On July 3 and 4, 2012, Norfolk Southern unveiled the Heritage Diesel fleet and a grand exhibition. The location of choice was the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC. The former Southern Railway Spencer Shops, complete with a 37-stall roundhouse provided the backdrop for this grand event. An estimated 3000 people were there on July 3, along with guest-speaker, Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman, who was freely mingling through the crowd, shaking hands and posing for pictures. Although the Spencer site wasn’t exactly designed for 20 diesels and that kind of crowd, people-free pictures of the engines could be had, especially at the Night Photo Session.
Brutal heat and humidity (typical NC weather) were the rule of the day and the EMS crews were kept busy, but kudos to Norfolk Southern and all involved for putting on one heck of a good show.
As Wick Moorman said in his remarks (slightly paraphrased), “Since I became president, people have been asking for the Heritage Diesels and the return of the Steam Program. My job is now done”.
Kevin
