ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 1996 TAG: 9610080078
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
Norfolk Southern Corp. announced Monday it will close its railroad locomotive repair shop in Chattanooga, Tenn., and transfer the work to its larger locomotive shop in Roanoke.
The Chattanooga shop employs about 60 people. Some of them will be offered transfers to Roanoke or to work elsewhere in NS' 20-state territory. The transfer will take effect Jan. 6.
NS has been overhauling the engines, rebuilding the power assemblies of locomotives made by General Motors Electro-Motive Division at its Chattanooga shop.
That operation and the Roanoke shop, where Norfolk Southern rebuilds General Electric locomotives, are the two major shops where the railroad does locomotive overhaul work.
Both shops have been efficient and well-equipped but have been operating below capacity, NS said in a statement Monday.
Currently, 157 people, including supervisors, work at the Roanoke shops on three shifts, five days a week.
Bob Auman, an NS spokesman, said the number of people who would move to Roanoke has yet to be determined.
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines KEYWORDS: JOBCHEKby CNB