And what about the long shadow removed when Graham Claytor passed away?

[NW Mailing List]

And no one has even mentioned the long shadow of the Claytor's being
removed when the last Claytor, Graham passed away in May 1994. I have
been told THAT, too was a major factor as well as the liability issue
and NS's desire to acquire Conrail which they eyes on even before
1994, but the upturn in business was upsetting the steam applecart.

Bob Cohen



> I have to take exception to this comment. Norfolk Southern not running

> steam has nothing to do with whether or not they are interested in history.

> Norfolk Southern quit running steam excursions due to liability. I have heard

> this first hand from top NS management at the time. I was involved in  some

> meetings with NS to preserve the steam program. After the derailment/accident in Lynchburg, VA in 1994 they realized that if that train  had been full of school kids there would not be enough money to cover all of  those blood sucking lawsuits that would follow. Blood sucking is my description,  not NS's. I believe in compensation after an accident but these settlements these days are outrageous.

>

> Many of my dealings with Norfolk Southern show me that they are interested

> in history. They often support our historic organizations. The reason they

> often  tear down unused structures is to avoid property taxes.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Richard D. Shell

> Troutville, VA

>

>

> In a message dated 1/27/2010 1:38:56 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

> nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org writes:

>

> It's the same reason why NS sees absolutely no

> reason to operate steam locomotives,

>

> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 6

> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:39:02 -0500

> From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Subject: Re: Norfolk Southern History

> To: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Message-ID: <01ec01ca9f99$25652a00$2a01a8c0 at judy2a11867152>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

>

> Remember when the Employee Special derailed in the swamp? I bet the bill for that one was high!!!

>

>

> Walt

>

>  ----- Original Message -----

>  From: NW Mailing List

>  To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org

>  Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 2:06 PM

>  Subject: Norfolk Southern History

>

>

>  I have to take exception to this comment. Norfolk Southern not running steam has nothing to do with whether or not they are interested in history. Norfolk Southern quit running steam excursions due to liability. I have heard this first hand from top NS management at the time. I was involved in some meetings with NS to preserve the steam program. After the derailment/accident in Lynchburg, VA in 1994 they realized that if that train had been full of school kids there would not be enough money to cover all of those blood sucking lawsuits that would follow. Blood sucking is my description, not NS's. I believe in compensation after an accident but these settlements these days are outrageous.

>

>  Many of my dealings with Norfolk Southern show me that they are interested in history. They often support our historic organizations. The reason they often tear down unused structures is to avoid property taxes.

>

>  Thanks,

>

>  Richard D. Shell

>  Troutville, VA

>

>  In a message dated 1/27/2010 1:38:56 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org writes:

>    It's the same reason why NS sees absolutely no

>    reason to operate steam locomotives,

>

> Message: 7

> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:30:43 -0500

> From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Subject: Re: Norfolk Southern History

> To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Message-ID: <4B60B083.30400 at verizon.net>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; Format="flowed"

>

> I have to agree with Richard versus the other, earlier comment.

> But to put my own cynical spin on it, it's all about the bottom line.

> Is avoiding lawsuits part of the bottom line?

> Of course it is. But it is those exec's duty to their stock holders.

> It is first and foremost a business, and not one known for it's great

> return (percentage).

>

> Tom Cosgrove

>

> NW Mailing List wrote:

>> I have to take exception to this comment. Norfolk Southern not running

>> steam has nothing to do with whether or not they are interested in

>> history. Norfolk Southern quit running steam excursions due to

>> liability. I have heard this first hand from top NS management at the

>> time. I was involved in some meetings with NS to preserve the steam

>> program. After the derailment/accident in Lynchburg, VA in 1994 they

>> realized that if that train had been full of school kids there would

>> not be enough money to cover all of those blood sucking lawsuits that

>> would follow. Blood sucking is my description, not NS's. I believe in

>> compensation after an accident but these settlements these days are

>> outrageous.

>>

>> Many of my dealings with Norfolk Southern show me that they are

>> interested in history. They often support our historic organizations.

>> The reason they often tear down unused structures is to avoid property

>> taxes.

>>

>> Thanks,

>>

>> Richard D. Shell

>> Troutville, VA