Norfolk Southern in Cincinnati


    Norfolk Southern is the second largest provider of rail service in the Cincinnati area with three major routes into town.  NS lines in the region are of New York Central System (Big 4), Norfolk & Western Railway, Pennsylvania Railroad and Southern Railway (CNO&TP) heritage.  Operating approximately 40 trains in the area per day, NS utilizes several smaller yards to accomodate traffic that requires yard work, unlike rival CSX who has one large primary facility.  The base of operations for NS in Cincinnati is the small former Southern yard at Gest Street.  The small size of the yard limits the railroads ability to do as much as they would like to do, however, they utilize the space they have with remarkable efficiency and productivity.  A modern intermodal yard is located adjacent to Gest Street on the grounds of the former Cincinnati Union Terminal concourse.  Sharon Yard in suburban Sharonville has undergone a slow revival of activity since the Conrail transaction of 1999.  The former N&W Berry Yard in Bond Hill provides an additional base for local switching operations.  For detailed information on NS lines into the Cincinnati area, click on the links below.  Lines are organized by heritage and to the nearest outlying terminal.

NYC (Big 4) to Columbus

N&W to Portsmouth

PRR to Ft. Wayne

Southern to Danville


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