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.
