Difference between revisions of "NS Radio Frequencies"

Revision as of 02:34, 27 November 2020

Grouped by Division, then by District (NS-speak for subdivision). Original Michigan and Ohio entries saved at bottom until they can be incorporated.

=> Please group Districts and Lines together, so all the Chicago Line listings should be packed together for easy reference on a smartphone or laptop in the field. Districts should be ordered alphabetically.

Realignment

As of 1 November, 2020 Norfolk Southern has rationalized its operating structure, reducing its 9 Divisions down to 6 Divisions. Engineering and Communications & Signals will retain the 9-Division alignment. Dispatching territories remain the same for the foreseeable future.

   Southern Region
   Gulf Division, Birmingham, AL
   Coastal Division, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
   
   Central Region
   Midwest Division, Cincinnati, O.
   Blue Ridge Division, Roanoke, VA
   
   Northern Region
   Great Lakes Division, Toledo, O.
   Keystone, Harrisburg, PA

In early 2018 Norfolk Southern began refarming its radio channels. Gone are the simple days of monitoring 160.95MHz all over the southland.

A.A.R. (American Association of Railroads) standard channel numbers prepend a leading "0" (zero) to indicate narrowband analog operation occupying a 12.5KHz bandwidth. Ultimately all channels will be mandated to use "very narrowband" 6.25KHz transmissions which can only be accomplished with digital techniques. The railroads have settled on NXDN technology from Kenwood and Icom. See the AAR web site for more information.

F.R.A. Interactive Rail Map probably only works on desktop browsers, but VERY informative.

Legend:

   AAR Ch. — standard A.A.R. channel number
   Frequency — radio frequency in MHz (megaHertz)
   District — name of District, Line, or dispatcher desk that uses this frequency
   Use — "road", "dsp" (for dispatcher base transmit ch.), "mow" (maintenance-of-way), "uplink" (train to dispatcher in 2-freq setups), "in" and "out" (input/receive and output/transmit frequencies of repeater)
   Notes — useful additional information: "uplink to dispatcher, paired with AAR09", "used between mp3 and mp45"

SOUTHERN REGION

Gulf Division

Gulf Division headquarters: Birmingham, Alabama

Coastal Division

Coastal Division headquartors: Inman Yard, Atlanta, Georgia

CENTRAL REGION

Blue Ridge Division

Blue Ridge Division headquarters: Roanoke, Virginia

Midwest Division

Midwest Division headquarters: Cincinnati, O.

NORTHERN REGION

Great Lakes Division

Great Lakes Division headquarters: Toledo, O.

Keystone Division

Keystone Division headquarters: Harrisburg, PA

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