced Partnership with Pan Am Railways
On May 15, 2008, Norfolk Southern announced that it would join with Pan Am Railways to create the "Patriot Corridor", an improved rail route between Albany, New York, and the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area.
2008: Published First Sustainability Report
In 2008, Norfolk Southern published its first sustainability report outlining its environmental efforts.
2008: Locomotive Upgrade
In early spring of 2008, NS upgraded 3,800 of its locomotives with new technology that is 73 percent more efficient than previous models.
March 12, 2009: STB Approved Deal
On March 12, 2009, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) approved the deal between Norfolk Southern and Pan Am Railways, leading to the creation of Pan Am Southern (PAS).
2009: Battery-Electric Switcher Locomotive
In 2009, the company introduced an experimental battery-electric switcher locomotive, NS 999. This prototype locomotive was developed by Norfolk Southern in collaboration with the United States Department of Energy, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Pennsylvania State University.
June 2010: Announced 21st Century Steam Program
In June 2010, Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman announced that NS would run excursions with Southern Railway 4501, Southern Railway 630, and US Army 610 with their new 21st Century Steam program.
2011: Began 21st Century Steam program
In 2011 the 21st Century Steam program began with excursions in the south powered by 630 and in the north by 765.
2014: Locomotive Removed for Overhaul
In 2014, the locomotive was removed from static display from the Virginia Museum of Transportation to the North Carolina Transportation Museum to be overhauled. TVRM completed their restoration of Southern Railway 4501.
May 2015: Restoration of 611 Completed
In May 2015, the restoration of 611 was completed and celebrated with a run to Roanoke, Virginia, where it was originally built.
December 2015: Norfolk Southern Concluded Steam Program
In December 2015, Norfolk Southern concluded their steam program; however, the 611 continued to run various excursions, hosted by the Virginia Museum of Transportation and the North Carolina Transportation Museum.
2015: Introduced Operation Awareness & Response program
In 2015, Norfolk Southern introduced the Operation Awareness & Response program, which trains around 5,000 first responders annually.
March 15, 2016: Consolidated Operating Regions
On March 15, 2016, Norfolk Southern consolidated its three operating regions into two: northern and southern regions.
2016: Abandoned Merger with Canadian Pacific
In 2016, a proposed merger between Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific was abandoned after months in the pipeline.
2018: Steam Excursions Continued
The 611 continued to run various excursions, hosted by the Virginia Museum of Transportation and the North Carolina Transportation Museum across the NS system in Virginia and North Carolina until 2018.
2019: Labor Dispute Begins
In 2019, a labor dispute began between Norfolk Southern Railway and railway workers.
2019: Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Norfolk Southern reduced core greenhouse gasses by 13.5% between 2019 and 2021.
November 10, 2021: Atlanta Headquarters Opening
On November 10, 2021, the new Atlanta headquarters building for Norfolk Southern opened.
2021: CSX Announced Intention to Purchase Pan Am Railways
In 2021, CSX announced its intention to purchase Pan Am Railways, prompting Norfolk Southern to protest, arguing that CSX would be able to block Norfolk Southern out of the northeast.
2021: Set Greenhouse Gas Emission Target
In 2021, Norfolk Southern set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 42% by 2034 and had already achieved a 6% reduction.
2021: Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Norfolk Southern reduced core greenhouse gasses by 13.5% between 2019 and 2021.
September 2022: Tentative Deal Rejected
In September 2022, a tentative deal between Norfolk Southern and railway workers was rejected by a majority of the union's members.
November 2022: Georgia Tech Sustainability Program Contribution
In November 2022, Norfolk Southern contributed $750,000 to the Georgia Tech sustainability program for the next three years.
December 6, 2022: Announced New Service-and-Growth Plan
On December 6, 2022, Norfolk Southern announced a new service-and-growth plan to maintain its train crew levels during downturns.
December 2022: Workforce Demands
In December 2022, workforce demands nearly led to a nation-wide rail strike.
2022: Annual Report to Investors
According to NS's 2022 Annual Report to Investors, at the end of 2022, NS had 19,300 employees, 3,190 locomotives, and 40,470 freight cars. Coal transport accounted for 14% of operating revenue, general merchandise 57%, and intermodal 29%.
2022: Emission Reduction Goals
In 2022, Norfolk Southern aimed to cut its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2034 to align with climate-change goals set by the Paris Agreement.
February 3, 2023: Train Derailment in East Palestine, Ohio
On February 3, 2023, a freight train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Emergency crews conducted a controlled burn of the spill releasing hydrogen chloride and phosgene into the air.
May 2023: Agreed to Provide Paid Sick Days
In May 2023, Norfolk Southern agreed to provide up to seven paid sick days per year to employees.
May 2023: Enlisted Help of Atkins Nuclear Secured
In May 2023, Norfolk Southern enlisted the help of Atkins Nuclear Secured (ANS) to address the safety of transporting hazardous materials.
June 2023: Sick Time for Union Workers
In June 2023, Norfolk Southern became the first major North American railroad to offer sick time to all union workers.
July 2023: Cincinnati Southern Railway Purchase Plan
In July 2023, Norfolk Southern announced plans to purchase the Cincinnati Southern Railway for $1.6 billion.
August 2023: FRA Published Report on Safety Culture
In August 2023, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published a report on Norfolk Southern's safety culture, which it rated at an "involving" level of maturity.
November 2023: Cincinnati Voters Approve Sale
In November 2023, Cincinnati voters approved the sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway to Norfolk Southern for $1.6 billion.
2023: Began Rehabilitation Projects in Binghamton
In 2023, Norfolk Southern began a series of rehabilitation projects following a city inspection in Binghamton, New York.
2023: Sustainability Recognition
In 2023, Norfolk Southern's efforts in reducing core greenhouse gasses led to recognition from USA Today's America's Climate Leaders and Forbes' Net Zero Leaders.
2023: Board Member Appointments
In 2023, retired Navy Admiral Philip Davidson, and Francesca DeBiase, former executive at McDonald's Corporation, were appointed to the board.
February 2024: Market Capitalization
In February 2024, Norfolk Southern's market capitalization reached nearly $58 billion.
July 2024: Agreed to Implement Safety Recommendations
In July 2024, Norfolk Southern agreed to implement a series of safety recommendations, including improving rail defect detection systems, modernizing nationwide tank car fleets, and getting real-time rail safety information to emergency responders.
August 2024: Key Executive Appointments Announced
In August 2024, Norfolk Southern announced key executive appointments. John Orr, the chief operating officer, named Tim Livingston as senior vice president of transportation and network operations.
November 2024: Shots Fired at Railway Police Officers
In November 2024, shots were fired at Norfolk Southern Railway police officers as they investigated a burglary in Chicago. The officers were unharmed, and the suspects fled.
2024: Board Member Nominations
In 2024, Norfolk Southern nominated a slate of new board members, including Richard H. Anderson and Heidi Heitkamp, asking shareholders to vote for them at the May shareholder meeting.
2024: Early Agreements with Rail Unions
In 2024, Norfolk Southern reached early agreements with four major rail unions ahead of national bargaining, covering pay, benefits, and work rules.
2024: Shareholders Vote to Keep CEO
In 2024, shareholders voted to keep Alan Shaw as CEO of Norfolk Southern, but voted in three new directors after an investor group tried to remove him.
January 2025: Settlement with East Palestine
In January 2025, East Palestine and Norfolk Southern reached a settlement regarding the derailment.
July 2025: Began Murray Street Bridge Repair
The Murray Street bridge repair, owned by Norfolk Southern, began in July 2025 as the fourth repair project in Binghamton, New York.
July 29, 2025: Union Pacific Acquisition Announcement
On July 29, 2025, the Union Pacific Railroad announced plans to acquire Norfolk Southern in a deal worth $85 billion, potentially creating the first transcontinental railroad network in the United States.
September 2025: Presidential Comment on Merger
In September 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly commented in favor of the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger. The proposal is under review by the Surface Transportation Board.
October 2025: Railroad History Collections Support
In October 2025, Norfolk Southern contributed $500,000 to the unification of major railroad history collections in Atlanta, enhancing the Atlanta History Center with nearly 1,000 linear feet of records.
November 14, 2025: Shareholder Approval of Merger
Shareholders overwhelmingly voted to approve the merger of Norfolk Southern with Union Pacific on November 14, 2025.
2025: Launched First Wheel Integrity System
In 2025, Norfolk Southern launched its first Wheel Integrity System, which analyzes wheels to look for defects before they become critical issues.
2034: Emission Reduction Target
NS aimed in 2022 to cut its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2034. NS began efforts to lower emissions, such as modernizing more than 100 locomotives each year and equipping 93% of its active locomotive fleet, or 1,550 locomotives, with energy-management technology.
2034: Target Year for Emission Reduction
Norfolk Southern has a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 42% by the year 2034.
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