Our Heritage;

1n 1883, the Norfolk & Western and Shenandoah Valley Railroads completed an ambitious enterprise in the construction of the Roanoke Machine Works. Upon completion, this complex was heralded as the greatest locomotive manufacturing facility in the South.

A major portion of the facility was dedicated to the manufacture and repair of steam locomotives. This later became known as the Roanoke Locomotive Shop. During the steam era, Roanoke Locomotive Shop built 448 steam locomotives consisting of twenty-five different models.

The most famous models were known as "The Magnificent Three". They included the Class A (6,300 HP), Class Y (5,500 HP) and the Class J (5,000 HP). The Class J could achieve an actual speed of 110 mph. All were designed by Norfolk and Western and built at Roanoke Locomotive Shop.

In 1955 Norfolk and Western Railroad began dieselization. This was a period of dramatic change for shop employees. These highly skilled craftsmen applied their expertise and dedication to quality to rapidly adapt to the repair and maintenance of diesel electric locomotives. Roanoke Locomotive Shop served as Norfolk & Western's major locomotive overhaul shop.

In 1982 the Southern and the Norfolk & Western Railroads merged to form the Norfolk Southern Corporation. Our shop is presently one of Norfolk Southern Corporation's two major overhaul facilities. The skill and expertise of our employees, their dedication to quality performance and locomotive reliability, and the capabilities of our shop, make the Roanoke Locomotive Shop very versatile. This versatility enables us to perform any type of locomotive repair or maintenance that may be required.

Our responsibilities are the overhaul of a portion of Norfolk Southern Corporation's fleet of GE locomotives that requires the diesel engine to be removed and rebuilt. In addition, we perform all major wreck repairs; perform locomotive program maintenance and up grade projects; locomotive modifications; supply other shops with GE components parts and GE and EMD electrical components.

Employee involvement is very important at Roanoke Locomotive Shop. Participation in the Safety and Quality Processes enables each employee to work toward achieving his personal goals while working in a team oriented environment.

Roanoke Locomotive Shop Vision:
"BE THE SAFEST. MOST RELIABLE; AND EFFICIENT LOCOMOTIVE SHOP IN THE WORLD"