Yeah, that's pretty cool!
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Now that's a photo for the history books.
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That looks like a model railroad with too many locos on it!
Incredible!
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C'mon, CSX. You gonna just let this slide? Not even gonna try? Y'know BNSF already has some ideas in mind right? Thanks NS for some good ole fashion American entertainment and a for a trainload of respect to the heritage of not only your company, but to an industry that all but made the country what it is today.
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Well, that's something you don't see every day!
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| Posted by Dob381 on July 2, 2012 | |
Outstanding!
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| Posted by BHBird on July 2, 2012 | |
Very nice- and lined up in 'families' to boot with the N&W and the Southern as the book ends.
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Mighty Fine Gents...Mighty Fine.
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Thats Mind blowing, 20 Rail lines made into one system.
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I don't know about the overall sequence, but very nice to put N&W and SOU visible on the ends.
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| Posted by on July 2, 2012 | |
As fantastic a scene as this is, I hope that NS (or someone) provides Casey with a true wide-angle or fish-eye lens to re-shoot this with before this event concludes.
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Quite possibly the most interesting modern day railroad photo ever taken. I am in awe.....
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While I appreciate what UP did with their commemorative units, bringing the actual schemes of the predecessor roads back to life as NS has done is - in my opinion, at least - immeasurably better. The scene at Spencer is big time railfan fun - thanks for sharing with us poor schlubs who couldn't be there in person.
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Fantastic photo. I've been waiting for this photo since they first started this program
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| Posted by BJ on July 2, 2012 | |
I have one thing to say: Awesome-azing!
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Very nice, but can someone tell me what the small "K" is behind the 8099 on the side of the cab of the Southern painted one?
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I'll Be there for MY PICTURES with the Crowd !!!!!!!!
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So cool
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Epic shot. If this picture does not melt down rp.nets servers nothing ever will.
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| Posted by Mike on July 2, 2012 | |
WOW! Has anything like this ever been created before in North America? Let alone the world? Almost looks like a model railroad. Every unit appears to have their headlights and ditch lights on as well. Fantastic!
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| Posted by on July 2, 2012 | |
Outstanding, Casey!!
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Now who is going to have to clean up all this foam?
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Hats off to NS! A real treat for us nostalgic folks and momument to North American railroading!
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How long did it take to shunt them all in to position?
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It seems that they tried to keep them all in geographical regions...note Erie next to Lackawanna next to CNJ. Great shot Casey, I'll bet you're upset it's almost over.
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| Posted by Denny on July 2, 2012 | |
NS has set the new standard for what true heritage should look like and be about. Not only has NS painted their units in classic scheme, they have extended this to the railfans as well as witnessed with this amazing event in Spencer, NC.! Years from now, this will be looked back on as one of those great segments in railroading history. Thank you NS for making this possible.
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Well done to the NS for a very fine collection, on behalf of your friends over here in the UK.
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| Posted by jnesr on July 2, 2012 | |
Absolutely great photo
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| Posted by BHBird on July 2, 2012 | |
Folks- they are lined up by families. On the left- the IT, WAB, VGN and NKP were merged into the N&W. Going clickwise- the PRR and NYC formed the PC, which then with the Erie, Lackawanna, CNJ, RDG, LV (even kept the anthracite roads together), and Monongehela into Conrail. And the original NS, INT, CG, S&A into the Southern. A very knowledgeable and historic lineup. Bravo, NS!
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Bullet69, the 'k' you see beside the '8099' is a check code, used only on Southern Railway engines. This letter was paired with the road number via algorithm (you can look up Southern check code algorithms online) so that if a number was written in bad handwriting, when entered into the computer with the check code, the computer knew the unit's number.
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Thanks NS for spending the money to truly represent the heritage units. It makes a statement that your company is proud of your predecesors, the businesses they built and the people they served. I do hope that CSX will do the same. My dad retired from CSX and it would be so cool to see a C&WC,
ACL or SCL original paint scheme out there runing the rails again. Thanks Again!!
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WOW, stunning
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A most incredible photo of a most incredible event.
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One Word: Epic!
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That is SWEET! I wish i can go!
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Y'all be sure to zoom in and notice the number boards on the ACe on the turntable.
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In five decades of railfanning nothing like this have I ever seen. Kudos for the pride in all the thousands of people that have made NS what is is today; one great company.
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"Send in your boxtops and collect all 20!"
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To view this incredible scene with this awesome display of American railroad history is simply amazing. What a most excellent railroad Norfolk Southern is! To the NS management, the gifted paint shop personnel, and all of the NS employees who had a part in making this historic, high class tribute possible - I say thank you and God bless your efforts.
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NS and Casey: a big thank you from us Canadian railfans for everything that the heritage program is. This last home run from Spencer really tops things off.
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Way to go Norfolk Southern. You have definitely set the Gold standard on how to build a strong corporate image.
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What an OUTSTANDING accomplishment! THANKS to all who made this scene possible!
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Talk about a photo of a lifetime.
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My Great-uncle was a Conductor on The Powhatan Arrow. I pray that his soul can see this display - I KNOW he's proud of what "HIS" N&W has become after his passing. Thank you very much, NS. You've shown that heritage is more than just paint.
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Apparently, there is no end to the surprises you guys can provide ... What a wonderful photograph. Again, thanks to everyone at NS who have made this program happen. All of you should be proud of this outstanding accomplishment.
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Brilliant & a beautiful way to celebrate one's roots dug into railroad heritage!!!
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BlamPow!! That's my socks being blown off after seeing this picture. Whose model raliroad is this with all of the Athearn stuff being shown off. "This IS a publicity shot for the new HO releases, right...." Just when you think you've seen it all, this happens. I can't wait to see those fabulous shots from Spencer in the next few days.
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I haven't commented on any other NS heritage unit photos, although I've enjoyed many of them. This is just unreal, though. A great family portrait for Norfolk Southern.
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this has got to be the best picture on the site!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Looks like half the NS fleet. I wish they'd do this here in the UK
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A great photo and I like the way they are arranged.
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Every now and again people/organisations do something absolutely perfectly. NS seem to have achieved that here. A truly historic event to be very, very proud of.
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AWESOME! Simply amazing. CSX should be ashamed. Maybe one day though, the chessie cat will ride again.
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Wahoooo! It is great, to see all colors scheme of every railroad the one in quoted by the other, really great!
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Great shot NS. It's a shame our local Government railway, Queensland Rail, wouldn't ever consider doing anything like this. They've just sold our very first Electric Locomotive to South Africa!
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| Posted by Rudi68 on July 3, 2012 | |
Very nice...all the coulors.
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Stunning!
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| Posted by Anto on July 3, 2012 | |
Wow wow wow ... send me one if you make this as a calendar of 2013
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| Posted by Sport! on July 3, 2012 | |
simply speechless...
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Absoultely mind blowingingly beautiful. My hat is off to Norfolk Southern. CSX and BNSF take notes, I would like to see you guys try and top this!
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Truely an image words can't describe! It's almost difficult to fathom that an image such as this was made possible in modern times. Definitely a heart felt thanks goes to NS for making such an image possible.
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It looks like the whole family of NS Heritage Units are together are having the first of many family reunions.
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| Posted by larrym on July 3, 2012 | |
I said it before and I have to say it again,Norfolk Southern is one classy outfit.They deserve a lot of credit and thanks for taking the time and effort to preserve the heritage of their railroad.
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That is one extremely "cool" picture. NS has to get a gold star for their heritage locos.
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Looks like a sunflower with different colored petals
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| Posted by on July 3, 2012 | |
A 4th of July Family Reunion!
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I never thought the day would come when I would declare a photo of a rail road engine would take my breath away, but that is exactly what I am saying here. This an absolutely breathtaking photograph. Never, ever, ever again will this shot be taken. The magnitude of this photo and everything that went into making it, the planning, the painting and it's related endeavers, the scheduling, the location, have all combined in the best possible way to make this photo come out the way it did. It would be all but impossible to ever come up with anything that even comes close to this. It, truly makes you want to say I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN.
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Just one more ancestor road and this shot wouldn't have been so perfect! 40 stalls, but only 20 perfect length usable tracks. Almost like it was meant to be...hmmmm? Here are some other numbers to ponder: total horsepower=91,300; axles=126; cylinders=296; cubic inches/liters=239,920/3,930; and approximate fuel capacity (if tanks were full)=103,900 gallons. Ok, so I'm a nerd. Seriously though, great gathering and a beautiful shot.
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I remember seeing NS' first ad back in 1982 declaring that the N&W and Southern were going to get together and "make a little history". Here's the proof of the history that's been made in dramatic visual form. I've been a diehard NS fan for all 30 years of its existence and I've never been prouder of "my" railway. This is simply spectacular! My thanks to Mr. Moorman and all the men and women of Norfolk Southern who have work so hard to turn this ambitious heritage program concept into such a truly wonderful reality. Now send these beauties west on the Wabash!
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"wow" "wow" "wow"
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If anybody can build up the best fleet of beautiful heritage locomotives in the country, IT IS NORFOLK SOUTHERN!
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What an event. Glad I could be there all the way from Alaska and all I can say is THANK YOU to all who had a part in making this railfan dream a reality. Well done all!
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As this is the greatest number of comments that I've seen posted on this site, I feel obliged to add mine! Looking at this stunning photo, I have to think of the financial commitment NS made to make this series possible, especially when they could have used the economic climate as an excuse to forgo such an ambitious program. Thank you NS, this goes a long way to make up for removing N&W 611 and 1218 from service!
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When my family seen this amazing group in Spencer we were impressed. The only thing that could have made it any better, was if NS would have taken all 27 heritage schemes that Andy Fletcher proposed, and used them all. However, then NS and NCTM would have had to expand the roundhouse. Still, I fell the NS did a great thing! Thank you Norfolk Southern!
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2 thumbs up, awesome capture!!!
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Awesome Pic!
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This makes the UP Heritage program look overrated.
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If you look up "class" in the dictionary, you will see the Norfolk Southern Logo.
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I don't think there is a more iconic photograph from the modern railroad era. Nice job, NS!
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I notice some of the deliberate composition here, with the N&W and SOU units taking the outer two slots as if holding in the rest. The Reading and CNJ units are side-by-side, denoting the relationship between the two. Three units go in order of former competitors to partners--the PRR is next to NYC, which is next to PC.
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Looks just like my NS Poster.
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