Farewell to Steam on the N&W

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Thu Jul 3 23:21:42 EDT 2008


Roanoke Times - June 27, 1958

Editorial

Farewell to Steam on the N&W

Steam locomotives are nearing the end of the line on the Norfolk
and Western Railway. It was generally recognized that their days were
numbered after the railroad placed six diesel units in operation on
its Durham line in 1955. Since then the N&W jas acquired 192
additional diesels.
Now comes an announcement by N&W President Stuart T. Saunders
that the railroad will buy 268 new diesel locomotives at an estimated
cost of $50 million which will enable the road to dieselize
completely its operations to present traffic levels.
What will happen to the steam locomotives now in use along the N&W
lines? Mr. Saunders says 202 of the 262 steam units now owned by the
road will be "retired" by the end of 1960. The remaining 60, which
will still have what the N&W calls "serviceable mileage," will be
used to meet demands during peak levels of traffic and in emergencies.
The N&W is the last major railroad in the nation to succumb to
the diesels. Some of the finest steam locomotives in the world have
been produced in the N&W's shops in Roanoke. Wedded to coal and steam
for scores of years, the road found it difficult - for sentimental as
well as other reasons - to part company.
It's going to be difficult for the thousands who live and work
along the N&W's some 4,600 miles of line to become accustomed to
railroading without steam. But progress must be served.

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link




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