Norfolk Southern Hump Yards

[florida581]

Included are the yards' heritage (original owner), year built (after modernization, i.e. automatic humps / retarders installed), and the current size (number of tracks in the receiving, classification bowl, and departure yards).  Also included are the current trains originating and terminating at the yards.  This will give an idea of how busy the yards are.   The yards are listed in order of hump modernization / completion.


Norris Yard  Irondale, AL   
Heritage:  SOU
Opened:  1952
Size:  12 receiving tracks, 56 classification bowl tracks, 10 total departure tracks (7 westbound, 3 eastbound)

108 Birmingham, AL - Chattanooga, TN daily
109 Chattanooga, TN - Birmingham, AL daily
131 Birmingham, AL - New Orleans, LA daily
133 Chattanooga, TN - Birmingham, AL daily
15T Knoxville, TN - Birmingham, AL daily
153 Linwood, NC - Birmingham, AL daily
154 Birmingham, AL - Linwood, NC daily
156 Birmingham, AL - Atlanta, GA daily
157 Atlanta, GA - Birmingham, AL daily
16T Birmingham, AL - Knoxville, TN daily
178 Birmingham, AL - Bellevue, OH daily
179 Bellevue, OH - Birmingham, AL daily
182 Calvert, AL - Birmingham, AL daily
183 Birmingham, AL - Calvert, AL daily
187 Macon, GA - Birmingham, AL daily
312 New Orleans, LA - Birmingham, AL daily
320 Sheffield, AL - Birmingham, AL daily
329 Birmingham, AL - Sheffield, AL daily
339 Birmingham, AL - Meridian, MS (CPKC) daily
341 Birmingham, AL - Selma, AL daily
342 Selma, AL - Birmingham, AL daily
344 New Orleans, LA (UP) - Birmingham, AL daily
345 Birmingham, AL - New Orleans, LA (UP) daily
355 Birmingham, AL - New Orleans, LA daily
378 Birmingham, AL - Macon, GA daily
379 Macon, GA - Birmingham, AL daily
384 Mobile, AL - Birmingham, AL daily
385 Birmingham, AL - Mobile, AL daily
A19 Birmingham, AL - Lincoln, AL turn Su-Th
A55 Tuscaloosa, AL - Birmingham, AL turn daily


DeButts Yard  Chattanooga, TN
Heritage:  SOU
Opened:  1955
Closed:  2017
Reopened:  2018
Size:  12 receiving tracks, 60 classification bowl tracks, 10 departure tracks

102 Chattanooga, TN - Bulls Gap, TN daily
108 Birmingham, AL - Chattanooga, TN daily
109 Chattanooga, TN - Birmingham, AL daily
123 East Decatur, IL - Chattanooga, TN daily
126 Chattanooga, TN - Roanoke, VA daily
127 Roanoke, VA - Chattanooga, TN daily
130 New Orleans, LA (UP) - Chattanooga, TN daily
133 Chattanooga, TN - Birmingham, AL daily
142 Chattanooga, TN - Elkhart, IN daily
167 St. Louis, MO - Chattanooga, TN daily
168 Chattanooga, TN - St. Louis, MO daily
170 Chattanooga, TN - Conway, PA daily
171 Conway, PA - Chattanooga, TN daily
172 Chattanooga, TN - Detroit Oakwood, MI daily
173 Danville, KY - Chattanooga, TN daily
177 Chicago Calumet, IL - Chattanooga, TN daily
196 Chattanooga, TN - Ft. Wayne, IN daily
362 Sheffield, AL - Chattanooga, TN daily
363 Chattanooga, TN - Sheffield, AL daily
364 Decatur, AL - Chattanooga, TN daily
365 Chattanooga, TN - Decatur, AL daily
366 Macon, GA - Chattanooga, TN daily
367 Chattanooga, TN - Macon, GA daily
369 Chattanooga, TN - Macon, GA daily
370 Doraville, GA - Chattanooga, TN daily
371 Chattanooga, TN - Atlanta, GA daily
373 Chattanooga, TN - Doraville, GA daily
T45 Chattanooga, TN - South Waters, TN turn daily 
T88 Chattanooga, TN - North Chattanooga, TN turn Su-Th


Conway Yard  Conway, PA
Heritage:  PRR / CR
Opened:  1956
Size:  18 receiving tracks, 53 classification bowl tracks, 18 departure tracks

10G Conway, PA - Enola, PA daily
10K Conway, PA - Allentown, PA daily
10Q Bellevue, OH - Conway, PA daily
11K Allentown, PA - Conway, PA daily
11Q Conway, PA - Bellevue, OH daily
11V Enola, PA - Conway, PA daily
12G Conway, PA - Enola, PA daily
12N Elkhart, IN - Conway, PA daily
13N Conway, PA - Elkhart, IN daily
13V Enola, PA - Conway, PA daily
14M Conway, PA - Buffalo, NY daily
14N Elkhart, IN - Conway, PA daily
15M Buffalo, NY - Conway, PA daily
16G Bedford Park, IL (BRC Clearing) - Conway, PA daily
17N Conway, PA - Bedford Park, IL (BRC Clearing) daily
17Q Conway, PA - Bellevue, OH daily
170 Chattanooga, TN - Conway, PA daily
171 Conway, PA - Chattanooga, TN daily
18N Conway, PA - Newark Doremus, NJ daily
18Q Bellevue, OH - Conway, PA daily
32N Madison, IL (TRRA) - Conway, PA daily
36A Conway, PA - Edgemoor, DE daily
38G Conway, PA - Abrams, PA daily
39G Abrams, PA - Conway, PA daily
C07 Shire Oaks, PA - Conway, PA daily
C28 Conway, PA - Pittsburgh Island Ave Yard, PA turn daily
C35 Conway, PA - Shire Oaks, PA daily
C36 Youngstown, OH - Conway, PA turn daily
C38 Conway, PA - Leetsdale, PA turn Su-Fr
C54 Mingo Junction, OH - Conway, PA daily
C65 Conway, PA - Mingo Junction, OH daily


Elkhart Yard  Elkhart, IN
Heritage:  NYC / CR
Opened:  1956
Size:  15 receiving tracks, 72 classification bowl tracks, 14 total departure tracks (7 eastbound, 7 westbound)

10R Cicero, IL (BNSF H GALNSI) - Elkhart, IN daily
12N Elkhart, IN - Conway, PA daily
12Q Elkhart, IN - Bellevue, OH daily
13N Conway, PA - Elkhart, IN daily
13Q Bellevue, OH - Elkhart, IN daily
14N Elkhart, IN - Conway, PA daily
142 Chattanooga, TN - Elkhart, IN daily
143 Elkhart, IN - Macon, GA daily
163 Elkhart, IN - Ft. Wayne, IN daily
164 Ft. Wayne, IN - Elkhart, IN daily
17V Elkhart, IN - Bensenville, IL (CPKC) daily
174 Macon, GA - Elkhart, IN daily
18A Chicago Ashland Ave, IL (UP MG3AH) - Elkhart, IN daily
18K East Decatur, IL - Elkhart, IN daily
18M Elkhart, IN - Crewe, VA daily
19K Elkhart, IN - Decatur, IL daily
19M Crewe, VA - Elkhart, IN daily
30Q Chicago Calumet, IL - Elkhart, IN daily
309 East Binghamton, NY - Elkhart, IN daily
31M Elkhart, IN - Hammond, IN (IHB Gibson) daily
31Q Elkhart, IN - Chicago Calumet, IL daily
310 Elkhart, IN - East Binghamton, NY daily
33G Elkhart, IN - Cicero, IL (BNSF H NSINTW) daily
337 Bellevue, OH - Elkhart, IN daily
338 Elkhart, IN - Bellevue, OH daily
34G Bedford Park, IL (BRC Clearing) - Elkhart, IN daily
34J Blue Island, IL (IHB) - Elkhart, IN daily
35J Elkhart, IN - Blue Island, IL (IHB) daily
358 Elkhart, IN - Detroit Oakwood, MI daily
359 Sterling Heights, MI - Elkhart, IN daily
37M Elkhart, IN - Bedford Park, IL (BRC Clearing) daily
39E Elkhart, IN - Proviso, IL (UP MNSNP) daily
B10 Elkhart, IN - Burns Harbor, IN turn daily
B23 Elkhart, IN - Goshen, IN turn Mo-Fr
B55 Elkhart, IN - South Bend, IN turn Mo-Fr
B98 New Carlisle, IN - Elkhart, IN We
B99 Elkhart, IN extra switcher We
CN M34041 Winnipeg, MB - Elkhart, IN daily
CN A44091 Gary, IN - Elkhart, IN daily
CN A44161 Elkhart, IN - Gary, IN daily
CN A44361 Elkhart, IN - Gary, IN daily


Brosnan Yard  Macon, GA   
Heritage:  SOU
Opened:  1967
Closed :  2020
Reopened:  2022
Size:  8 receiving tracks, 50 classification bowl tracks, 9 departure tracks

143 Elkhart, IN - Macon, GA daily
151 Macon, GA - Valdosta, GA daily
152 Valdosta, GA - Macon, GA daily
174 Macon, GA - Elkhart, IN daily
187 Macon, GA - Birmingham, AL daily
191 Columbia, SC - Macon, GA daily
192 Macon, GA - Columbia, SC daily
323 Macon, GA - Jacksonville, FL (FEC) daily
330 Jacksonville, FL (FEC) - Macon, GA daily
346 New Orleans, LA - Macon, GA daily
356 Albany, GA - Macon, GA Mo-Sa
357 Macon, GA - Albany, GA Tu-Su
366 Macon, GA - Chattanooga, TN daily
367 Chattanooga, TN - Macon, GA daily
369 Chattanooga, TN - Macon, GA daily
374 Macon, GA - Savannah, GA daily
377 Savannah, GA - Macon, GA daily
378 Birmingham, AL - Macon, GA daily
379 Macon, GA - Birmingham, GA daily
391 Atlanta, GA - Macon, GA daily
G02 Macon, GA - Griffin, GA turn daily
G07 Macon, GA - Machen, GA turn Mo-Fr
G08 Macon, GA - Ruby, GA turn Mo-Fr
G09 Macon, GA - Griffin, GA turn daily
G10 Macon, GA - Postell, GA turn daily
G13 Macon, GA switcher Tu
G21 Macon, GA - Tennille, GA turn daily
G59 Macon, GA - Kathleen, GA turn Mo-Fr
G61 Macon, GA - Cordele, GA turn Mo-Fr
G83 Macon, GA - Butler, GA turn Mo-Fr


Moorman Yard  Bellevue, OH
Heritage:  NKP / NW
Opened:  1967 (NW-era rebuild), 2014 expansion
Closed:  2020
Reopened:  2022
Size:  12 receiving tracks, 80 total classification bowl tracks (42 original bowl / 38 new bowl), 11 total departure tracks (3 eastbound, 8 westbound)

10N Sterling Heights, MI - Bellevue, OH daily
10Q Bellevue, OH - Conway, PA daily
11Q Conway, PA - Bellevue, OH daily
116 Bellevue, OH - Portsmouth, OH daily
117 Portsmouth, OH - Bellevue, OH daily
118 Bellevue, OH - Linwood, NC daily
119 Linwood, NC - Bellevue, OH daily
12Q Elkhart, IN - Bellevue, OH daily
13Q Bellevue, OH - Elkhart, IN daily
14Q East Decatur, IL - Bellevue, OH daily
148 Kansas City, MO - Bellevue, OH daily
15Q Bellevue, OH - Decatur, IL daily
17Q Conway, PA - Bellevue, OH daily
178 Birmingham, AL - Bellevue, OH daily
179 Bellevue, OH - Birmingham, AL daily
18Q Bellevue, OH - Conway, PA daily
18W Bellevue, OH - Winston-Salem, NC daily
19W Winston-Salem, NC - Bellevue, OH daily
302 Ft. Wayne, IN - Bellevue, OH daily
303 Bellevue, OH - Ft. Wayne, IN daily
315 East Binghamton, NY - Bellevue, OH daily
316 Bellevue, OH - East Binghamton, NY daily
333 Detroit Oakwood, MI - Bellevue, OH daily
334 Bellevue, OH - Detroit Oakwood, MI daily
337 Bellevue, OH - Elkhart, IN daily
338 Elkhart, IN - Bellevue, OH daily
35N Bellevue, OH - Madison, IL (TRRA) daily
380 Chicago Calumet, IL - Bellevue, OH daily
L11 Fostoria, OH - Bellevue, OH turn daily
L13 Bellevue, OH - Cleveland Rockport, OH turn daily
L20 Bellevue, OH - Huron / Avon Lake, OH turn daily
L26 Fremont, OH - Bellevue, OH turn daily
WLE 227 Brewster, OH - Bellevue, OH daily
WLE 228 Bellevue, OH - Brewster, OH daily


Closed NS hump yards

Inman Yard  Atlanta, GA
Heritage:  SOU
Opened:  1957
Closed:  1993
Size:  16 receiving tracks, 65 classification bowl tracks, 16 departure tracks

Conway Yard (east hump)  Conway, PA
Heritage:  PRR / CR
Opened:  1956
Closed:  2002 (west hump still active)
Size (east hump):  10 receiving tracks, 54 classification bowl tracks, 10 departure tracks

Buckeye Yard  Columbus, OH
Heritage:  PC / CR
Opened:  1970
Closed:  2009
Size:  7 receiving tracks, 40 classification bowl tracks, 8 departure tracks

North Yard  Roanoke, VA
Heritage:  NW
Opened:  1950
Closed:  2013
Size:  20 receiving tracks, 52 classification bowl tracks, 8 departure tracks

Sevier Yard  Knoxville, TN
Heritage:  SOU
Opened:  1951
Closed:  2016
Size:  12 receiving tracks, 46 classification bowl tracks, 11 departure tracks

Sheffield Yard  Muscle Shoals, AL
Heritage:  SOU
Opened:  1973
Closed: 2019
Size:  6 receiving tracks, 32 classification bowl tracks, 6 departure tracks

Allentown Yard  Allentown, PA
Heritage:  CNJ / LV / CR
Opened:  1978 (CR rebuild)
Closed: 2019
Size:  6 receiving tracks, 29 classification bowl tracks

Spencer Yard  Linwood, NC
Heritage:  SOU
Opened:  1979
Closed:  2020
Size:  8 receiving tracks, 46 classification bowl tracks,  8 departure tracks

Enola Yard  Enola, PA
Heritage:  PRR / CR
Opened:  1938 (originally), closed 1993, reopened 2002
Closed:  2020
Size:  21 total receiving tracks (12 east, 9 west), 16 classification bowl tracks, 13 departure tracks

[Railroadguy]

NS 139 and 140 have been annuled

[RailfanTerry]

SHEFFIELD YARD  MUSCLE SHOALS, AL
Has 7 DEPARTURE TRACKS, Track 7 was added in 2003

Terry

[JoeSmith357]

These yards have or had humps but are currently inactive or removed

Innman Yard in Atlanta, GA (SOU)
(I think this was a hump at one point) Norfolk, VA (N&W)
Roanoke, VA (N&W)
Portsmouth, OH (N&W)
Buckeye Yard in Columbus, Ohio (NYC/PC/CR)


RE: Conway: I thought they closed the hump there several years ago?

[florida581]

These yards have or had humps but are currently inactive or removed

Innman Yard in Atlanta, GA (SOU)
(I think this was a hump at one point) Norfolk, VA (N&W)
Roanoke, VA (N&W)
Portsmouth, OH (N&W)
Buckeye Yard in Columbus, Ohio (NYC/PC/CR)


RE: Conway: I thought they closed the hump there several years ago?

Conway had two separate humps, one for eastbound and westbound traffic.  The eastbound hump was closed while the westbound is still open and classifies the traffic for both directions.

Atlanta's Inman Yard was the largest on the Southern.  It had a 65 track bowl, 16 arrival, and 16 track departure yard.  It also had a second hump just for intermodal traffic with a 20 track bowl.  The yard is still mostly intact.  The hump retarders were all taken out, but all of the bowl tracks are in place.  It is now used to classify intermodal and autorack traffic.  The 20 track intermodal bowl was removed and is now the Inman intermodal terminal.  All but 8 of the receiving yard tracks was converted to trailer/container parking.

Columbus' Buckeye Yard is still intact, but is used to store equipment/cars.  It had a 40 track bowl.  CSX's intermodal yard was built next to the yard.

Norfolk technically is a hump yard, but is used only for coal traffic.  It has a 32 track bowl buried within the massive Lamberts Point complex.  I believe Portsmouth was in the same vote.  Its hump was used to classify coal traffic.  Manifest traffic was flat switched in a separate yard within the Portsmouth Yard complex.

Roanoke was indeed the latest hump closure.  It had a 52 track bowl, 20 receiving tracks, and 16 departure tracks.

[Matt L]

Although it's a CSAO operation, I this yard should be included because NS trains arrive and depart there:

OAK ISLAND
Newark, NJ
Heritage: Lehigh Valley RR, Conrail
Built: 1903 (LV), expanded in 1981 (CR)

10 reception tracks, 30 classification tracks, 9 departure tracks 

[florida581]

Although it's a CSAO operation, I this yard should be included because NS trains arrive and depart there:

OAK ISLAND
Newark, NJ
Heritage: Lehigh Valley RR, Conrail
Built: 1903 (LV), expanded in 1981 (CR)

10 reception tracks, 30 classification tracks, 9 departure tracks  

Rightfully so.  Thanks Matt.

Trains originating / terminating at Oak Island include:
18G  ALLENTOWN, PA - OAK ISLAND, NJ
19G  OAK ISLAND, NJ - CONWAY, PA
66J  OAK ISLAND, NJ - MINGO JUNCTION, OH  TRASH LOADS
67J  MINGO JUNCTION, OH - OAK ISLAND, NJ  TRASH EMPTIES

Also, two autorack trains originate / terminate at the adjacent Doremus Ave. ramp:
11J  DOREMUS, NJ - DETROIT, MI
18N  FOSTORIA, OH - DOREMUS, NJ

On the CSX side, the following trains originate / terminate at Oak Island and Doremus:
Q268  LOUISVILLE, KY - DOREMUS, NJ  AUTO
Q271  DOREMUS, NJ - SELKIRK, NY  AUTO
Q300  PHILADELPHIA, PA - OAK ISLAND, NJ
Q301  OAK ISLAND, NJ - PHILADELPHIA, PA
Q433  SELKIRK, NY - OAK ISLAND, NJ
Q434  OAK ISLAND, NJ - SELKIRK, NY
Q706  PHILADELPHIA, PA - OAK ISLAND, NJ  TRASH
Q707  OAK ISLAND, NJ - PHILADELPHIA, PA  TRASH

[steveiez]

I know Conway runs several locals in all directions. Some are pretty long too.

[lwjabo]

Inman had two humps at one time. One for regular and one for pigs. The first one to go was the pig hump. This was done very cheap and many cars miss there coupling as it was on a curve. Then they closed the freight hump and all of that went to Brosnan and DeButts. Many of the cars went to be humped only to return to Inman to go a different direction. Inman had 65 class tracks and 16 forwarding and receiving tracks. Half the receiving tracks were removed. Track 1 in forwarding yard was removed to add second main line. The third main line has been added since I retired. While Inman still humped a lot of cars when the hump was removed it was down from what it was at one time. The old Fisher Body plant closed when Regan was president. Since I retired the BPO plant and the Ford plant have closed. After the hump was removed they would send a crew to East Point to build a train every day and two crews were assigned in freight service at Doraville to DeButts. The East Point train often went on the law as it took many hours to build the train and put the engines together. I caught it a few hundred times and a number of times I went on the law or was relived at East Point or Inman.

[florida581]

Although not a hump yard, I've included the massive flat yard at Decatur, IL.  Decatur Yard is one of the largest, if not THE largest, flat switched classification yards in the country.  I was told that it handles more cars than some of NS' hump yards.    

[chipallen16]

I've heard that it's the largest as well.

-Chip 

[rhotond]

Per the investors meeting Conway (westbound hump) is adding 8 additional recieving/departure tracks.

r

[florida581]

Due to its closure, I've removed Knoxville's Sevier Yard from the list. 

[AC44C6M]

There have been reports that Inman Yard is "humping" or otherwise using gravitational switching by cutting cars off on the hump and sending them into one of several tracks for classification. Can anyone confirm if this gravitational switching is being used currently and for what traffic, i.e.: local traffic only, etc.?