NS
Thanks to the craftmanship and skill of NS’s railroaders at the Juniata Locomotive Shop, the Class I’s Illinois Terminal heritage unit has been newly restored.
According to a LinkedIn post, it took 95 gallons of primer, paint, and clear coat, plus 750 hours of grit blasting, prepping, painting, and decal work to bring #1072 back to life.
Separately, NS delivered nearly 160 massive wind turbine components to Timbermill Wind, a 1,933-acre renewable energy project in Chowan County, N.C. The site will feature 45 turbines generating clean energy for thousands of homes.
According to the Class I, Timbermill Wind is the largest project between NS and wind turbine leader Vestas, “and a major step toward a more sustainable energy future.” According to Vestas, every 24 hours, wind generates enough kinetic energy to produce 35 times more electricity than is used each day.
The route spanned 10 states, ending in Morehead City, where trains ran down the center of a four-lane highway. City crews removed signs and coordinated traffic to guide components the size of buildings to the port. Most parts—including tower sections, nacelles, and drive trains—moved by rail, according to NS.
Delivering these massive clean energy components safely took a full NS team effort, the Class I noted. This included:
- Engineering & Clearances – teams mapped the route with LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology.
- Commercial, Logistics, and Network Operations Center (NOC) – kept operations flowing.
- Short line partner Carolina Coastal Railway – helped coordinate final delivery to the Timbermill site.
“If it’s big and complicated, we’ll move it as long as it’s safe to do so. We love the opportunity to show how fluid we are at moving big, heavy shipments,” said Kristie Riddle, Industrial Products Account Manager.
NS Says it is exploring future wind collaborations to create additional clean energy solutions.
CSX
CSX announced Aug. 26 that it has been recognized as Maersk’s Intermodal Supplier of the Year in North America for 2025, “a prestigious honor that highlights the strength of the partnership between the two companies and CSX’s commitment to service excellence.”
The award, the Class I says, “reflects CSX’s instrumental role in building resilient, customer-focused supply chains across the region.” Maersk, one of CSX’s most valued intermodal customers, commended the company’s “dedication to improving on-time performance and delivering industry-leading reliability.”
“CSX’s continued focus on improving on-time performance has been a key factor for delivering industry-leading reliability to Maersk customers, and I’m grateful for the collaboration and shared commitment to excellence,” said Angel Mavares Bermudez, Maersk’s Regional Head of Procurement, Logistics and Services.
The award criteria included customer experience, ease of doing business, service reliability, competitiveness, and strategic alignment.
CSX’s Commercial and Operations teams, including Customer Solutions, Intermodal Terminal Teams, Intermodal International Marketing and Sales, Intermodal Network Operations Center, Service Design, and Service Planning and Transportation, were instrumental in achieving this recognition, the Class I noted.
“Our Intermodal Operations teams are the best in the industry, and we take tremendous satisfaction in delivering innovative solutions that drive results, build strong relationships, and offer superior service,” said Carrie Crozier, CSX Vice President of Intermodal Operations.
The award was presented during a recent executive performance review, where CSX and Maersk also discussed ongoing initiatives in technology, innovation, and sustainability—key focus areas for both companies in today’s logistics landscape.
“Congratulations to the entire ONE CSX team. Everyone should be incredibly proud of this recognition and celebrate their contributions to our shared success. Maersk highlighted the great work from our organization across the board—this truly is a ONE CSX award,” said CSX Vice President of Intermodal Sales and Marketing Drew Johnson.
This recognition, the Class I says, “underscores CSX’s dedication to delivering exceptional service and fostering strong partnerships. The company continues to prioritize innovation and collaboration to meet the evolving needs of its customers.”
In related news, CSX on Aug. 27 released its 2024 Sustainability Report, “highlighting the company’s progress and initiatives across its four core pillars: Safety, Service, Sustainability, and Stewardship.”
Central to this year’s report is the introduction of “Service with Purpose,” a comprehensive platform that “reflects CSX’s commitment to delivering long-term value for employees, customers, communities, and stakeholders,” according to the Class I.
“Service with Purpose represents our deep belief that doing business the right way not only strengthens the company’s foundation but also helps create stronger communities and mutually beneficial relationships,” said CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs. “From the people we serve to the freight we move; we know that purpose-driven performance creates lasting value. Our 2024 Sustainability Report unpacks how our teams brought these pillars to life.”
The 2024 Sustainability Report (download below) “underscores CSX’s leadership in integrating sustainability, safety, and social responsibility into its business strategy,” the Class I noted. Key highlights from the report include:
Safety
- “Achieved the lowest lost workdays recorded in CSX history.
- “Provided SAFE CSX training and in-field coaching to 100% of operations managers.
- “Trained more than 8,200 first responders and law enforcement personnel to protect community safety.”
Service
- “Completed 82,580 hours of training through the ONE CSX Academy.
- “Advanced over 550 industrial development projects in the pipeline.
- “Distributed $664,000 in hurricane relief to employees in need.”
Sustainability
- “Achieved 528 revenue ton-miles per gallon fuel efficiency.
- “Helped customers avoid over 10 million tons of CO2 emissions.
- “Improved fuel efficiency by 4% year-over-year.”
Stewardship
- “CSX employees contributed more than 24,000 volunteer hours across 800+ communities.
- “Anne Chow and Ann Begeman joined Board of Directors, in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
- “91% of information security team credentialed with industry-recognized cybersecurity certification.”
The report also highlights innovations such as CSX’s first hydrogen-powered locomotive, the deployment of industry-leading safety technologies, and record customer satisfaction scores. These achievements, the Class I says, “reflect the company’s commitment to purpose-driven performance that benefits all stakeholders.”
“As we look ahead to celebrating our 200th year as a company, 2024 reaffirmed that when we work together—united by a shared vision and values—we can navigate unforeseen challenges and build a better future for all,” Hinrichs added.
UP
UP’s infrastructure investments are expanding intermodal capacity to deliver time-sensitive freight faster for Southern California customers, the Class I recently reported. With nearly $10 million invested daily across its 23-state network, UP says it is “enhancing infrastructure, technology and network reach to safely deliver the service it sold.”
The latest upgrades span nine miles of main line track from Bon View to South Fontana, Calif., where Engineering teams installed double track, rebuilt two bridges and a culvert, and reinforced sidings, “enabling more trains to move through the area and improving network connectivity,” according to UP.
“Adding track increased velocity and network fluidity for freight entering Inland Empire Intermodal Terminal,” said Paul Ivey, Senior Manager-Track and Civil Construction. “It’s a key part of Union Pacific’s intermodal facilities expansion plan in the LA area.”
The Los Angeles Basin is a vital hub for international intermodal traffic. With five intermodal ramps strategically located across the region, UP says it is “uniquely positioned to provide customers with fast, reliable access to domestic and international markets.”
UP recently launched a truck-competitive domestic intermodal service connecting Inland Empire Intermodal Terminal to Chicago’s Global 2 Intermodal Terminal. With a three-day transit, customers will see up to 20% faster service compared to current industry offerings between these key locations, according to the Class I.
“By delivering consistent service for our customers, we’re encouraging continued growth in the region,” said David Pratt, Senior Manager-Resource Planning.
