NORFOLK, Va., June 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is naming its largest freight train classification yard after Charles W. "Wick" Moorman for his leadership in support of freight railroads and their investors, customers, and employees.

"Moorman Yard" is now the official name of Norfolk Southern's Bellevue, Ohio, yard. Moorman retired June 1, 2015, as chief executive officer and has assumed duties as executive chairman of the corporation's board of directors.

In making the announcement, NS President and CEO Jim Squires said, "Wick's incredible talent has been to bring the entire Thoroughbred team forward in the same direction -- always forward, always with enthusiasm and the right intent, always with the sense that we can do great things. Shareholders, employees, business partners – all are better for it.

"This is timely and well-deserved recognition for a railroader who thinks big, who thinks long-term, and who does the right things in the right ways," Squires said.

Moorman Yard is the largest rail yard on the NS system after the recent completion of $160 million in improvements that doubled its size. It is one of NS' 11 primary classification yards, where freight cars are collected and sorted for their final destinations.

Moorman Yard is midway between Chicago and New York. Five NS main lines converge there, making it a perfect location for distributing some 3,200 carloads of freight moving daily. On a broader scale, Moorman Yard's centralized position on NS' Northern Region promotes fluid movement of long-distance freight across the entire rail network.

Bellevue has been a railroading community since the late 19^th century, when NS' Nickel Plate Road predecessor began operations there. The current Bellevue Yard was opened in 1966 by NS' Norfolk and Western Railway predecessor. Today, 100 to 110 trains pass through daily, while 20 to 30 originate in the area and a like number terminate there. Most of the trains carry automobiles and parts, agricultural products, and consumer products.

Moorman joined NS predecessor Southern Railway in 1970 as a co-op student. He was named chairman, president and CEO in 2006. Moorman is recognized as a champion of public-private partnerships to create rail infrastructure that benefits America long-term, as an advocate of balanced regulation to best serve the interests of railroads and their customers, and as a leader in reducing the railroad's environmental footprint.

About Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company 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