April 29, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, leads NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) as passes through Hatfield Junction, east of Oakland City, Indiana, as it heads west on the NS Southern East-West District. In 2012, Norfolk Southern celebrated 30 years of being formed, and painted 20 new locomotives in predecessor schemes to honor its heritage. GE ES44AC #8025 was painted into the Monongahela scheme. According to Wikipedia: The Monongahela Railway (reporting mark MGA) was a coal-hauling short line railroad in Pennsylvania and West Virginia in the United States. It was jointly controlled originally by the Pennsylvania Railroad, New York Central subsidiary Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with NYC and PRR later succeeded by Penn Central Transportation. The company operated its own line until it was merged into Conrail on May 1, 1993. Conrail would be bought in 1998 by Norfolk Southern and CSX. Eleven GE Class B23-7Rs (sometimes referred to as Super 7s), the Monongahela's final locomotive fleet numbered 2300-2310, were renumbered 2030-2040 by Conrail, then divided between NS and CSX when they operationally took over Conrail operations in 1999. Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 150-600 @ 390mm, f/9, 1/1000 sec, ISO 560.

Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit at Hatfield Junction…

April 29, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, leads NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) as passes through Hatfield Junction, east of Oakland City, Indiana, as it heads west on the NS Southern East-West District.

In 2012, Norfolk Southern celebrated 30 years of being formed, and painted 20 new locomotives in predecessor schemes to honor its heritage. GE ES44AC #8025 was painted into the Monongahela scheme.

According to Wikipedia: The Monongahela Railway (reporting mark MGA) was a coal-hauling short line railroad in Pennsylvania and West Virginia in the United States. It was jointly controlled originally by the Pennsylvania Railroad, New York Central subsidiary Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with NYC and PRR later succeeded by Penn Central Transportation. The company operated its own line until it was merged into Conrail on May 1, 1993.

Conrail would be bought in 1998 by Norfolk Southern and CSX. Eleven GE Class B23-7Rs (sometimes referred to as Super 7s), the Monongahela’s final locomotive fleet numbered 2300-2310, were renumbered 2030-2040 by Conrail, then divided between NS and CSX when they operationally took over Conrail operations in 1999.

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 150-600 @ 390mm, f/9, 1/1000 sec, ISO 560.

April 29, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, leads NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) as it heads down the curve approaching the crossing on County Road 150 at Princeton, Indiana as it heads west on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis. Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 150-600 @ 200mm, f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 280.

Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit…

April 29, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 8025, Monongahela Heritage Unit, leads NS 168 (Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO) as it heads down the curve approaching the crossing on County Road 150 at Princeton, Indiana as it heads west on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis.

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Sigma 150-600 @ 200mm, f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 280.

April 29, 2020 - Well, for the first time since this pandemic began I left the state today! One of the four remaining Norfolk Southern Heritage Units that I haven't caught, NS 8025 (Monongahela) was leading NS 168 westbound from Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. In this shot I caught him after he passed the signals at East Douglas in Princeton, Indiana as it made its way on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis. Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Irex 11mm @ f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 200.

NS Monongahela Heritage Unit at Princeton, IN

April 29, 2020 – Well, for the first time since this pandemic began I left the state today! One of the four remaining Norfolk Southern Heritage Units that I haven’t caught, NS 8025 (Monongahela) was leading NS 168 westbound from Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

In this shot I caught him after he passed the signals at East Douglas in Princeton, Indiana as it made its way on the NS Southern East-West District toward St. Louis.

Tech: Nikon D800, Lens: Irex 11mm @ f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 200.

August 31, 2019 - Norfolk Southern 975 departs Princeton, Indiana with NS 5642 "Training First Responders" unit pulling the Norfolk Southern Safety Train east on the NS Southern-East District at East Junction. According to their website: At Norfolk Southern, safety is our number one priority. Operation Awareness & Response (OAR), was launched in 2015 to educate the public about the economic importance of the safe movement of hazardous materials by rail and to connect emergency first responders in Norfolk Southern communities with information and training resources. The goal of OAR is to strengthen relationships with the first responders across the NS network. Norfolk Southern has been providing safety training for emergency responders through community outreach programs such as TRANSCAER® for years. OAR will build on those efforts focusing on closer relationships with local and state agencies, increased training opportunities (classroom, web-based, and on-line resources), table-tops drills and participation in full-scale exercises, and providing better resources for emergency responders such as the AskRail mobile app that allows and first responders to use their mobile phones to look up commodity and response information on shipments. The OAR program also includes a continued commitment to providing emergency responders high-level training at the Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC) in Pueblo, Co. In April 2016, Norfolk Southern unveiled a brand new safety train, with a dedicated locomotive, specially equipped classroom box cars, and several tanks cars for additional hands-on training along our lines.

Norfolk Southern 975 departs Princeton, Indiana

August 31, 2019 – Norfolk Southern 975 departs Princeton, Indiana with NS 5642 “Training First Responders” unit pulling the Norfolk Southern Safety Train east on the NS Southern-East District at East Junction.

According to their website: At Norfolk Southern, safety is our number one priority. Operation Awareness & Response (OAR), was launched in 2015 to educate the public about the economic importance of the safe movement of hazardous materials by rail and to connect emergency first responders in Norfolk Southern communities with information and training resources.

The goal of OAR is to strengthen relationships with the first responders across the NS network. Norfolk Southern has been providing safety training for emergency responders through community outreach programs such as TRANSCAER® for years. OAR will build on those efforts focusing on closer relationships with local and state agencies, increased training opportunities (classroom, web-based, and on-line resources), table-tops drills and participation in full-scale exercises, and providing better resources for emergency responders such as the AskRail mobile app that allows and first responders to use their mobile phones to look up commodity and response information on shipments.

The OAR program also includes a continued commitment to providing emergency responders high-level training at the Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC) in Pueblo, Co. In April 2016, Norfolk Southern unveiled a brand new safety train, with a dedicated locomotive, specially equipped classroom box cars, and several tanks cars for additional hands-on training along our lines.

August 31, 2019 - I spent the better part of the day waiting for the Norfolk Southern Safety Train to depart from Princeton, Indiana and for me this shot made it all worth it! NS 5642 "Training First Responders" engine pulls the Norfolk Southern Safety Train east from Huntingburg, Indiana as the setting sun begins to drop below the horizon on the NS Southern-East District.

NS 5642 “Training First Responders”

August 31, 2019 – I spent the better part of the day waiting for the Norfolk Southern Safety Train to depart from Princeton, Indiana and for me this shot made it all worth it! NS 5642 “Training First Responders” engine pulls the Norfolk Southern Safety Train east from Huntingburg, Indiana as the setting sun begins to drop below the horizon on the NS Southern-East District.

August 24, 2019 - The Norfolk Southern Safety Train (OAR, Operation Awareness & Response) sits tied down at MP 163 in the Yard at Princeton, Indiana where it waits for its next training class for first responders. It is headed up by NS 5642 the Training First Responders engine. According to the NS OAR Newsletter: Launched in June 2015, the goal of OAR is to educate the public about the economic importance of the safe movement of hazardous materials by rail and to connect emergency first responders in Norfolk Southern communities with information and training resources. The remaining schedule for the safety train for the year is: August 27-29 Princeton, IN September 10-12 Decatur, AL September 17-19 Corinth, MS October 1-3 New Orleans, LA October 8-10 Slidell, LA October 22-24 Savannah, GA November 5-7 Augusta, GA

Norfolk Southern Safety Train at Princeton, IN

August 24, 2019 – The Norfolk Southern Safety Train (OAR, Operation Awareness & Response) sits tied down at MP 163 in the Yard at Princeton, Indiana where it waits for its next training class for first responders. It is headed up by NS 5642 the Training First Responders engine.

According to the NS OAR Newsletter: Launched in June 2015, the goal of OAR is to educate the public about the economic importance of the safe movement of hazardous materials by rail and to connect emergency first responders in Norfolk Southern communities with information and training resources.

The remaining schedule for the safety train for the year is:

August 27-29 Princeton, IN
September 10-12 Decatur, AL
September 17-19 Corinth, MS
October 1-3 New Orleans, LA
October 8-10 Slidell, LA
October 22-24 Savannah, GA
November 5-7 Augusta, GA

August 10, 2019 - Norfolk Southern empty autorack train 276 passes through the east end of Huntingburg, Indiana as it heads to Princeton, Indiana on the NS Southern-East District to drop off the empty cars for Toyota. Can't tell it from this shot, but the trailing unit is NS Unit 8101, Central of Georgia heritage unit.

Norfolk Southern empty autorack train 276…

August 10, 2019 – Norfolk Southern empty autorack train 276 passes through the east end of Huntingburg, Indiana as it heads to Princeton, Indiana on the NS Southern-East District to drop off the empty cars for Toyota. Can’t tell it from this shot, but the trailing unit is NS Unit 8101, Central of Georgia heritage unit. When shooting your pictures, don’t get hung up on what everyone else considers the “best light or the “correct side.” I always go for what view I feel make the best picture!

WEB-05.04.19 NS 60A with 8114 Heritage Unit on the Evansville Branch, Huntingburg, IN

Norfolk Southern Heritage Unit 8114…

May 4, 2019 – Norfolk Southern Heritage Unit 8114 trails behind NS 9318, on 60A, as it heads toward Huntingburg, Indiana on the NS Evansville Branch. It’s returning from AK Steel in Rockport, IN after dropping off loaded cars and picking up empties for the trip back to the east toward Louisville, Ky. – #jimstrainphotos #indianarailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #ns #nsrailway #nsheritageunit

WEB-05.04.19 NS 60A on the Evansville Branch, Huntingburg, IN

Norfolk Southern 60A makes it’s way…

May 4, 2019 – Norfolk Southern 60A makes it’s way through the countryside as it heads back east on the NS Evansville Branch with a load of empties from AK Steel at Rockport, Indiana. – #jimstrainphotos #indianarailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #ns #nsrailway

WEB-04.27.19 NS 223 EB at East Junction, Princeton, IN

Norfolk Southern 9595 leading NS 223…

April 27, 2019 – Well, I couldn’t end this great day of railfanning without posting one, of many, favorite photos from today’s railfan trip. This is Norfolk Southern 9595 leading NS 223 as it crests the hill coming out of the yard at East Junction at Princeton, IN as it continues its trip east as the glow of sunset shines on the Southern East District. – #jimstrainphotos #indianarailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #ns #nsrailway

January 17, 2019 - Norfolk Southern autorack 875 pulls though the yard to the crosswalk where it will do a crew change, at Princeton, Indiana on the NS Southern-East District. - #jimstrainphotos #indianarailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #ns #nsrailway #norfolksouthern

January 17, 2019 – A Norfolk Southern autorack pulls…

January 17, 2019 – A Norfolk Southern autorack pulls though the yard to the crosswalk where it will do a crew change, at Princeton, Indiana on the NS Southern-East District. – #jimstrainphotos #indianarailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #ns #nsrailway #norfolksouthern

July 5, 2018 – Norfolk Southern 6956 and 9356 lead 60A…

July 5, 2018 – Norfolk Southern 6956 and 9356 lead 60A (Rockport, IN – Middletown, OH), pulling an empty coil train, east through what used to be Tunnel Hill, east of Depauw, Indiana, as the sun dips behind the clouds and the day comes to a close on the NS Southern-East District. – #jimstrainphotos #indianarailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #ns #nsrailway

Crew departs NS “Erie” Heritage Unit 1068 at Princeton, Indiana

July 5, 2018 – After a couple hours of working in the Norfolk Southern yard at Princeton, Indiana the conductor and engineer of I24 leave NS Heritage Unit 1068, The Erie, in front of the yard office after turning it on the wye. The engine sat there about an hour and then was added as a DPU onto the end of 799, an empty coal train headed to pickup a load of coal on the Evansville Western Railway. – #jimstrainphotos #indianarailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #ns #nsrailway #heritageunits #nsheritageunit

June 6, 2018 – Norfolk Southern Railway Geometry Train platform #38…

June 6, 2018 – Norfolk Southern Railway Geometry Train platform #38, commonly known as “The Brick” sits in the siding at the east end Huntingburg, Indiana, as the warm light of the setting sun illuminates the scene on the NS Southern-East District. – #jimstrainphotos #indianarailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #ns #nsrailway #norfolksouthernrailway

June 6, 2018 – Norfolk Southern inspection train known as “The Brick”

June 6, 2018 – Norfolk Southern inspection train known as “The Brick” makes it’s way east at the NS/Indiana Southern Diamond in downtown Oakland City, Indiana.
Light from the bottom of the cars on the geometry train take a digital profile of the track which is used for maintenance and upgrades.
The NS Research platform 38 “The Brick” was rebuilt using the frame and trucks of former NS/NW EMD SD40 1620. It contains sensing and measuring equipment to record track geometry and rail profile (rail wear), as well as the power supply for itself and NS Research car.
The Research 36 car contains the recording and processing equipment for the data supplied by NS 38. Here it’s being pulled by NS 9272 as it does its testing on the NS Southern-East District. – #jimstrainphotos #indianarailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #ns #nsrailway #norfolksouthernrailway