Someone pointed out a fact in another forum I didn't pick up on. In the NC roundhouse photo, the NW unit was on the far left of the announcement tent and the SOU
engine was to the far right with the rest of the locos gathered around the turntable. This was a symbolism of the two railroads who initially merged 30 years ago as Norfolk Southern. The rest of the engines represented those who came later under the auspices of Conrail. During the day's ceremonies, each engine was turned on the table, then shoved out past the grassy knoll individually so the people could take photos of their favorite engine/road. At the end of the day, the locos were brought back, one by one, in order, turned, and placed back in the circle. Finally, when the "circle be unbroken" and the Southern engine (last in line) was in place, an NS engine was placed ON the turntable to signify unity--the ONE corporate entity. The photo exists on other rail sites/forums, and I assume they will appear in "Trains"(?) magazine. I'm not too much on "railfanning", but this was a special occasion, and worth the trouble. I saw car tags from all over, and "they" say people came from England to see this. It has been quite a summer for NS this year, and is continuing on into fall. The steam engine, Sou 630, came to visit, and I went on the employee/retiree excursion. It remained in Spencer for two weeks, then on to Roanoke, then Knoxville and points south. They are running NKP 765 up north as part of the NS celebration, and it has been quite a summer for the East Coast. If you didn't make it down for these events, you missed a "good'un"!
GF
