This week we celebrate the merger of the Norfolk & Western and Southern Railway, including the major railroads that were acquired by both in the 20th century, to form transportation giant Norfolk Southern. That mix includes a large portion of the Penn Central Transportation Company (1968-1976) whose downfall triggered the need to revamp the traditional railroad business model. That became the impetus for the merger mania that evolved 1980-2000 and continues, with less velocity today. Interestingly, the Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line were the first merger targets of the Southern but by the time the first informal discussion commenced, both Chessie and Seaboard privately plotted their own merger – CSX Transportation. By that time, the Norfolk & Western was the only logical choice for Southern to bond with. Disconnects aside, the Norfolk Southern of today is comprised of a wide range of viable, regional carriers including parts of the one-time matriarchs of railroading – PRR and NYC. In 2012 NS paid tribute to the major components of its vast empire by painting one locomotive in a historical heritage paint scheme that culminated with a total of twenty “Heritage Locomotives”. The following railroad family tree touches on the magnitude of the NS of today:
Norfolk & Western
Southern Railway
Split Conrail – all of former Penn Central – with CSX in 1998 – NS acquired mostly former PRR)
Nickel Plate Road (New York Chicago & St. Louis Railroad)
Georgia Railroad (part and Georgia & Florida)
Savannah & Atlanta
Norfolk Southern (original name of short line)
The dynamics of the Norfolk Southern calls for an equally robust sale of a wide range of products, in all scales, that extends beyond the former Norfolk & Western and Southern Railway prototypes to include representation of all the predecessor railroads. Please take time to review our listings and notes about future production runs. You can reserve any future production run item by utilizing our efficient preorder option.
Frank Wrabel
Modeltrinstuff.com