Uncovering hidden value across the railroad and setting new records

Bold thinking, technology turn idle assets into major wins

By Chad Previch, Senior Communications Manager

Norfolk Southern’s Asset Disposition team collected an unused backhoe in Williamson, W.Va., and sold it for new revenue. In 2024, this type of work generated a record $60 million in revenue.

It’s not just delivering important goods or the sound of train horns and steel wheels that excite Paris Stroud about rail. His excitement comes from the less obvious moments, too: scrap metal and abandoned ties or an unused forklift in a railyard.

Stroud is a senior specialist in Asset Disposition, which works across NS to ensure assets are being maximized, sold or recycled.

“We turn old or used pieces of the railroad into revenue,” Stroud said. “Out-of-the-box thinking and new technology have us on the precipice of a brighter future.”

How asset disposition supports sustainable rail: NS uses machines and materials to keep operations running. Eventually, the lifecycles of those assets end, or the company no longer needs them. That’s when assets like machines are sold or moved to other parts of the company where they’ll have greater impact. Asset Disposition also takes used products like scrap metal and sells them for recycling, a benefit to the environment and to NS’ circularity efforts.

Recording-breaking work: In 2024, NS sold a whopping $60 million in scrap metal — and the company could break that record once all totals are calculated for 2025. The company also diverted 88% of operational waste from landfills, another record. Together, millions of pounds in emissions are saved from reusing and recycling, the equivalent of planting tens of thousands of trees.

Zoom in: Previously, field teams relied on manual processes, word-of-mouth and inconsistent data entry. Valuable materials sat idle or were scrapped without capturing value.

Now, by leveraging technology, collaboration and an increased sustainability mindset, NS is maximizing recovery, reducing waste and improving operational efficiency.

Key change-drivers:

• Maximizing recovery: Selling railcars outright instead of scrapping them, often achieving 2–3 times higher returns.
• Sustainability commitment: Through increased partnership with Engineering, Mechanical, Transportation, Safety, Environmental and Sustainability teams, assets are reused, resold, or recycled more than ever.

• Supporting community partners: Better workflows and tracking have allowed NS to support heritage projects by donating retired assets for museums and educational initiatives. The company donated several rail cars to help address homelessness in Philadelphia. Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust received the cars and distributed them to several nonprofits.

Recycling and asset disposition fall under the Circulatory pillar within Norfolk Southern’s environmental commitments.

Looking ahead: NS recently launched The Thoroughbred Trading Post, a mobile app to streamline asset disposition. Employees now photograph assets, upload details and initiate disposition requests instantly — eliminating multiple steps, emails and office visits. This automation ensures faster response times and consistent data, making the process more accessible and efficient. Through one click, NS sells larger assets to auction houses, which will increase revenue.

“Think of it like an online marketplace,” said Jonathan Anthony, Senior Manager in Agile Business Solutions. “You don’t have to jump through all the hoops you had to before.”

NS plans to expand Thoroughbred Trading Post access internally, further integrate auction capabilities for external users and continue innovating to ensure every asset is accounted for, reused or recycled.

For more information, contact NS Asset Disposition.

Chad Previch leads external communications for Norfolk Southern in the areas of Sustainability, Community Impact and Technology. He also manages messaging related to the company’s Government Relations and Investor Relations priorities. He joined NS in 2025, bringing nearly 20 years of PR and corporate communications experience.