NS
“The votes are in, and we’re so excited to unveil the newest addition to our Heritage Fleet: the Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway locomotive!,” NS reported via social media on Dec. 2.
The Class I railroad in October asked its LinkedIn followers and its employees to vote on which predecessor railroad should be honored next as part of its Heritage program. The four choices were: TAG; Atlantic & East Carolina Railroad; Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railway; and Delaware & Hudson Railway.
The NS Juniata Locomotive Paint Shop in Altoona, Pa., brought TAG “back to life,” the railroad said.
“Once a vital link between Chattanooga and Gadsden, the TAG Railway played a key role in moving coal, steel, and more from 1891 – 1971,” according to NS. “Its legacy is now proudly reflected in our fleet. A big thank you to everyone who voted and to our skilled team in Altoona for your incredible craftsmanship.”
Since 1820, hundreds of railroad companies were built, merged, reorganized, and consolidated into what eventually became NS, which itself was created from the consolidation of Southern Railway and Norfolk and Western Railway in 1982. In 1999, NS acquired a portion of Conrail.
To pay tribute to predecessors, the Juniata shop in 2012 began painting Heritage units as part of NS’s 30th anniversary. Among the now 21 units are Conrail 8098 and Lackawanna 1074, which the shop restored in May. It took the 10 Juniata carmen 750 hours to blast, prep, and paint No. 1074, using more than 105 gallons of primer, color coat, and clear coat.
The shop also recently rolled out a unit honoring NS railroaders (pictured, below). Ten carmen painters completed the project after approximately 430 hours, using 75 gallons of paint.
UP
UP on Dec. 2 reported via social media that three of its railroaders received the Courageous Star Award from Union Pacific EASE (Educate. Advocate. Support. Encourage.), the employee resource group whose mission is to raise awareness and support employees impacted by disability, illness or disease. Each year, EASE’s leadership team presents the award that honors “employee caregivers, disability advocates and allies, as well as those managing their own disabilities, as they demonstrate strength, positivity and determination in the face of adversity.”
This year, Courageous Star Awards went to:
- Steve Persichette, Manager-Labor Relations, who was nominated for “his outstanding efforts to help remove ADHD stigma in the workplace.”
- Alex Carlson, Senior Manager-Logistics, who was nominated for “his passionate support of his toddler Lane’s rare health condition.”
- Billy Holcomb, Senior Analyst-Logistics, who was nominated for “the dedication he displays as a primary caregiver for his daughter, Kaylee, a non-verbal adult requiring full-time care.”
UP said that award recipients and nominees “were honored with the opportunity to direct monetary donations from EASE to a nonprofit of their choosing.” The nonprofits selected include Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA), Autism Society of Nebraska, Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome Foundation and The Arc of Nebraska.
