Norfolk Southern is honoring its predecessor railroads during 2012, its 30th anniversary year, by painting 19 new locomotives in commemorative schemes that reflect the heritage of those predecessors.

Each paint scheme will be modified to fit contemporary locomotives while staying as true as possible to the original designs. Norfolk Southern employees in Altoona, Pa., and Chattanooga, Tenn., will paint GE ES44AC locomotives, while the EMD SD70ACe units will be painted at Progress Rail Services’ facility in Muncie, Ind. The heritage locomotives will be used to haul freight across Norfolk Southern’s 20,000-mile, 22-state network.

Norfolk Southern Railway (not to be confused with today’s Norfolk Southern) was a line serving southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina, chartered in 1883 and acquired by Southern Railway in 1974.

NS (original) / NS Heritage ES44AC #TBA

Factory painted, lettered, lights, ditch lights

Model Details:

• Licensing: GE
• Model Painted: Yes
• DCC: DCC Plug N Play
• Model Lettering: Yes
• Directional Lighting: Yes
• Ditch Lights: Yes
• Motor Type: Pitmann
Couplers: Kadee #805