NS locomotive shop in Virginia marks safety milestone

Norfolk Southern Corp.'s locomotive shop in Roanoke, Va., reached a "rare" milestone earlier this month when it logged more than 2 million injury-free man-hours, the Class I announced on Friday.

The shop, which employs 236, has gone six years without a Federal Railroad Administration-reportable injury, NS officials said in a press release. The shop's last reportable injury occurred on Oct. 9, 2007.

To commemorate the achievement, shop employees crafted a bell to be displayed beside a different bell created in 2011 to mark 1 million manhours with a reportable injury. The new bell was unveiled at ceremony held on Friday in Roanoke.

"It's a cooperative effort between labor and management that focuses on safety, operating performance and customer service," said Shop Manager Chuck Sloan. "With an achievement of this magnitude, everyone associated with the Roanoke Locomotive Shop is involved."