The Norfolk & Western Merger

The Virginian Railway was a prosperous company for many years. However, by mid-1958, a committee convened to discuss whether a merger between the Norfolk and Western Railway and Virginian Railway would be effective and profitable. It was soon discovered that an annual savings of about $12 million in taxes would occur with the merger, as well as increase the efficiency of shipping in general. The merger happened in 1959.

Personnel were transferred from Norfolk to Roanoke for administration, consolidating shops, facilities, and offices. 

The merger with the Norfolk and Western Railway created a railroad with 2,743 miles of road, 5,819 miles of track, 81,006 freight cars, and assets in billions of dollars.  Duplicated track was soon retired in overlapping sections.

In 1982, Norfolk & Western was combined with the Southern Railway to form Norfolk Southern, which still continues to haul freight today.