|
This feature was last
updated on:
|
|
|
On March 1, 2012, Norfolk Southern announced that it would be honoring its predecessor railroads by painting 18 new locomotives in heritage paint schemes. Each of the locomotives would be painted in a scheme to closely match those previously used by the predecessor roads. The selected predecessor railroads included: Central of Georgia
Railway On March 16, 2012,
Norfolk Southern announced that a 19th heritage locomotive would be
painted for: On May 3, 2012, Norfolk Southern announced a 20th heritage locomotive to be painted for: Monongahela Railway "Family
Portrait"
|
Click on the images to view full size. |
Additional Heritage Locomotives
In November of 2015,
Norfolk Southern released its 21st heritage locomotive, EMD SD45-2 #1700
painted in its original Erie Lackawanna Railway paint scheme.
In December of 2024, Norfolk Southern released its 22nd heritage locomotive, freshly rebuilt GE/NS AC44C6M #4851 painted for the Tennessee Alabama & Georgia (TAG) Railway.
|
The 20 locomotives selected for NS heritage paint include 10 new Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) SD70ACe models and 10 General Electric (GE) ES44AC models, nine of which were already on order for 2012 delivery. NS 8025 was selected to be repainted as the Monongahela Railway heritage unit, since all of the new units for 2012 were already painted and in service when the selection was made. The nine new ES44AC units were delivered in March 2012 from GE in primer and were painted by NS at its two locomotive paint shops located in Altoona, PA, and Chattanooga, TN. NS EMD SD45-2 #1700 was repainted at the NS Chattanooga, TN paint shop and released in 11/2015. NS GE/NS AC44C6M rebuild #4851 was painted at the NS Juniata Shops at Altoona, PA in December 2024.
|
|
SD70ACe General Info |
|
Notes |
Horsepower:
4,300 All units are equipped for use in DPU (Distributed Power Unit) operations. All units are equipped withr ECP (Electronically Controlled Pneumatic train braking. All units are equipped with NS LEADER/ PTC (Positive Train Control) systems. All units meet EPA Tier 3 Specifications
|
|
|
|
ES44AC General Info |
|
Notes: |
Horsepower:
4,400 All units are equipped for use in DPU (Distributed Power Unit) operations. All units are equipped with ECP (Electronically Controlled Pneumatic train braking. All units are equipped with NS LEADER/ PTC (Positive Train Control) systems. Unit 8025 meets EPA Tier 2
Specifications.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Road No. |
Previous No. |
Original No. |
Original NS Subsidiary |
Build Date |
Order No. |
Builder No. |
1700 |
CR 6654 |
EL 3669 | PRRX | 11-1972 | 7381 | 7381-1 |
Horsepower = 3,000 (See note below regarding engine)
Total Weight = 388,800 lbs.
Fuel Tank Capacity = 5,000 gallons
Lube Oil Capacity = 396 gallons
Water Capacity = 288 gallons
Sand Capacity = 56 cubic feet
Dynamic Braking = Extended Range
Maximum Continuous Tractive Effort: 82,100 lbs.
Truck Type: Flexicoil-C
Wheel Diameter: 40"
Gear Ratio: 62:15
Horn: Leslie RSL-3LR
Bell: Pneumatic
Snow Plow: Front End Only
Ditch Lights: Both Ends
Control = Single
Cab Signals = Yes
LSL (Locomotive Speed Limiter) = Yes
Air Conditioning = Yes
The original
20-cylinder engine was replaced with an
EMD 16-cylinder 645E3 model and is rated at 3,000 horsepower.
This unit is equipped with an electric handbrake.
This unit is equipped with NS LEADER/PTC (Positive Train Control) system.
This unit was painted at the NS paint shop at Chattanooga, TN and released on November 1, 2015.
NS 4851 Roster Information
General Info
Horsepower = 4,400 The
AC44C6M rebuilding included conversion to AC traction utilizing GE
electrical components, new This unit meets Tier 1+ emission standards. Unit is equipped for use in DPU (Distributed Power Unit) operation. Unit is equipped with GE Trip Optimizer/PTC (Positive Train Control) system. Unit is equipped with an electric handbrake. This unit was painted at the NS Juniata Shops at Altoona, PA and released on December 2, 2024.
|
|
This web page would not be complete without taking a look back at the first Norfolk Southern heritage locomotive, NS EMD GP59 #4610. In 1992, a request for a special commemorative Southern Railway locomotive was made to Norfolk Southern from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers - Southern Railway General Committee of Adjustment. The project was the idea of Ben Lee, BLE local Chairman at Charlotte, NC. Mr. Lee made the request, designed the altered Southern passenger paint scheme, designed the commemorative plaque honoring NS-BLE Thoroughbred Quality joint projects and Southern Railway engineers. The locomotive would also commemorate the centennial of the Southern Railway (1894-1994) and was intended as an occasional helper engine for the then active Southern 4501 steam locomotive. The request was made to NS executives Arnold McKinnon and Paul Rudder. NS realized the significance of all aspects of the project and approval was given. Although rumors circulated that a new EMD SD70 locomotive would receive the commemorative paint, NS instead chose to repaint a 3-1/2 year old EMD GP59. The reasoning was that it would be better to have a lower horsepower, four-axle GP59 tied up when the unit was sent to special events, rather than a high-adhesion, high horsepower, six-axle locomotive. In April of 1994, the NS locomotive paint shop at Chattanooga, Tennessee, outshopped the 4610 in its special commemorative Southern Railway paint. It was painted in classic Southern Sylvan Green and Imitation Aluminum, with black frame, trucks and fuel tank, and dulux gold (yellow) lettering and logos. The special commemorative plaque was located on the left side of the long hood, just under the radiator grilles. The 4610 was used across the NS system, although much of its time was spent at different locations in the south. The unit also appeared for display at many railfan events. After 10 years in service, the special paint on the 4610 was looking a bit weathered and rumors surfaced that the unit would be repainted, presumably back into NS black. However, in May 2004, the 4610 was again repainted at the NS paint shop at Chattanooga, TN, in fresh Southern commemorative green. It was released just in time for the 50th anniversary celebration of the NS Debutts Yard in Chattanooga, TN. A couple differences in the paint were that the SR end logos were in gold leaf rather than dulux gold (yellow) and the commemorative plaque, which had "disappeared" during its first 10 years in service, was not replaced. Two additional changed occurred, the first in May 2005 when the unit received a rooftop air conditioning unit on the cab, and the second was in April 2008, when it received the FRA-mandated 4" solid white reflective striping on both sides of the frame. In late 2011, rumors again surfaced, saying that the 4610 was to be repainted. In December 2011, it was placed into storage at the NS Juniata Locomotive Shops at Altoona, PA, while it awaited shop time for some needed mechanical repairs. and repainting. On January 21, 2012, the 4610 was released from the NS Juniata Shops, freshly painted in NS black and white "horsehead" Operation Lifesaver paint scheme. After nearly 18 years of service in the Southern commemorative paint, the 4610 was repainted as NS was making plans for its 30th anniversary heritage locomotive fleet. A new Southern Railway GE ES44AC heritage unit was released from Chattanooga, TN, on March 20, 2012.
NS 4610 Roster Information
NS 4610 Photo PageClick on the image below to go to the NS 4610 photo page.
|
|
Back
to top of page
Please Note:
This is the personal
website
of Chris
R. Toth. It is not affiliated with, sponsored
nor supported by Norfolk Southern Corporation.
Information and photos from this website
should not be used without permission and/or proper credit.