The rail yard

Growing up on the west side of Norfolk, the Norfolk Southern rail yard was a short bike ride away. One of the spur lines ran parallel to a soccer field I played on, down through the 21st Street corridor, perpetually blocking crossings and funneling traffic into a handful of underpasses (if it was raining hard, God help you). Another line ran past my Dad’s business, bringing coal in from West Virginia. It seemed that you were never too far from a blaring train horn or the ding-ding of the crossing bell. When I was old enough to drive, my friends and I would race the yard road that ran from the yard entrance out to the edge of the Lafayette River and back to the outlet on Powhatan Avenue at the 38th Street Car Shop.

At that yard entrance, there was a big sign that marked the number of days since the last accident. It was rare for that tally to drop. For some reason though, I thought it a bit morbid, posting the accident record at the front gate. The yard, however, wanted safety to be on everyone’s mind so that number would increment the next day. Safety is the top priority for the company. For that reason, Norfolk Southern has won the rail industry’s highest award for employee safety for the 18th consecutive year. I find that remarkable. It is hard to be the best at anything but to be the best for nearly two decades is nothing short of astonishing. That kind of commitment to the worker’s best interest is heartening to see.