Norfolk Southern renames largest rail yard after Moorman

Norfolk Southern Corp. has named its largest classification yard after Executive Chairman Charles "Wick" Moorman. "Moorman Yard" is now the official name of NS' yard in Bellevue, Ohio, in recognition of Moorman's leadership in support of the freight-rail industry, NS officials announced yesterday.

"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," said NS President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Squires in a press release.

Moorman retired June 1 as CEO and assumed duties as executive chairman of the board. He joined NS predecessor Southern Railway in 1970 as a co-op student. He was named chairman, president and CEO in 2006.

In 2013, Progressive Railroading recognized Moorman with the magazine's annual "Railroad Innovator Award."

NS recently completed a $160 million expansion that doubled the size of the yard. Located midway between Chicago and New York City, Moorman Yard is one of NS' 11 primary classification yards. Five NS mainlines converge there; about 3,200 carloads of freight move through it daily.

The yard was opened in 1966 by NS predecessor Norfolk and Western Railway. Today, about 100 to 110 trains pass through it daily.