Norfolk Southern Locomotives

Scroll down for various models in the roster. Photos of each unit are at the bottom of the page.

Model: Railpower RP20BD - 2 units
2,000 hp 3-engine genset locomotive, engines: 3 - Deutz TCD2015 V-8 (667hp ea.), on 4 axles, with dynamics.

Roster: Unit Number:	Owner:	Donor Unit:	Originally Built:	Converted At:	New Build Date:	Serial Number:	Used At:	Notes:
NS 100	Norfolk Southern	NS 2824	Apr-71	TMS Altoona	Mar-07		NS System-wide	1, A
NS 101	Norfolk Southern	NS 2830	Apr-71	TMS Altoona	Apr-07		NS System-wide	2, A

General Notes:
1. NS 100 is the first of two units in an order by NS to be assembled at the Juniata Shops in Altoona. PA using kits provided by Railpower. From a Railpower press release July 2006. (http://www.railpower.com/dl/news/news_2006_07_19.pdf).
2. NS 101 is the last of two units in an order by NS to be assembled at the Juniata Shops in Altoona. PA using kits provided by Railpower. From a Railpower press release July 2006. (http://www.railpower.com/dl/news/news_2006_07_19.pdf).

Notes:
A. Unit features the newer cab design (sharper lines on the short hood, etc) of production RP20BD's, but has the enlarged dynamic brake hump at the back of the long hood found only on RP20BD prototype RPRX 5400 and RP20BH prototype RPRX 5401. From photo evidence and personal observations.

History:

Unit Number	Core Unit Number	Core Unit Model	Build Date	Builder's Number	Frame Number	Orig. Number	2nd Number	3rd Number	4th Number	5th Number	Notes
NS 100	NS 2824	EMD GP38AC	Apr-71	37296	7307-2	SOU 2824	NS 2824				A
NS 101	NS 2830	EMD GP38AC	Apr-71	37302	7307-8	SOU 2830	NS 2830				B

Notes:
A. NS 100's previous unit number provided by Chris Toth, with history from RRPictureArchives.net and the Unofficial EMD Home Page. (http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/).
B. NS 101's previous unit number provided by Chris Toth, with history from RRPictureArchives.net and the Unofficial EMD Home Page. (http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/) Build date conflicts on sources as either April or May 1971.

Model: NRE 3GS21B - 2 units
2,100 hp 3-engine genset locomotive, engines: 3 - Cummins QSK19 (700hp each), on 4 axles.

Roster: Unit Number:	Owner:	Donor Unit:	Originally Built:	Converted At:	New Build Date:	Serial Number:	Used At:	Notes:
NS 300	Norfolk Southern	New	N/A	Mt. Vernon	Aug-07	058-0106	System wide	1, 2, A
NS 301	Norfolk Southern	New	N/A	Mt. Vernon	Aug-07	058-0107	System wide	1, 3, B

General Notes:
1. Norfolk Southern has ordered a pair of 3GS21B gensets from National Railway Equipment. From an NRE press release dated May 10, 2007.
2. NS 300 completed in early September 2007 and shipped to Altoona, PA for final acceptance. From various sources.
3. NS 301 was nearing completion at NRE Mt. Vernon in mid September 2007. From visual confirmation by Mark Mautner.

Notes:
A. Build date from initial reports. Serial number from RailroadPictureArchives.net. Build date is reported in several other places as Sept. 2007, but the Aug. 2007 date is consistent with a plate check of the 301 performed by the webmaster in Jan. 2009.
B.Build data from a plate check by the webmaster in Jan. '09. Build date reported by several other sources as Sept. 2007. The photo that I took of the builder's plate was slightly blurry, so I can not conclusively say that the build date is Aug. 07. But the month digit definitely appears to be an 8, not a 9. UPDATE: (http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1163493) Information corroborated by a photo of the builder’s plate by Marc Malnekoff.

Model: Brookville/TMS BP-4 - 1 unit
1,350 hp plug-in battery powered switcher, power: 1,080 12V deep cycle batteries, on 4 axles. Developed in cooperation with Thoroughbred Mechanical Service & Penn State University

Roster: Unit Number:	Owner:	Donor Unit:	Originally Built:	Converted At:	New Build Date:	Serial Number:	Used At:	Notes:
NS 999	Norfolk Southern	PRR 2911	July 1969	TMS, Altoona, PA	Aug. 2009		Altoona, PA	1, 2, A, B

General Notes:
1. Class BP-4 is a fully battery-powered locomotive, with 1,080 12-volt deep cycle truck batteries. It must be plugged in between uses. According to a report in the WeAreCentralPA.com coverage of the initial rollout, NS has 'two more prototypes on the drawing board', but that is not confirmed.
2. The BP-4's technology was developed jointly by Brookville Equipment, NS-owned Thoroughbred Mechanical Services, US Department of Transportation, and Penn State University.

Notes:
A. The prototype was released in Aug. 2009 and unveiled formally at the end of September. From press release on NS website. (http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Media/News Releases/2009/batteries.html)
B. According to a note in the NS newsletter, the NS 999 will be tested at NS's Rose Yard in Altoona, PA.

History:

Unit Number	Core Unit Number	Core Unit Model	Build Date	Builder's Number	Frame Number	Orig. Number	2nd Number	3rd Number	4th Number	5th Number	Notes
NS 999	PRR 2911	EMD GP38	July 1969	35361	7191-58	PC 7732	CR 7732	PRR 2911			A, B

Notes:
A. Originally built as a GP38 by EMD for Penn Central. To Conrail at merger, then to NS at the breakup of CR. NS assigned the unit the reporting marks of PRR while on-roster as a GP38. Rebuilt at TMS as a battery powered switcher, model BP-4.
B. Unit history from the Unofficial EMD Homepage, with core unit number from Chris Toth's NS Rosters page.

Model: Railpower RP14BD - 2 units
1,340 hp 2-engine genset locomotive, engines: 2 - Deutz TCD2015 V-8 (667hp ea.), on 4 axles, cabless.

Roster: Unit Number:	Owner:	Donor Unit:	Originally Built:	Converted At:	New Build Date:	Serial Number:	Used At:	Notes:
NS 2120	Norfolk Southern	NS 2206	Feb. 1972	TMS Altoona	Jan. 2008	1RPBDB20875000187	NS System-wide	1, 2, A, C
NS 2121	Norfolk Southern	NS 2226	Sept. 1973	TMS Altoona	Summer 08		NS System-wide	1, 2, B

General Notes:
1. New model, first two to be kits supplied to Norfolk Southern for conversion of SW1500’s and performed by TMS in Altoona, PA. From Railpower press release. (http://www.railpower.com/dl/news/news_2007_04_30_e.pdf).
2. Per further conversation with Railpower, these units will be cabless, and will be equipped with remote control capability.

Notes:
A. Prepped frames spotted outside TMS in late Feb. 2008. From Lance Myers. In July 2008, the finished 2120 was displayed at Altoona Railfest in Altoona, PA.
B. NS 2121 reported at Conway, PA shortly after completion.
C. 2120's serial number and builder’s plate info from a plate photo by Lance Meyers. It is very likely incorrect, as this same serial number and builder’s date was also assigned to UPY 896, 897, 898, 899 and RPRX 5407.

History:

Unit Number	Core Unit Number	Core Unit Model	Build Date	Builder's Number	Frame Number	Orig. Number	2nd Number	3rd Number	4th Number	5th Number	Notes
NS 2120	NS 2206	EMD SW1500	Feb. 1972	7355-11	7355-11	PC 9520	CR 9520	PRRX 2206			A
NS 2121	NS 2226	EMD SW1500	Sept. 1973	73622-12	73622-12	PC 9571	CR 9571	PRRX 2226			A

Notes:
A. Previous unit number provided by Chris Toth, with history from the Unofficial EMD Home Page. (http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/).

Model: Railpower RP20CD - 1 unit
2,000 hp 3-engine genset locomotive, engines: 3 - Deutz TCD2015 V-8 (667hp ea.), on 6 axles, with dynamics.

Roster: Unit Number:	Owner:	Donor Unit:	Originally Built:	Converted At:	New Build Date:	Serial Number:	Used At:	Notes:
NS 3830	Norfolk Southern	NS 3199	Dec. 1971	TMS Altoona	Nov. 2008		NS System-wide	1, A, B

General Notes:
1. Norfolk Southern has ordered a single six-axle genset kit from Railpower. From assorted Railpower press releases and reports. There are rumors that at least one more unit will be produced, but this is not confirmed.

Notes:
A. Following completion at TMS, this unit finally departed Altoona for Conway, PA in late February 2009. From various spottings.
B. Remote control gear installed by NS sometime after unit completion, most likely in spring of 2009. From photo verification and other reports.

History:

Unit Number	Core Unit Number	Core Unit Model	Build Date	Builder's Number	Frame Number	Orig. Number	2nd Number	3rd Number	4th Number	5th Number	Notes
NS 3830	NS 3199	EMD SD40	Dec. 1971	7375-14	7375-14	SOU 3199	NS 3199				A

Notes:
A. Original unit number supplied anonymously with histories from RRPictureArchives. Build date from various sources close to TMS.

Model: NRE 3GS21C-DE - 1 unit
2,100 hp 3-engine genset locomotive, engines: 3 - Cummins QSK19 (700hp each), on 6 axles, with dynamics.

Roster: Unit Number:	Owner:	Donor Unit:	Originally Built:	Converted At:	New Build Date:	Serial Number:	Used At:	Notes:
NS 3850	Norfolk Southern	NS 3188	Dec. 1971	Mt. Vernon	May-08	7375-3	System wide	1, A

General Notes:
1. Norfolk Southern has ordered a single six-axle genset. From visual confirmation at NRE's Mt. Vernon plant early in 2008. Unlike the other 3GS21C (PHL 80), NS 3850 is equipped with dynamic brakes and is given the model designation 3GS21B-DE.

Notes:
A. NS 3850 has been used in various locations throughout the system, though it seems to have spent the majority of its time around North Carolina. The unit was spotted in Savannah, GA by the webmaster in late January 2009.

History:

Unit Number	Core Unit Number	Core Unit Model	Build Date	Builder's Number	Frame Number	Orig. Number	2nd Number	3rd Number	4th Number	5th Number	Notes
NS 3850	NS 3188	EMD SD40	Dec. 1971	7375-3	7375-3	SOU 3188	NS 3188	NREX 3188?			A, B

Notes:
A. Original unit number from Chris Toth's NS Rosters Page with histories from RRPictureArchives. NS 3188 spent several years partially stripped at NRE Mt. Vernon prior to conversion, and may have been NREX 3188 before conversion.
B. Builder’s plate info from a photo by Stuart Lodge on RailroadPictureArchives.Net. (http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1660832).

Model: Progress PR43C - 2 units
4,300 hp 2-engine road genset, engines: 1 - CAT C175 V-16 (3,600hp) + 1 - CAT C18 (700hp), on 6 axles.

Roster: Unit Number:	Owner:	Donor Unit:	Originally Built:	Converted At:	New Build Date:	Serial Number:	Used At:	Notes:
NS 4000	Norfolk Southern	UP 9881	Nov. 1984	Mayfield, KY			System-wide	1, A, B
NS 4001	Norfolk Southern	NS 6509	June 1984?	Mayfield, KY			System-wide	1, A

General Notes:
1. Aside from some referenced specs, not much of anything has been released in regard to these locomotives, and virtually nothing has come through official channels.

Notes:
A. Additional information is still being sought on these units. Watch this section for more information when and if it becomes available.
B. NS 4000 returned to Progress Mayfield for repairs in Sept. 2009. Current status unknown.

History:

Unit Number	Core Unit Number	Core Unit Model	Build Date	Builder's Number	Frame Number	Orig. Number	2nd Number	3rd Number	4th Number	5th Number	Notes
NS 4000	UP 9881	EMD SD50	Nov. 1984	847008-2	847008-2	MP 5001	UP 5001	UP 9881	NS 4000		A
NS 4001	NS 6509	EMD SD50	June 1984?	827041-4	827041-4	NS 6509	NS 4001				B

Notes:
A. Unit history compiled from Railroad Picture Archives’ page for the NS 4000: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=113028 with additional information from the Unofficial EMD Homepage (http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco).
B.Unit history compiled from Railroad Picture Archives’ page for the NS 4001: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=113029 with additional information from the Unofficial EMD Homepage (http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco)

Photos: (Click to enlarge)

NS 100 RP20BD

NS 101 RP20BD

NS 300 3GS21B
NS 301 3GS21B
NS 999 BP4
NS 2120 RP14BD
NS 2121 RP14BD
NS 3830 RP20CD
NS 3850 3GS21C-DE
NS 4000 PR43C
NS 4001 PR43C

For corrections, questions or to contribute photos, please e-mail me at: potb101@aim.com. Thanks!

Back to the Genset Rosters home page.