Eliminating the middle man. The twelve “Dash Eight and a Halfs” on the Norfolk Southern roster never quite made an acceptable or a notable presence on the railroad. On Monday, February 10, 2020, seven were offered for sale, the rest having been scrapped or stored. Between their differing components and mechanical problems, the program was discontinued in 2016 as NS moved on to ACu and ACC rebuilds. Seen here at the Altoona, PA Juanita Shops on June 5, 2018, 8512 (C40-Dash 8.5, Built as NS 8699 C40-8), 799 (RP-E4C, Built as SOU 7078, GP50) and 5153, GP38-2 (Built as SOU 5153 GP38-2) sit outside stored awaiting disposition.
