in 1966, The Southern Railroad started it's iconic steam program. The steam program was highly successful, even carrying into the merger of Southern and the Norfolk and Western into Norfolk Southern. However, in 1994, after 28 years, the steam program ended due to various factors. However, in 2010, Norfolk Southern surprised railfans with the announcement that a new steam program was under development, and would debut in the spring of 2011, and would be dubbed 21st Century Steam.

  as promised in Spring of 2011, Norfolk Southern's new steam program debuted, with Southern 630 being there star locomotive, with other engines joining the program like Southern 4501, Nickel Plate Road 765, and of course, Norfolk and Western 611. However, on October 1st, 2015, a shocking announcement was made by Norfolk Southern, the Steam Program would be ending after an excursion that was to be headed by Southern 4501 was cancelled because of a hurricane. 

  Even 3 years after the cancellation of the steam program, railfans still sorrow over the loss of Norfolk Southern's second steam program. however, with steam excursions on Amtrak in jeopardy due to the banning of private cars in light of the recent headliner accidents, I believe it's high time that Norfolk Southern gives their steam program a second chance. steam programs are a great public relations tool, and all of the steam locomotives that had been used the program are still active, with a few more being restored that could also provide motive power for excursions, such as Pennsylvania Railroad 1361. If you care about Steam and mainline steam excursions in general, then I encourage you to share this petition.