Eastern Railroad Discussion > Questions About NS Line Through Dallas, Ga

Good Evening:

How many trains per day travel over the NS line through Dallas, GA and what are the symbols? What are the busiest times? What does NS call this subdivision?

Thank you in advance.

This is NS' Atlanta North District. In total, the line sees about 35-40 trains in a 24-hour period. Traffic is fairly consistent throughout the day. The following are the scheduled trains:

Intermodal:
207 Savannah, GA - Memphis, TN (Sa, Su)
207 Atlanta, GA - Memphis, TN (Tu, We)
215 Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA
216 Atlanta, GA - Chicago, IL
223 Kansas City, MO - Atlanta, GA
224 Atlanta, GA - Kansas City, MO
229 Columbus, OH - Jacksonville, FL (FEC)
282 Jacksonville, FL - Chicago, IL
285 Kansas City, MO - Jacksonville, FL (FEC)
295 Chicago, IL - Jacksonville, FL (FEC)
22N Memphis, TN - Atlanta, GA
23N Atlanta, GA - Memphis, TN

Roadrailer:
251 Sandusky, OH - East Point, GA / Jacksonville, FL
264 East Point, GA - Detroit, MI

Autorack:
275 Shelbyville, KY - Atlanta, GA
276 Jacksonville, FL - Georgetown, KY (Su-Fr)
284 Jacksonville, FL - Princeton, IN (Sa)
288 Atlanta, GA - Detroit, MI
25J Atlanta, GA - Roanoke, IN (as required)

Manifest:
125 Knoxville, TN - Macon, GA
126 Macon, GA - Knoxville, TN
174 Macon, GA - Elkhart, IN
175 Elkhart, IN - Macon, GA
322 Macon, GA - Chattanooga, TN
334 Sheffield, AL - Macon, GA
335 Macon, GA - Sheffield, AL
347 Chattanooga, TN - Atlanta, GA
348 Linwood, NC - Chattanooga, TN
361 Chattanooga, TN - Macon, GA

Locals:
G34 Rome, GA - Atlanta, GA turn
G47 Braswell, GA (pushers)

Along with the scheduled trains, about 10 or so unit trains (coal, grain, ethanol, etc.) run a day. About 6 of those trains are coal trains to/from Plant Scherer.

Andrew

Posted from iPhone

Thank you very much! Is the NS Savannah to Memphis route faster than CSXT?

CSXT_8437 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thank you very much! Is the NS Savannah to
> Memphis route faster than CSXT?

The only direct intermodal train that NS runs between the two points is the twice a week 207. All other Savannah - Memphis traffic is run on Atlanta - Memphis train 23N which goes via Chattanooga and Huntsville. However, its routing is a heck of a lot more direct than CSX.

CSX runs a pair of Savannah - Memphis intermodals, Q125/Q126. These trains take a very roundabout route: Savannah - Waycross - Manchester- Birmingham - Nashville - Memphis.

Andrew

Posted from iPhone

Over the years NS has had several combinations of routes to move freight between Memphis and Savannah... via Chattanooga, via Birmingham and Atlanta, or via Birmingham and Columbus. The Sheffield-Birmingham line isn't what it used to be, and the Birmingham-Columbus line had (and may still have) clearance limitations.

In the heyday of SLSF-SCL cooperation, freight moved between Savannah and Memphis via Birmingham. But that was then.

I'm quietly hoping that the rumors are true of CSX possibly selling off the Georgia Road. My hopes are that NS buys it if they do end up selling it. CSX has more locals on the line as opposed to scheduled freight shipments and they aren't that great at getting these locals taken care of in a timely manner...

I can't see NS buying it. Doesn't fill a gap on the NS map, aside from improving mileage Atlanta-Charleston. Nor can I see CSX selling it to their arch-rival. A sale to G&W, Watco, etc seems more likely.