NORFOLK, Va., Aug. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Norfolk Southern Exhibit Car will launch a five-state public tour this fall, educating and entertaining audiences of all ages.

The Exhibit Car is a restored 1926 Pullman passenger car that was converted to a mobile museum in 1971. In its 41 years of service as a display car, more than 1.5 million people have viewed it in hundreds of cities across NS' railway system.

The car's first appearance this year was in Washington, D.C., on May 11 for National Train Day. The car will tour through December on the following schedule, with all events open to the public:

• Sept. 1-2: Scranton, Pa., Steamtown National Historic Site
• Sept. 7-8: Chattanooga, Tenn., Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
• Sept. 21-22: Old Fort, N.C., Railroad Festival Day
• Sept. 28-29: Inman, S.C., Railroad Day
• Nov. 8-29: Roanoke, Va., Virginia Museum of Transportation

As NS celebrated its 30^th anniversary last year, the company introduced 20 locomotives painted in the color schemes of some of its most prominent predecessor companies. Among new features added to the Exhibit Car in 2012 were models of all heritage locomotives – a collection completed this year with addition of the Veterans locomotive model – and digital images of the actual locomotives. Guests can view historical information about each railroad and watch a new video that demonstrates how a locomotive is painted.

The Exhibit Car also features images and information about Norfolk Southern's employee volunteer program and its sustainability and safety initiatives. "Explore the Line" highlights how NS benefits local communities and creates jobs, and "Protect the Line" invites guests to help keep the rails safe.

Everyone's favorite display – the locomotive simulator, complete with throttle, brake, and horn – puts guests in control of a virtual freight train. A new game, "Load the Line," challenges players to match freight products with the correct type of rail car in a race against time. Guests can snap several quick photos against a train backdrop in a photo booth, which later sends the photos via email. Visitors are able to comment about their favorite display in an electronic guestbook.

Norfolk Southern provides the Exhibit Car at no cost for community events throughout its service territory. To request the car for 2014, click here.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial products.

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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation