With success built on safety, service and, "the finest, most talented team in the business," Norfolk Southern "has showed its ability to move the freight profitably for our investors and efficiently for our shippers," David R. Goode, chairman and chief executive officer, told the company's shareholders at their 23rd annual meeting, in Norfolk on May 12.

Tracing the beginning of its service to a predecessor railroad in 1830, Goode said, "Norfolk Southern marks its 175th anniversary as a company that has stood the test of time. We are running strong, and we are handling growing volumes of business and have a strong and expanding base in the transportation business."

In official business, stockholders re-elected four directors: Gerald L. Baliles, a partner in the law firm of Hunton & Williams and former governor of Virginia; Gene R. Carter, executive director and chief executive officer of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; Charles W. Moorman, president of Norfolk Southern Corp.; and J. Paul Reason, president and chief operating officer of Metro Machine Corp. Stockholders also approved amendments to the company's Long-Term Incentive Plan and Executive Management Incentive Plan and ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP as auditors.