Norfolk and Western (N&W) Railway – History Timeline

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History Timeline of the Norfolk & Western (N&W) Railway

1830s–1880s: Forged from Virginia railroads

  • 1838: The City Point Railroad, an early predecessor, begins a nine-mile run from Petersburg, VA, to City Point on the James River.
  • 1850s: The Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad is chartered and reaches Petersburg in 1858, famously crossing the Great Dismal Swamp.
  • 1870: The Norfolk & Petersburg, Southside, and Virginia & Tennessee railroads are consolidated and reorganized as the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad (AM&O).
  • 1881: The Clark family of Philadelphia purchases the bankrupt AM&O and the Shenandoah Valley Railroad, consolidating them and rebranding as the Norfolk and Western Railroad.
  • 1881: Headquarters are established in Big Lick, VA, which is promptly renamed Roanoke to project a grander image.
  • 1880s: A strategic expansion into the lucrative bituminous coalfields of West Virginia and Kentucky begins, shaping the railroad’s destiny.
  • Ownership: Early ownership is fragmented among various Virginia interests and then consolidated under the Clark family before falling under Pennsylvania Railroad investment.
  • Strategy: The initial strategy is geographic expansion and consolidation, focused on connecting Virginia ports with the interior and tapping into the rich coal reserves.

1890s–1940s: King Coal and Precision Transportation

  • 1890s: The Ohio Extension is built, reaching the Ohio River at Kenova, West Virginia, by 1892.
  • 1896: Bankruptcy and reorganization lead to the creation of the Norfolk and Western Railway Company.
  • 1900s: The Pennsylvania Railroad acquires a significant but non-controlling stock interest, viewing the N&W as a profitable investment due to its strong performance.
  • 1901: The purchase of the Cincinnati, Portsmouth & Virginia Railroad provides access to Cincinnati, expanding the N&W’s reach into Ohio.
  • Top Commodities: Bituminous coal is the overwhelming top commodity, supplemented by agricultural products and general freight.
  • Financial Results: Consistently profitable and a dividend payer throughout the Great Depression, a rarity among U.S. railroads.
  • Operations: Focused on heavy-duty, high-tonnage freight trains, particularly coal hoppers.
  • 1915–1924: Electrifies its mountainous West Virginia coal lines for improved performance on steep grades.
  • Innovation: Famous for manufacturing and operating some of the finest steam locomotives in the world from its Roanoke Shops, including the powerful Y-class Mallets.
  • 1930s–1950s: The N&W is one of the last major U.S. railroads to embrace dieselization, sticking with its efficient steam power.
  • Famous Executives: A.C. Needles and William J. Jenks lead the company during this period, focusing on operational efficiency and maintaining financial health.
  • Passenger Service: Offered respectable passenger service but it was always secondary to the freight business.

1950s–1960s: Mergers, dieselization, and expansion

  • 1950: West Virginia electrification is retired as improved track and steam technology make it redundant.
  • 1955: Stuart T. Saunders becomes president, ushering in the modern “merger era”.
  • 1959: Merges with its chief coal-hauling competitor, the Virginian Railway, creating a dominant and highly efficient coal corridor with gentler grades eastbound.
  • 1960: Completes the transition from steam to diesel power.
  • 1964: The “super merger” is finalized, acquiring the Wabash Railroad, Nickel Plate Road, Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway, and Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railroad, transforming N&W into a massive Midwest and Northeast freight carrier.
  • Strategy: Aggressive mergers to expand beyond its traditional coal territory, diversify its traffic base, and compete with other merging railroads.
  • Financial Results: Mergers expanded revenue streams and increased profitability, positioning N&W as a major player.
  • 1960s: Acquires control of Dereco, a holding company for the Erie Lackawanna and Delaware & Hudson, but later sells these lines.
  • 1968: The Pennsylvania Railroad divests its N&W stock, freeing N&W from its influence.
  • Marketing Campaigns: Shift focus from steam-era messaging to emphasizing the new, expanded network and diversified freight services.

1970s–1980s: The path to Norfolk Southern

  • 1971: Passenger service is transferred to Amtrak, ending direct operation of passenger trains.
  • 1970–1980: John P. Fishwick Sr. serves as president, navigating a period of economic change and regulatory challenges.
  • 1980: In response to the formation of CSX Corporation, N&W seeks a new merger partner.
  • 1981: N&W acquires the Illinois Terminal Railroad, expanding its presence around St. Louis.
  • 1982: N&W and the Southern Railway officially merge to form the Norfolk Southern Corporation, a new holding company.
  • Famous Executives: Robert B. Claytor becomes the first CEO of the Norfolk Southern Corporation.
  • Ownership: N&W and Southern operate as separate subsidiaries under the Norfolk Southern Corporation umbrella.
  • 1982: The corporate existence of the Illinois Terminal and Akron, Canton & Youngstown ends as they are fully merged into the Norfolk Southern system.
  • Late 1980s: N&W and Southern Railway are formally merged into the Norfolk Southern Railway, ending the N&W’s independent corporate existence.
  • Today: The former N&W routes, particularly the heavy-duty coal lines, remain vital components of the modern Norfolk Southern Railway network.

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the collective railroad history data points on this website are verified across multiple sources.

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