Norfolk Southern plays a leading role in delivering the special freight that helps spread joy to millions of American households this time of year.

Here’s a glimpse into the merry cargo our railroaders transport to make our holidays brighter:

FOR YOUR PRESENTS UNDER THE TREE

This year, Norfolk Southern transported over 18,000 tons of toys, including 11,000 tons of sporting goods, 162 tons of children’s tricycles, 61 tons of playground equipment, and eight tons of puzzles.

Shopping for your loved ones? Norfolk Southern moved a staggering amount of freight for the places you love to shop including:

• America’s favorite department stores: With a whopping 830,500 tons transported, our beloved retailers have everything from trendy apparel and household goods to cutting-edge electronics and more.
• Pet stores: Delivering 11,600 tons, including over 1,300 tons of snug dog beds, to the stores that provide a haven for pet lovers, with a diverse selection of pet supplies, toys, and treats.
• Home improvement stores: A substantial 823,000 tons were transported, ensuring these stores are stocked with everything needed for DIY projects, renovations, and home decorating.
• Wholesale retail stores: Transporting 175,000 tons, these wholesale giants cater to various needs, providing bulk goods and diverse merchandise for savvy shoppers.
• Office suppliers: With 16,500 tons delivered, these stores offer an abundance of office essentials, from stationery to technology, catering to both businesses and individuals seeking workplace necessities.

Now it’s time to wrap all those gifts! NS moved 58,000 tons of wrapping paper – that’s enough to blanket over 160,000 football fields.

FOR YOUR HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES

It’s not the holiday season without a party! We carry all the items you need to make your gatherings extra festive.  

• Christmas trees: NS played a part in finding your perfect tree, moving over 82 tons of Christmas trees just last year.
• Decorations: From lights and ornaments to candles and stockings, NS transported over 210 tons of holiday decorations.
• Paper goods: We hauled over 53,000 tons of paper goods, enough for everyone in the U.S. to have 16 plates and more than 35 napkins each.
• Hot Chocolate: NS transported enough cocoa beans to make over 3.7 million cups of hot chocolate.
• Beer & Wine: Every 10 minutes, NS moves the equivalent of 11,222 bottles of wine and 120,700 bottles of beer.

FOR SANTA AND HIS REINDEER
From Santa’s milk and cookies to the food for his reindeer, NS helps to keep Santa rolling too.

• Milk: We moved enough milk to fill over 20 million cups for Santa.
• Cookies: Norfolk Southern transported enough sugar, flour, and salt to make over 2.8 billion batches of snickerdoodle cookies. With that many ingredients, every household in America could make cookies for Santa 23 times over.
• Reindeer food: We moved 25 million tons of grain and animal feed and almost 18 million carrot sticks this past year, more than enough to keep Santa’s reindeer energized for a lifetime of holiday flights.

Our railroaders, also known as Santa's helpers, escorted Saint Nick to the iconic Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, Pennsylvania, for a memorable Christmas celebration. After ensuring Santa's safe arrival, these invaluable members of our Altoona team, tirelessly working around-the-clock, resumed their duties. They operate six SD70ACU sets that assist the delivery of dozens of trains per day over the Allegheny mountains.

As the year draws to a close, we would like to express our gratitude to our dedicated team of over 20,000 railroaders who help deliver the holiday spirit. Their commitment ensures the magic of the season is delivered, illuminating homes across our 22-state network. We’re proud to play a pivotal role in this season of celebration and giving.