Route Summary

Phase 1 of the NS AGS SOUTH DISTRICT covers roughly 85 miles between NS Norris Yard in Birmingham, and Powers Alabama. Along the route are numerous industries and transfer yards serviced by eleven NS local jobs.

Included along the the route:

• NS Norris Yard (Classification Hump Bowl)

• Tuscaloosa Yard

• Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility (BRI)

• BNSF East Thomas Transfer Yard

• CSX Bessemer Transfer Yard

• Bessemer Yard

• 32nd St Yard

• Mercedes Yard

• 11 Local Jobs

• 2 Amtrak Station Stops

• NS AGS SOUTH Operation PDF Documents In The UserGuide Folder

NS NORRIS YARD ENGINE FACILITY AND WEST FORWARD YARD

Passenger Operations

Amtrak's Crescent Service operates over the route with stops at Birmingham and Tuscaloosa.

Shortline Operations

ABS

Alabama Southern Railroad has a modeled interchange track in Tuscaloosa. AI “scenery” trains are provided. Although Run 8 allows a player-controlled train on any track, the AI scenery trains are not intended for player operation. The ABS interchange track in Tuscaloosa is set up as an industry, to receive cars from NS and convert them to inbound cars for pickup by NS. AI-generated inbound trains will provide cars for the ABS. They are humped to an ABS track in the bowl, pulled by local turn A55 from Tuscaloosa, and set out by that train.

56 TRACK CLASSIFICATION BOWL AT NORRIS YARD

Shortline Operations Continued

AGR

The Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway (AGR) has an interchange track in Boligee that is off the map. This Class II railroad is simulated as an industry, at an unused spur near the end of track, at MP 216 (south of CP Powers). Cars from AGR are sent to one online industry (KYK) and also to Norris Yard. A hump track has been assigned for AGR. Generated inbound trains bring AGR cars to Norris yard; NS local A55 delivers those cars to Tuscaloosa, where local A56 is based. A56 works its way to the south end of the route and turns the train at Powers. Cars for Boligee require a reverse move of approximately 2 miles to reach the simulated interchange.

AGR produces cars used by an online industry: KYK. After those cars are retrieved from AGR they are set out in Tuscaloosa for local A55 for transport to Norris Yard. A55 serves KYK and passes that industry on the way to Norris Yard. The crew can set out KYK tagged cars at the industry on the way to Norris Yard to avoid delay associated with classifying the cars at Norris Yard and back-hauling them to KYK.

THE MERCEDES BENZ YARD