Fwd: [NSInfo] Norfolk Southern notes 100th anniversary of vital rail link across the Ohio River

[NW Mailing List]

March 4, 2013

*Norfolk Southern notes 100th anniversary of vital rail link across the 
Ohio River*

NORFOLK, VA. - Today marks the 100-year anniversary of the completion of 
the modern version of Norfolk Southern's bridge over the Ohio River 
between South Point, Ohio, and Kenova, W.Va. - a dependable link in the 
nation's freight rail transportation infrastructure.

The bridge, on NS' Pocahontas Division main line, carries essential 
freight rail traffic and supports economic development in the Tri-State 
region and Ohio River Valley. "It's an important component of the 
Heartland Corridor, NS' groundbreaking public-private partnership that 
connects Virginia's ports to Midwestern markets to expedite the movement 
of international commerce," said Mickey Runyon, NS assistant division 
superintendent, Bluefield, W.Va. "At the same time, it handles a steady 
amount of grain, coal, and general merchandise. With some 35 trains a 
day, and double-stack clearance, it's a workhorse."'

"The bridge is crucial to the operations of the Pocahontas Division," 
added Gary Shepard, NS division superintendent, Bluefield. "It is an 
example of the type of quality and hard work produced by our valued 
employees."

Although the bridge is 100, its durability is unquestioned. NS bridge 
forces monitor and maintain it for reliability and safety. "The bridge 
has undergone major upgrades several times over the past century, and 
its excellent condition is a reflection of the industry's continual 
investment - without taxpayer dollars - to give the nation an economic 
competitive edge," said Jim Carter, NS chief engineer, Atlanta. "Like 
everything on the railroad, it is well-designed and systematically 
well-maintained. We fully expect it to be serviceable for another 100 
years."

Major river crossings by railroad bridges are relatively few in number 
across the country. NS' Ohio River bridge is nearly 4,000 feet long and 
82 feet above normal water level, and it creates a memorable scene, 
especially as the early-morning sun reflects downstream.

The bridge originally was designed with a single track in 1892 by NS 
predecessor Norfolk and Western Railway, although it was constructed 
with piers wide enough to accommodate future double-track.

As nearby coal fields developed and the demand for coal in the Midwest 
grew, traffic increased, meaning more wear and tear. So, N&W rebuilt the 
bridge with double-track and a stronger overall structure. Updates 
included pier modifications and new trusses, completed entirely around 
the existing structure to allow train traffic to continue during 
construction.

It was on March 4, 1913 - 100 years ago - that work crews met in the 
middle to connect the ends of the main channel truss. The first train 
crossed the newly completed double-track at 10 a.m., June 9. The bridge 
was "completely finished" in September, when workers finished painting. 
"Overall, it was a remarkable achievement under traffic," Carter said. 
"To read the accounts is a humbling experience."

It was the longest structure on the railroad and had taken 21.6 million 
pounds of steel and $1 million to upgrade. Its importance was not just 
physical but strategic. As N&W's gateway to the West, the bridge was 
said to have been one of the Germans' targets on American soil during 
both World Wars. During WWII, saboteurs were caught nearby, and a Coast 
Guard unit was detailed to protect it. "Had any of these dastardly 
efforts come to fruition, it would have impeded the movement of coal, 
vital war materials, and soldiers traveling to military and 
manufacturing installations," said Tim Hensley, a noted railway 
historian who lives within walking distance of the bridge's West 
Virginia approach.

One of the more unusual sights on the bridge occurred Nov. 15, 1967, 
when the world's longest, heaviest freight train traversed it. With 500 
loaded coal cars and six locomotives, this five-mile train was operated 
by N&W in a contest with the Pennsylvania Railroad.

"Today, the Kenova bridge is an integral part of the landscape - a 
beautiful, historic, and key part of our national rail system," Hensley 
said. "I see it as a link from the past to the future."

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier 
transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company 
subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and 
the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the 
eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail 
carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal 
network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and 
industrial products.

###

*Norfolk Southern contacts:*

**

*(Media) Rachel McDonnell, 757-823-5261 (rachel.mcdonnell at nscorp.com)*

*(Investors) Michael Hostutler, 757-629-2861 
(michael.hostutler at nscorp.com <mailto:michael.hostutler at nscorp.com>)*

**

Connect with NS

Description: ns_32.jpg <http://www.nscorp.com/>Description: facebook_32 
<http://www.facebook.com/NorfolkSouthern>Description: flickr_32 
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/norfolksouthern>Description: twitter_32 
<http://www.twitter.com/nscorp>Description: youtube_32 
<http://www.youtube.com/user/norfolksoutherncorp>

Unsubscribe <http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/lists.html>



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20130304/1e8572e9/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1152 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20130304/1e8572e9/attachment-0005.jpe>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 2018 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20130304/1e8572e9/attachment-0006.jpe>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1744 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20130304/1e8572e9/attachment-0007.jpe>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1860 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20130304/1e8572e9/attachment-0008.jpe>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 2276 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20130304/1e8572e9/attachment-0009.jpe>