Norfolk Southern and union end talks over ground-based conductors

Crew member riding on locomotive steps

Norfolk Southern and the SMART-TD union have ended negotiations over redeploying conductors to ground-based positions. The railroad and union instead will focus on implementing other immediate quality of life improvements, NS said today. “Over the next year, SMART-TD and Norfolk Southern have the opportunity to work together to implement important predictability improvements for our conductor […]

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Norfolk Southern names intermodal and carload marketing executives

Norfolk Southern logo

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has added two new marketing vice president positions for its intermodal and carload business segments. Yannik Thomas was named vice president of intermodal and automotive operations, while Stefan Loeb was named vice president of first and final mile markets. Both appointments are effective on April 2. “At Norfolk Southern, our goal […]

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Federal agency issues advisory calling for shippers to stop using DOT-111 tank cars

Workers and equipment around burned out tank cars

WASHINGTON – A federal agency has issued a safety advisory recommending that shippers and tank car owners stop using DOT-111 tank cars in the wake of the February derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio. “The safety advisory re-emphasizes concerns with the survivability of DOT-111 tank cars and encourages tank car owners […]

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Senators again grill Norfolk Southern over East Palestine derailment

WASHINGTON — Senators put Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw in the hot seat today during a hearing on improving railroad safety in the wake of the toxic derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Shaw once again apologized for the East Palestine derailment, said the railroad is taking steps to improve safety, and will continue to support […]

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The search for real heritage locomotives

dark, multi-colored train with overcast sky

Heritage locomotives Over the last few decades, railroads have rolled out dozens of specially painted locomotives. Whether they were wrapped or painted, we’re fortunate to live in an era where honoring a company’s past is so visual. We are also lucky we live in an era where paint booths are far and few between and […]

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Train, truck entered grade crossing simultaneously in fatal Cleveland accident, NTSB says in preliminary report

Diagram of grade-crossing accident

WASHINGTON — The conductor of a Norfolk Southern train was killed earlier this month when the freight car he was riding in a shoving move and a dump truck “simultaneously entered” a private grade crossing at a Cleveland steel mill, pinning the conductor between the railcar and dump truck, according to the National Transportation Safety […]

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NTSB: Some East Palestine tank car pressure relief devices were compromised

Burned out tank cars and tank truck in muddy area

WASHINGTON — The pressure release valves on some of the tank cars carrying vinyl chloride in the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment of a Norfolk Southern train may have been compromised, the National Transportation Safety Board said today. The valves maintain internal pressure at safe levels by venting material to reduce the potential for a catastrophic […]

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NTSB focusing on performance of wheelsets in NS derailment in Springfield, Ohio

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the March 4 derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train in Springfield, Ohio, is focusing on the performance of wheelsets, the board said in a preliminary report. Four days after the derailment NS began removing from service 517 steel coil cars made by National Steel Car […]

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Positioning of dead-in-tow locomotives in Alabama derailment was against NS rules, NTSB says in preliminary report

Derailed freight cars next to rebuilt right-of-way

WASHINGTON — Two locomotives being transported dead-in-tow were coupled together, contrary to Norfolk Southern operating rules, in the consist of the NS train that derailed March 9 near Anniston, Ala., according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report released Monday. With Norfolk Southern under close scrutiny in the wake of February’s derailment in East […]

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Norfolk Southern sued over stockholder losses from East Palestine derailment (updated)

Norfolk Southern logo

NEW YORK — Norfolk Southern, already facing suits from the state of Ohio and a number of individuals and businesses over the East Palestine derailment, is now the target of multiple lawsuits from or on behalf of its stockholders. At least three such lawsuits have now been filed. Bragar Eagle & Squire, which describes itself […]

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Widow sues Norfolk Southern over death of conductor trainee in 2022 Alabama accident

Illustration of accident scene

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The widow of a Norfolk Southern trainee killed last year when struck by debris in a locomotive cab has sued the railroad, the news site Al.com reports. Sherita Fields filed suit in Jefferson County Circuit Court earlier this year over the death of Walter James Griffin III, 43. Griffin was killed in […]

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Norfolk Southern to sell Saluda Grade for conversion to trail

Green and white diesels at crest of mountain pass

LANDRUM, S.C. — Norfolk Southern has agreed to sell 31 miles of right-of-way for its dormant Saluda Grade — formerly the steepest main line in America — to the Saluda Grade Trail Conservancy for conversion to a trail, the Spartanburg Post and Courier reports. Three non-profit groups — Conserving Carolina, Upstate Forever, and PAL: Play, […]

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