ATLANTA – Norfolk Southern today unveiled its latest heritage locomotive, an SD70ACe honoring the Delaware & Hudson Railway.
Locomotive No. 1080, built for NS in 2013, was painted in the D&H’s classic lightning stripe scheme in Norfolk Southern’s Juniata Shop in Altoona, Pa.
“We know many have asked about plans for a Delaware & Hudson Heritage Locomotive and we’re thrilled to unveil this latest unit. Thanks to our partners at Delaware & Hudson Railway Historical Society, as well as our top-notch Juniata Shop railroaders, this new Heritage Locomotive will make its debut next week at an employee event before hitting the track and serving as the leader when we operate our first train on new Trackage Rights in New England in August, running on a historic Delaware & Hudson route,” NS spokeswoman Heather Garcia said in an email.
NS acquired the D&H south of Schenectady, N.Y., in a 2015 deal with Canadian Pacific. The D&H long billed itself as the Bridge Line to New England, a role the railroad continues today as part of Norfolk Southern’s route into the region.
NS is planning to shift its daily Chicago-Ayer, Mass., intermodal train to trackage rights on CSX between Voorheesville, N.Y., and Worcester, Mass., then up the former Pan Am Railways to the Ayer terminal on Pan Am Southern.
The train currently uses the former D&H between Binghamton and Mechanicville, N.Y., where it is handed off to Pan Am Southern operator Berkshire & Eastern, a Genesee & Wyoming short line formed after CSX acquired Pan Am Railways and its 50% ownership stake in Pan Am Southern in 2022.
The new route via the former Boston & Albany can accommodate domestic double-stack trains – something the current route via the former Boston & Maine main line through the 4.75-mile Hoosac Tunnel in Western Massachusetts cannot.
The trackage rights deal with CSX was reached as part of Norfolk Southern’s agreement to support its rival’s acquisition of Pan Am Railways. NS holds the other 50% stake in the Pan Am Southern.
Final bridge clearance work is under way on the former Pan Am Railways between Worcester and Ayer.
Thank you, John, for the time and date, just have to find out which route it will Run!
And I don’t see the words NROFOLK SOUTHERN anywhere on the unit!
NORFOLK SOUTHERN
I wonder what the date and time this locomotive will run the rails from Binghamton thru Rotterdam/Schenectady, and or split off at Delanson to Voorheesville or stay on the tracks going thru Glenville and Mechanicville?
The D&H herald was one of the best. Looks like written with a quill pen!
Great Job NS! Turned out an already “Classic” Locoomotive. Thank You for moving forward with the Heritage Fleet. That’s a fine paint scheme and very professional looking job.
Nitpicky, but didn’t the striping on the nose have a slight curvature to them? Still, a very fine looking machine!
I believe NS is refreshing the other heritage units, wasn’t the RDG one first to get fresh paint?
Given the D&H’s close relationship with ALCO can we give this an honorary model designation of C643?
Presume NS also completed a maintenance update on the loco so it will run as good as it looks. And unlike CSX, the whole unit reflects this heritage, not just the back half.
I would think that many of the original Heritage units are due for repaints to freshen their appearance. Or is that already happening?
Now CPKC needs to do a D&H heritage unit…except they still own the D&H at least on paper. Maybe one of the new tier 4 locomotives.
The lightning stripe doesn’t really look good on the flared radiators, but other than that, not bad!
An example, Andrew, of needing to take a second look before committing. The canted stripe at the rear the new (rebuilt) METRA locos looks absolutely terrible but otherwise the METRA locos are gorgeous.
Lovely surprise indeed… What an artsy painting on an awesome EMD SD70ACe! This is a job well done NS!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Remember that this is now the 22nd unit for the NS heritage fleet…
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Awesome work NS, beautiful job on the D&H livery lightning stripe, which I always liked.
What is one level up from excellent?
“darn nice” ?????
It looks really nice. Thanks NS for your effort and I suppose many who remember the D&H will be happy to see this unit around the area. I rode the Adirondack back in the 1970’s, I seem to recall D&H equipment on the train. Also a good friend (now deceased) was from Delanson, NY an important place on the D&H.
As luck would have it my grandson and I were in Altoona today and spotted the D&H unit. It’s definitely a beautiful locomotive. Great work NS!!!