Norfolk Southern
Office Car Special Equipment

Photographer: Collin Reinhart Description: NS 1, the "Virginia."

Photographer: Collin Reinhart Description: NS 2, the "Carolina."

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

Photographer: Collin Reinhart Description: NS 4, the "Michigan."

Photographer: L.R. Myers Description: NS 5, the "Maryland" was rebuilt in 2016 as a three bedroom sleeper and observation car.

Photographer: L.R. Myers 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: Collin Reinhart Description: NS 9, the "Alabama."

Photographer: Collin Reinhart Description: NS 11, the "Illinois."

Photographer: Collin Reinhart Description: NS 12, the "Indiana."

Photographer: Collin Reinhart Description: NS 13, the "Georgia."

Photographer: Bob Prosser Description: NS 14 is a former American Railway Explorer (also American Orient Express) car and was also in the failed Greenbriar Express fleet. It arrived at Juniata 2/2014 and was released to service 4/2015 after an extensive rebuilding.

Photographer: D.J. Miller Description: NS 15 is a former American Railway Explorer (also American Orient Express) car and was also in the failed Greenbriar Express fleet. It's been at Juniata for a few years awaiting extensive rebuilding.

Photographer: L.R. Myers Description: NS 16 is a former CB&Q sleeper rebuilt as a dining car for the TS-2 track gang. It arrived at Juniata 9/2014 in worn Northern Pacific paint. Some work had been done in Altoona before it was sent to Somerset, KY and finally Northumberland, PA. It was finished 4/2018.

Photographer: Almari Phinazee Description: NS 18, the "New Orleans." This diner/lounge car was overhauled over several years and completed in 2015 and renamed from "General William Mahone."

Photographer: Collin Reinhart Description: NS 19, the "Kentucky."

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

Photographer: Collin Reinhart Description: NS 21, the "West Virginia."

Photographer: L.R. Myers 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: Collin Reinhart Description: NS 24, the "Delaware" is a full dome car.

Photographer: Collin Reinhart Description: NS 25, acquired 2014 and sold to the Everett Railroad 6/2023.

Photographer: L.R. Myers 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: L.R. Myers Description: NS 28, one of the two "Powhatan Arrow" cars for Operation Lifesaver specials.

Photographer: L.R. Myers Description: NS 29, one of the two "Powhatan Arrow" cars for Operation Lifesaver specials.

Photographer: D.J. Miller Description: NS 30, the "Marco Polo" spent three decades at Amtrak's Union Station in Washington D.C. In the fall of 2018 the car was moved out of the station and arrived at Altoona on 1/23/2019. After nearly two years in Altoona the car was donated to the Southwestern Railway Museum in Duluth, GA November 2020.

Photographer: Craig Zeni Description: Research car NS 31 has been off the roster for a long time. Here it is in June 1986 coupled with a high hood GP30 in Raleigh, NC.

Photographer: L.R. Myers Description: NS 32, Research car.

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

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

Photographer: Collin Reinhart Description: NS 36, Research car.

Photographer: L.R. Myers Description: NS 37, Research Support car retired from service around 2010 and sold to the Everett Railroad 6/2023.

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: Collin Reinhart 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: L.R. Myers Description: NS 40 is a HEP boxcar, a former Conrail car.

Photographer: David Fillman Description: NS 41 is a company material boxcar, a former NW car. This car does not have a HEP generator.

Photographer: L.R. Myers Description: NS 42 is one of six former CDot/PAT coaches 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 / Richard Shell Description: NS 99, acquired late 2016 as NS 35, rebuilt in 2022 as a geometry car by Willetts Railcar Services to supposedly replace NS 33 and entered service in Winter 2022-23. This car is of DLW and CNJ heritage.

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.

Photographers: L.R. Myers / Almari Phinazee Description: RPCX 800321, former New York Central "Sandy Creek," sleeper/lounge/observation, owned by former NS CEO Wick Moorman.

Photographer: Aaron Van Amburg Description: NS 960400, dining car for MW crews, in service around 2/2017.

Photographer: L.R. Myers Description: NS 960401, former AOE sleeper rebuilt in 2016 as a diner for MW use.

Photographer: Zachary Walters Description: NS 960408, dining car for MW crews.

Photographer: L.R. Myers Description: SOU 960422 "The Dunn Wagon" - This car was in MW use until several years ago when it was moved to Altoona. They were considering overhauling the car as a new diner for OCS service before PSR came around and it was finally sold to the Everett Railroad 6/2023.

Photographer: Pat Huemmer Description: NS 960424, dining car for MW crews.

Photographer: Chris Marks Location: Altoona, PA Date: c.1997 Description: Conrail 1933 was regularly assigned to Conrail's geometry train. Here's the three car train parked outside of the Miscellaneous Shop at the Juniata Shops.

Photographer: Unknown Location: Altoona, PA Date: March 1998 Description: Rolling through SLOPE interlocking in Altoona, PA is Conrail's Office Car Special. CR 4020 has the honors on this particular trip, with 4021 following behind. This would be Conrail's final operating year, as by mid 1999, Conrail would be history. Photographer unknown. Adam Klimchock collection.

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

Photographer: L.R. 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: L.R. 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: L.R. 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: L.R. 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: Austin MacDougall Location: Harrisburg, PA Date: May 6, 2010 Description: NS 4270, 999, and the exhibit car are westbound on the former Reading RR Lurgan Branch on their way to National Train Day at Washington D.C.

Photographer: E.M. Bell Location: Monticello, IL Date: September 18, 2010 Description: The westbound Kentucky Derby train 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.

Photographer: Brock Kerchner Location: Harrisburg, PA Date: March 27, 2013 Description: A 17-car OCS train is in view here crossing the Susquehanna River on the former Reading Company bridge at Harrisburg on the NS Lurgan Branch. They don't come much longer than this!

Photographer: Sam Whipple Location: Nicholson, PA Date: October 2, 2013 Description: An office car special soars across Tunkhannock Viaduct, which at the time was part of the Canadian Pacific network.

Photographer: L.R. Myers Location: Mt. Union, PA Date: April 16, 2014 Description: Train 956 is seen crossing the Juniata River on one of the taller stone arch bridges on the PRR main line. It's empty and returning to Altoona.

Photographer: L.R. Myers Location: Tipton, PA Date: May 9, 2014 Description: 955 was the symbol used for this Latrobe to Harrisburg train seen at the vintage PRR signals at Tipton. Upon arrival at Harrisburg, the train was turned on a wye and deadheaded back to Altoona later that evening.

Photographer: L.R. Myers Location: Spencer, NC Date: May 28, 2014 Description: A short office car special with just the two F9As is parked in the yard at the North Carolina Transportation Museum. The train would provide lodging for NS employee volunteers for the event.

Photographer: Andrew Gipe Sr. Location: Duncannon, PA Date: December 20, 2015 Description: The OCS is seen returning to Altoona for winter storage passing the former PRR passenger station at Duncannon with the Susquehanna in the background.

Photographer: Ian Hapsias Location: Huntingdon, PA Date: April 14, 2016 Description: The trees next to Hunt tower are working toward spring bloom as train 956 rolls through Huntingdon with six office cars.

Photographer: Ian Hapsias Location: Pittsburgh, PA Date: May 22, 2016 Description: NS 4270 leads an office car special through 'the trench' on the north side of Pittsburgh. The center two tracks are the Conemaugh Line while the outer tracks are the Fort Wayne Line.

Photographer: Lance Shott Location: Kistler, PA Date: April 28, 2018 Description: Train 954 with the F units and several office cars crests the hill at Kistler as it passes 19G on its way back to Altoona.

Photographer: Brad Morocco Location: Tipton, PA Date: May 24, 2018 Description: The 225 signal bridge at Tipton has long been a favorite spot for shooting eastbounds and westbound, particularly in the last few years before its removal. NS 4270 leads the OCS back to Altoona in the evening.

Photographer: Brad Morocco Location: Tipton, PA Date: May 24, 2018 Description: The 225 signal bridge at Tipton has long been a favorite spot for shooting eastbounds and westbound, particularly in the last few years before its removal. NS 4270 leads the OCS back to Altoona in the evening as seen from above.

Photographer: D.J. Miller Location: Summerhill, PA Date: June 24, 2018 Description: The four F units bring a 12-car train through Summerhill on one of their last (if not last) trip with four digit numbers.

Photographer: L.R. Myers Location: Altoona, PA Date: January 22, 2019 Description: NS 1102 leads one of the two geometry trains through Altoona. These two specially-equipped trains roam the NS system looking for track geometry defects.

Photographer: Brandon Fiume Location: Horseshoe Curve, PA Date: April 2, 2019 Description: Fresh from repainting and renumbering to make way for more AC44C6M rebuilds, the F units lead a long 19-car train around Horseshoe Curve. The train would take the loop track at Gallitzin before heading to Harrisburg and points beyond.

Photographer: Andrew Gipe Sr. Location: Rockville, PA Date: April 2, 2019 Description: The 19-car office car special is stretched across world-famous Rockville Bridge on the Pittsburgh Line.

Photographer: Dustin Faust Location: Altoona, PA Date: April 28, 2019 Description: After another trip around the loop track, the F units lead the business train down the siding to wait for a signal cutover outage to end. Antis to Gray was cutover on this day.

Photographer: Brandon Fiume Location: Lilly, PA Date: May 3, 2019 Description: The business train is nearing the end of a trip as it rolls upgrade through Lilly under the cover of darkness.

Photographer: D.J. Miller Location: Lilly, PA Date: May 21, 2019 Description: Three F units and a short four car train head westbound downgrade through Lilly.

Photographer: D.J. Miller Location: Altoona, PA Date: July 28, 2019 Description: NS 271 leads a long train westbound through Altoona heading for points west. Note the train is backward with the theater car at the head end. At the destination, the engines will rund around the train for the trip east. I believe this may be the last trip the NS F units made before they were set out to pasture and sold off.

Photographer: Photo Wanted Location: Photo Wanted Date: Photo Wanted Description: Photo(s) wanted of the F units final run on the OCS in late August 2019.

Photographer: Photo Wanted Location: Photo Wanted Date: Photo Wanted Description: Photo(s) wanted of the OCS trip in late 2019 with NS 8099 leading.

Photographer: D.J. Miller Location: Altoona, PA Date: June 27, 2019 Description: For whatever reason, NS 1073 was tapped to lead a short business train from Altoona to Chicago. I understand the 1073 was taken off the train before it reached Chicago, however. Note: Photo has been retouched.

Photographer: Dustin Faust Location: Lilly, PA Date: April 3, 2021 Description: A freshly-washed SD70ACe leads an eight car train westbound on track two through Lilly on its way to Bellevue, OH.

Photographer: Eric Blankenmyer Location: Tipton, PA Date: May 5, 2021 Description: This spring it was decided to re-gear a pair of SD60Es for OCS service in order to reach passenger speeds. The final two SD60E rebuilds were chosen, NS 7034 and 7035. The two units made their first run in special service on a test run on May 5 from Altoona to Harrisburg and return.

Photographer: Cody Dombrowski Location: Huntingdon, PA Date: April 1, 2024 Description: The two passsenger SD60Es have been returned to freight duty and two recently-repainted heritage units were assigned to the 2024 Masters train seen here passing Hunt Tower.

Photographer: Nic Bjorling Location: Rock Hill, SC Date: April 2, 2024 Description: With the sun finally out, train 955 crosses the Catawba River at Rockhill, SC with 19 cars.

Photographer: Nathan Wike Location: Cornwell, SC Date: April 2, 2024 Description: Train 955 negotiates a curve at Cornwell, SC.