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Norfolk Southern
Robert C. Reisweber, 2005
The Norfolk Southern Railway that existed until a Southern Railway merger in 1974 was the final form of a 600 mile railroad that survived several reorganizations and carried different names throughout its interesting history. The mainline extended south and west from Norfolk, Virginia, across the state line toward Raleigh, North Carolina, then southwest to its western terminus in Charlotte. Included in the mainline was an impressive 5 mile trestle across Albermarle Sound in eastern North Carolina and numerous built and leased branches. On January 1, 1974, the Norfolk Southern was merged into the Southern Railway System, which retired the Norfolk road's small fleet of Baldwin road switchers and merged its EMD power into the Southern corporate roster.
Norfolk Southern system map / 1965
Baldwin Motive Power
Baldwin Locomotive Works produced the AS-416 model road switcher for 5 years, turning out only 21 examples of the design between 1950-55. One unit went to Columbus & Greenville as #606, with three more sold to Savannah & Atlanta as #108-110. The remaining 17 units were all purchased by Norfolk Southern between 1951-55, with the road taking delivery of the last AS-416s produced. Featuring a 1600 horsepower 608A prime mover, the AS-416 rode on six-wheel trucks with a center idler axle between two traction motors.
Norfolk Southern #1601
Star, Nc / Jun 1957 / collection
Norfolk Southern #1601
- builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
- model:AS416
- type:A1A-A1A road switcher
- built:May 1951, Baldwin #75237
- series:21 produced 1950-55
- engine:Baldwin 608A (8 cyls, 1600 hp)
- notes:
- 1st of 5 in 1951 Baldwin order
retired by mid 1960s
Norfolk Southern #1607
collection
Norfolk Southern #1607
- builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
- model:AS416
- type:A1A-A1A road switcher
- built:Sep 1952, Baldwin #75721
- series:21 produced 1950-55
- engine:Baldwin 608A (8 cyls, 1600 hp)
- notes:
- 2nd of 5 in 1952 Baldwin order
retired 1974 at Southern Rwy merger
Norfolk Southern #1612
Fuqua Varina, Nc / Dec 1972 / collection
Norfolk Southern #1612
- builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
- model:AS416
- type:A1A-A1A road switcher
- built:Jan 1954, Baldwin #75939
- series:21 produced 1950-55
- engine:Baldwin 608A (8 cyls, 1600 hp)
- notes:
- 2nd of 3 in 1954 Baldwin order
retired 1974 at Southern Rwy merger
Norfolk Southern #1616
collection
Norfolk Southern #1616
- builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
- model:AS416
- type:A1A-A1A road switcher
- built:Dec 1955, Baldwin #76112
- series:21 produced 1950-55
- engine:Baldwin 608A (8 cyls, 1600 hp)
- notes:
- 3rd of 4 in 1955 final Baldwin order
higher hoods and last with GE elec gear
retired 1974 at Southern Rwy merger
Norfolk Southern #1617
collection
Norfolk Southern #1616
- builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
- model:AS416
- type:A1A-A1A road switcher
- built:Dec 1955, Baldwin #76114
- series:21 produced 1950-55
- engine:Baldwin 608A (8 cyls, 1600 hp)
- notes:
- 3rd of 4 in 1955 final Baldwin order
higher hoods and last with GE elec gear
retired 1974 at Southern Rwy merger
collection
Stantonsburg, Nc / Dec 1972 / collection
EMD Motive Power
Norfolk Southern #14
Allen, Nc / Aug 1965 / collection
Norfolk Southern #14
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:GP18
- type:B-B road switcher
- built:Oct 1963, EMD #27785
- series:350 produced 1959-63, 17 to NS
- engine:EMD 567D1 (16 cyl, 1800 hp)
- notes:
- 14 of 17 unit 1963 EMD order
to Southern Rwy #193
rebuilt to high nose, long-end forward
Lagniappe
Mowing the Grass
Allen, Nc / Aug 1965 / collection
Baldwin Work Train
Stantonsburg, Nc / Dec 1972 / collection
Links / Sources
- Norfolk Southern Railway Historical Society
- Wikipedia article on the original Norfolk Southern