
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 10, 1990                   TAG: 9003102450
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

NS BEGINS 24TH YEAR OF STEAM EXCURSIONS

Norfolk Southern will begin the 24th year of its steam excursion program with a round trip March 31-April 1 from Birmingham, Ala., to Chattanooga, Tenn.

From then until mid-November Norfolk Southern plans to run 60 trips in 16 states, according to Carl Jensen, manager of steam operations.

Between March 31 and Aug. 1, excursions will run in parts of Virginia and West Virginia, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.

In 1989, more than 52,000 people rode on 68 trips, Jensen said.

Plans for the spring and summer trips are announced in the first edition of Norfolk Southern's 1990 steam schedule. Plans for fall excursions will be announced in the second edition, which is to be issued in late spring, Jensen said.

Excursions will be sponsored by local chapters of the National Railway Historical Society and by railroad clubs and museums. Most will be powered by the world's largest active steam engine, the NW 2-6-6-4 Class A 1218, or the NW streamlined 4-8-4 passenger Class J 611.

The first edition of the 1990 steam schedule is available free from C.S. Jensen, manager, Steam Operations, Norfolk Southern, 8 N. Jefferson St., Roanoke 24042-0002.

The schedule lists addresses and telephone numbers for trip sponsors, who can provide specific schedules, fare information and tickets.

by CNB