I must admit, the Southern was a bit more interesting to railfan. Unfortunately, they were already bought by NS and rapidly disappearing when I started railfanning. Harold
Perhaps my first post was a little too negative. Of course I like NS and CSX 'cause those are what I'm going to see currently where I live - not as much as in former years, but still the "presence" in this area. And, unlike the "Borg", don't see NS making a big fuss and charging extra cash to duplicate their heralds, markings, and colors.
Give 'em time. A head-scratcher somewhere is probably chewing on it as we speak. Do I like NS? Absolutely, they pay me for it.
The NS has a deserved reputation as a very strict employer. You screw up once, you're gone. That simple... This is well known among the railroad circle. Some folks find the lack of color or diversity of equipment boring. Their (NS) stock has done the best for me of all the railroad stock I own. Won't get rich quick on it but it stands as a decent long term investment.
My nostalgic roads are SAL, ACL, SCL, COG, and Southern. My modern road IS Norfolk Southern. I see lots more of CSX, but don't feel inclined to model them.
Hi Duane, Welcome to TrainBoard! I guess in Wilson you get a little NS action and a lot more CSX action! I rarely make it to Wilson, but do get by Rocky Mount from time to time and it usually provides a lot of photo ops! Harold
We live less than a mile from their Chattanooga to Oakdale, TN main line, grew up watching the Southern and later NS steam program and various diesels of different railroads come rolling thru.
As a large majority of my railfanning in the U.S is spent at Berea ive seen more NS than anything else, unfortunately i find the drab color scheme and endless parade of dash 9s uninspiring compared with the SD40-2s and GP40s and variety of lease engines i see there on the CSX line. Paul Kray England
Thanks Harold, I also go to Rocky Mount occassionally to watch CSX. It's not that I dislike them or anything, I enjoy railfanning them quite a bit. I live about 1/2 mile from where the NS line crosses Forrest Hills, here in Wilson. Sometimes, I'll hear a train coming, and jump in the pickup to catch them. My spousal being thinks I'm nuts, but .... O.K., so I "am" nuts.
New to the board and wanted to send out my support to NS. As one who prefers modern trains I think NS is a great road to model. Their coal, intermodal, and Triple Crown trains are impressive. Living in NC I have had the opportunity to talk with current employees of NS and, without exception, every one of them had great things to say about the RR and their jobs. I have also talked with many who worked for Conrail and Southern who went on to work with NS and they too had great things to say about NS. That means more to me than any amount of PR. If the employees love their company and their jobs the RR has to be doing something right.
GRAVES, Nice to see another NS railfan! I guess you get a little action in Charlotte besides NS (if you look closely)... Harold
NS Fan Hi Gabriel I am a fan of the NS, over there in the UK, although I have never been or seen, when I first became interested in NA railroads I was drawn to NS and Conrail for some reason. Guess it was all those deserts down south, and loooong trains through aridlands :teeth: I have just joined Trainboard and hope to learn more by reading through the threads. Regards Tom
The username says it all but latly i havent seen to much NS action ive been hanging around Osborn yard (which is a CSX yard)
I guess I can say I am a "fan" of CSX, but not really. I live in Northern WV, so the norm is AC4400's, SD70MACe's, a GEVO here and there. For a non-AC locomotive to be seen on a regular train other than the freights that run daily (Q316/Q317), would be a very big deal. There is a lot to railfan, but in terms of motive power, don't bother. I'm a CSX railfan by force, I'd rather be in Pittsburgh area. (Union, W&LE, CSX, NS, AVRR, etc...)
Nice to see some Railfans, regardless of roads... If you are a CSX Railfan, it seems like you seem many more roads than NS
For now, NS is what's in front of my camera- next week @ home, I'm back to BNSF and Borgrail (ex-Frisco and MKT, respectively), and after that more Borgrail, plus whatever shortlines I find.
As KCS being my main choice I also am a fan of NS, along with CSX, BNSF, UP, MRL and the long lost MS (MidSouth) some SP and CP and even a couple of those locomotive leasing companies. But if you have a good sized yard(s) that has a large locomotive area then you can't help but have a little of everything don't ya think? After all, railroad's do lease power to other railroad's. Right?
I had the opportunity to chase a Museum Special with the #611 up front making the pull. Absolutely fantastic. Since then I've been a NS converted fan. Besides, when the BNSF merges with the NS it won't be a big deal as they won't need to change the initials on the locomotives. B NS F! Yep, I like the NS. Let's hope they remain an independent.
