Norfolk Southern
Office Car Special Equipment

Photographer: E.M. Bell Description: NS 4270, F9A, usually has the honors of being the lead unit on OCS trips.

Photographer: Chris Tokarcik Description: NS 4271, F9A, more often than not will be seen trailing because it rides a bit rougher than the 4270.

Photographer: E.M. Bell Description: NS 4275, F7B, built 10/1950.

Photographer: E.M. Bell Description: NS 4276, F7B, built 10/1950.

Photographer: E.M. Bell Description: NS 1, the "Virginia."

Photographer: E.M. Bell Description: NS 2, the "Carolina."

Photographer: E.M. Bell Description: NS 3, the "Claytor Lake."

Photographer: Val Pistilli Description: NS 4, the "Michigan."

Photographer: Val Pistilli Description: NS 5, the "Maryland."

Photographer: Val Pistilli Description: NS 7, the "Pennsylvania" is where the 'mechanical rider' sleeps on the OCS. The mechanical rider is the go-to man if there are any issues with the equipment.

Photographer: Val Pistilli Description: NS 9, the "Alabama."

Photographer: Val Pistilli Description: NS 11, the "Illinois."

Photographer: Val Pistilli Description: NS 12, the "Indiana."

Photographer: Val Pistilli Description: NS 13, the "Georgia."

Photographer: Lance Myers Description: NS 18, the "General William Mahone."

Photographer: Val Pistilli Description: NS 19, the "Kentucky."

Photographer: E.M. Bell Description: NS 20, the "Ohio."

Photographer: E.M. Bell Description: NS 21, the "West Virginia."

Photographer: E.M. Bell Description: NS 23, the "Buena Vista" is probably the most photographed car in the OCS fleet because it's usually at the end of the train.

Photographer: E.M. Bell Description: NS 24, the "Delaware" is a full dome car.

Photographer: Robert Duncan Sr. Description: NS 26, the "New York."

Photographer: Shawn Levy Description: NS 27, the Exhibit Car, is sent to various events throughout the NS system. There is a locomotive simulator inside.

Photographer: Robert Duncan Sr. Description: NS 28, one of the two "Powhaten Arrow" cars for Operation Lifesaver specials.

Photographer: Robert Duncan Sr. Description: NS 29, one of the two "Powhaten Arrow" cars for Operation Lifesaver specials.

Photographer: Unknown Description: NS 30, the "Marko Polo" at Amtrak's Union Station in Washington D.C. There is talk of this car possibly being overhauled for OCS service again.

Photographer: Stephen Brock Description: NS 32, research car.

Photographer: Jonathan McCoy Description: NS 33, research car.

Photographer: Nikos Kavoori Description: NS 34, the original "Research Slug" recently had a cab installed for computer equipment and was repainted. It isn't really a slug since it has no traction motors, but it weighs as much as a regular locomotive. It has lots of equipment on the trucks to measure track geometry.

Photographer: Austin MacDougall Description: NS 36, research car.

Photographer: Wilson Kidd Description: NS 37, research car.

Photographer: Scott Ikemeyer Description: NS 38, "The Brick." The Juniata Shops turned out this second research slug 9/2009. It has the same uses as NS 34, but features a double cab for computer equipment.

Photographer: Joseph Jones Description: NS 39 is a HEP car which was used during the old NS steam program. During the winter of 2011 it received some work and a new coat of paint and returned to service on the first OCS trip of 2011, the Masters trip.

Photographer: Jason Greene Description: NS 40 is a HEP boxcar.

Photographer: Lance Myers Description: NS 42 is one of six former CDot/PAT coaches being overhauled for steam program use.

Photographer: Sean Gulden Description: NS 48, research caboose.

Photographer: Sean Gulden Description: NS 49, research caboose.

Photographer: J.B. Kerr Description: NW 521414, overhauled in 2010 and converted to a diner for MW use. It is not part of the business car fleet.

Photographer: Lance Myers Description: SOU 960000, shipped to Altoona for disposition. It's rumored this car will eventually be an ADA-accessible car for the new NS steam program.

Photographer: Lance Myers Location: Huntingdon, PA Date: June 7, 2002 Description: A three car train heads east at CP-Hunt with a 2-year-old SD70M for power. Notice the first car is still in the Conrail OCS colors.

Photographer: Lance Myers Location: Garett, PA Date: June 27, 2002 Description: You wouldn't think this shot would belong here, but I wanted to post it anyway. Here's an OCS on CSXT's Keystone Sub made up of nothing but Norfolk Southern office cars.

Photographer: Lance Myers Location: Altoona, PA Date: May 6, 2004 Description: A blue SD40-2 brings a deadhead OCS into Altoona. The Conrail power car is at the headend of several office cars.

Photographer: Lance Myers Location: Cresson, PA Date: March 28, 2007 Description: Three of the four F units purchased by NS for OCS service make their debut appearance on a test run today. The two GP38-2's are along for dynamic braking to simulate a train behind the F units. While the F units are in throtle, the two GP38-2's are in dynamic to simulate a load.

Photographer: Lance Myers Location: Altoona, PA Date: February 25, 2008 Description: An A-B-A set of F units takes eight cars east at Rose.

Photographer: Lance Myers Location: Huntingdon, PA Date: March 1, 2008 Description: The F's are on the return trip to Altoona and are passing Hunt tower, the last tower remaining between Harrisburg and Altoona.

Photographer: Lance Myers Location: Altoona, PA Date: March 8, 2008 Description: NS 3338, a blue SD40-2, is paired up with NS 18. The 18 is a dining car.

Photographer: Lance Myers Location: Altoona, PA Date: May 18, 2008 Description: An A-B-A set of F's is prepared for an upcoming OCS run.

Photographer: Lance Myers Location: Altoona, PA Date: July 12, 2008 Description: NS put a pair of the F units on display for Altoona Railfest this year. Here they are on the turntable at the Altoona Railroaders' Memorial Museum.

Photographer: Tom Granville Location: Pittsburgh, PA Date: October 4, 2008 Description: NS OCS 955 glides across the OC Bridge just west of downtown Pittsburgh. The OC Bridge is nearly a mile long and is quite impressive to cross on a train. Yours truly is conductor on this trip from Altoona to Conway. The consists is ABBA, plus 9 cars.

Photographer: E.M. Bell Location: Salvisa, KY Date: May 4, 2008 Description: Gordon Brandonburg and Robert James posed their restored Farmall tractors with the outbound derby train deadhead move.

Photographer: Lance Myers Location: Barree, PA Date: October 8, 2008 Description: On the return trip back east, the 955 OCS is seen blasting through Spruce Creek Tunnel and crossing the Little Juniata River.

Photographer: E.M. Bell Location: Salvisa, KY Date: April 26, 2009 Description: Newly restored Southern 401 poses with NS 4270 at the Monticello RR Museum. This was the second year that NS sent a pair of F units to the museum for their annual railfan day.

Photographer: E.M. Bell Location: Monticello, IL Date: September 18, 2010 Description: The westbound Kentucky Derby passes over a creek at Salvisa on the way to Louisville, KY.

Photographer: Dustin Grizzle Location: Augusta, GA Date: April 4, 2011 Description: It's not every day you see 4270 and 4271 side-by-side. The masters special was split in two and a pair of F units is on each half.

Photographer: Tony Kimmel Location: Altoona, PA Date: August 25, 2011 Description: The NS OCS passes famous Alto tower on its way back to the Juniata Shops where the equipment is stored and maintained after a trip to visit the Pan Am Railway.