UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 11-K


[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
      1934 for the fiscal year end DECEMBER 31, 2011


[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
      1934 for the transition period from ___________ to___________


Commission file number 1-8339




A.  Full title of the Plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT INVESTMENT PLAN OF
NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION
AND PARTICIPATING SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES


B.  Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

logo

NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION
Three Commercial Place
Norfolk, VA  23510





TABLE OF CONTENTS
     
Thoroughbred Retirement Investment Plan of
Norfolk Southern Corporation and Participating Subsidiary Companies
     
   
Page
     
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm  
3
Statements of Assets Available for Benefits  
4
Statement of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits  
5
Notes to Financial Statements  
6
     
     
     
   
 
Schedule
Schedule H, line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
1
16  
     
     
Signatures  
17  
   
Exhibit Index  
17  



2



Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


The Board of Managers
Thoroughbred Retirement Investment Plan of Norfolk Southern Corporation
and Participating Subsidiary Companies:



We have audited the accompanying statements of assets available for benefits of the Thoroughbred Retirement Investment Plan of Norfolk Southern Corporation and Participating Subsidiary Companies (the Plan) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related statement of changes in assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2011.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the changes in assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental schedule of the Plan (Schedule H, line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2011) is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.


/s/KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP
Norfolk, Virginia
June 7, 2012


3



Thoroughbred Retirement Investment Plan of
Norfolk Southern Corporation and Participating Subsidiary Companies

Statements of Assets Available for Benefits



     
As of December 31,
 
     
2011
   
2010
 
     
($ in thousands)
 
               
Assets:              
  Investments:              
      Plan interest in Master Trust for Norfolk Southern Corporation         Common Stock  
$   253,662 
 
$   234,769 
 
      Mutual funds:              
        Equity growth and income funds    
103,979 
   
107,622 
 
        Balanced funds    
82,499 
   
79,503 
 
        International stock fund    
23,406 
   
28,566 
 
        Bond fund    
14,522 
   
13,501 
 
      Common collective trust – stable value fund  
61,541 
 
57,334 
 
               
        Assets available for benefits at fair value    
539,609 
   
521,295 
 
               
  Adjustment from fair value to contract value for
      fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
 
 (2,850)
 
(2,258)
 
               
        Assets available for benefits  
$   536,759 
 
$   519,037 
 
               
               
               
See accompanying notes to financial statements.



4



Thoroughbred Retirement Investment Plan of
Norfolk Southern Corporation and Participating Subsidiary Companies

Statement of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits



 
Year ended
 
December 31, 2011
 
($ in thousands)
           
Investment income:          
  Dividends  
$         5,719 
   
  Interest    
1,613 
   
  Net depreciation in fair value of investments    
(4,227)
   
  Plan interest in Master Trust for Norfolk Southern Corporation Common Stock  
42,675 
   
           
         Total investment income  
45,780 
   
           
Contributions:          
  Employee contributions    
34,946 
   
  Employer contributions  
3,458 
   
           
           Total contributions  
38,404 
   
           
Distributions:          
  Benefits paid    
62,409 
   
  Assets transferred out to Thrift and Investment Plan    
1,940 
   
  Assets transferred out to BLE Section 401(k) Plan    
1,799 
   
  Administrative expenses  
314 
   
           
           Total distributions  
66,462 
   
           
           Net increase in assets available for benefits  
17,722 
   
           
Assets available for benefits:          
           Beginning of year  
519,037 
   
           
           End of year  
$     536,759 
   
           
           
           
See accompanying notes to financial statements.          



5



Thoroughbred Retirement Investment Plan of
Norfolk Southern Corporation and Participating Subsidiary Companies
Notes to Financial Statements

The following Notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

1.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on an accrual basis.

The Thoroughbred Retirement Investment Plan of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) and Participating Subsidiary Companies (the Plan) meets the definition of a defined contribution employee benefit plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and is thus subject to the reporting and disclosure, participation and vesting, fiduciary responsibility, and administration and enforcement provisions of Title I of ERISA.  As an individual account plan, however, the Plan is not subject to the funding provisions of Title I or to the benefit guaranty provisions of Title IV of ERISA.

As described in Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 946, “Financial Services – Investment Companies,” and ASC 962, “Plan Accounting – Defined Contribution Pension Plans,” investment contracts held by a defined-contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value.  However, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the assets available for benefits of a defined-contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan.  As required by the ASC, the Statements of Assets Available for Benefits present the fair value of the investment contracts as well as the adjustment of the fully benefit-responsive investment contracts from fair value to contract value.  The Statement of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits reflects such investment contracts on a contract value basis.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Investments

The presentation of investments at fair value in the accompanying financial statements of the Plan is required by and is in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  See Note 5 for discussion of fair value.

Payment of Benefits

Benefit payments to participants are recorded upon distribution.

Revenue Recognition

Unrealized and realized appreciation and depreciation in the fair value of investments are recognized in the financial statements in the periods in which such changes occur.  Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date (the date that the order to buy or sell is executed).  Interest is accrued when it is earned.  Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date.

6



New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820):  Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs [International Financial Reporting Standards].  The update, effective for interim or annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011, provides clarification about the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements, and expands certain other disclosure requirements.  The Plan will adopt this ASU in 2012 and expects adoption of the ASU will not have a material effect on its financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” which required entities to make new disclosures about recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements including significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and 2 categories, and provide information on purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis in the reconciliation of Level 3 measurements.  The ASU also clarified existing fair value disclosures and was effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the requirement to provide Level 3 activity of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis, which was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010.  The adoption did not have a material impact on the Statements of Assets Available for Benefits or the Statement of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits.

2.  Plan Description

The following is a brief discussion of the Plan in effect during 2011 and not the complete text of the plan document. Participants should refer to the plan document for more complete information.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein are defined in the plan document.

General Information

The Plan was established effective April 1, 1995, by the Board of Directors of NS.

The purpose of the Plan is to encourage retirement savings among eligible employees.  Generally, Agreement Employees of NS or any participating subsidiary company shall be eligible to become a member of the Plan (Member) on the first day of the calendar month after the expiration of twelve (12) months following the date on which he or she first is employed by and receives compensation from NS or an affiliated employer within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code).

A portion of the Plan is intended to be an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) within the meaning of Section 4975(e)(7) of the Code.  The ESOP is designed to invest primarily in NS Stock, which is a qualifying security within the meaning of Sections 409(1) and 4975(e)(8) of the Code.

The Plan is administered by a Board of Managers (Managers), the members of which are appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of NS.  Effective November 23, 2010, the Plan was amended to transfer from the Board of Managers to the Benefits Investment Committee the responsibility for choosing the Plan’s investment options (other than the NS Stock Fund, as the NS Stock Fund is required to be offered under the terms of the Plan) and monitoring the continued appropriateness of those investment options.  The Managers and members of the Benefits Investment Committee receive no remuneration with respect to their service in such capacity.  The Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company is the Plan’s independent trustee, and The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the Plan’s record keeper.  NS and the participating subsidiary companies in their discretion pay certain administrative costs arising under the Plan.

Vesting

At all times a Member shall have a fully vested interest in all account balances (Accounts) under the Plan.

Pre-Tax, Roth, Catch-Up, Matching, TWIST and After-Tax Contribution Accounts

Amendments to the Plan, effective January 1, 2010, merged each Member’s Catch-up and Pre-tax Contributions Account into the Pre-Tax Contributions Account (note 8).

7



A Member may elect that NS contribute to the Plan an amount equal to not less than 1% nor more than 75% of the Member’s Compensation, as defined in the Plan.  The Member must irrevocably designate any such contribution to the Plan as a Pre-Tax Contribution or Roth Contribution at the time of the deferral election, and any contribution made to the Plan as a Pre-Tax or Roth Contribution may not be reclassified later to the other type.  In addition, each Member is allowed to contribute to the Member’s After-Tax Contributions Account an amount equal to not less than 1% nor more than 5% of the Member’s Compensation.

Annual Pre-Tax and Roth Contributions are limited as provided in Section 402(g) of the Code ($16,500 for 2011).  However, a Member who is at least age 50, or will attain age 50 by the end of the calendar year, may make additional contributions up to the limits as provided in Code Section 414(v)(2)(B)(i) ($5,500 for 2011).

NS contributes to the Member’s Matching Contributions Account thirty percent (30%) of the Member’s Pre-Tax Contributions plus Roth Contributions not to exceed the lesser of forty-five dollars ($45) per month or one and eight-tenths percent (1.8%) of the Member’s Compensation.  On or before November 15, 1999, NS contributed to the Member’s TWIST Account the amount each Member was entitled to have contributed to the Plan on their behalf under the Special Work Incentive Program.

Rollover Accounts

A Member can contribute to a Pre-Tax Rollover Contributions Account eligible rollover distributions from a tax-qualified retirement plan of a former employer or from an individual retirement account, and may contribute to a Roth Rollover Contributions Account eligible rollover distributions from a designated Roth Account from a tax-qualified retirement plan of a former employer.

Income and Dividends

Income received, in the form of dividends or otherwise, from investments held is retained in the respective Accounts of each Member and is reinvested in the investment option from which such income was distributed.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, all dividends paid with respect to NS Stock held in the NS Stock Fund shall, at the Member’s election, either (i) be paid to the Plan and distributed in cash to the Members as soon as practicable, which is included in benefits paid in the Statement of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits, or (ii) be paid to the Plan and reinvested in the NS Stock Fund within the Member’s Accounts.  A member who does not make a timely election will have such dividends paid to the Plan and reinvested in the NS Stock Fund within the Member’s Accounts.

Distributions and Withdrawals

Except as hereinafter provided, the account balances of a Member will be held by the Trustee until the earlier of the Member’s retirement, disability, death, or separation from service.  If a Member retires prior to Normal Retirement Age, incurs a disability or separates from service and the value of the Member’s interest in the Plan is greater than $5,000, no distribution of account balances will be made to the Member prior to the earlier of Normal Retirement Age or death without the Member’s consent.  If the value of the Member’s interest in the Plan does not exceed $5,000, then the account balances will be distributed to the Member as soon as practicable; however, if the distribution is greater than $1,000 but does not exceed $5,000, and the Member does not elect to have the distribution paid directly to an eligible retirement plan or receive the distribution directly, then the Plan Administrator will transfer the amount in a direct rollover to an individual retirement account for the Member.

The normal form of payment under the Plan is a single lump sum, but a Member may elect that the portion of their account that is invested in the NS Stock Fund be distributed in whole shares of NS Stock rather than cash.  A Member generally may request that a distribution from the Plan be made directly to another eligible retirement plan as the Member directs.

8



A Member may withdraw, no more than once during each three-month period measured from the beginning of the plan year, all or a portion of the balance of their After-Tax Contributions Account.  The amount of the withdrawal may not be less than $500.  A Member may at any time withdraw all or a portion of the balance of the Member’s Rollover Accounts.

A Member may withdraw all or a portion of the balance of the Member’s TWIST Account.

A Member may make a written request for a hardship withdrawal as described in the plan document.

Transfers with other Plans

If a Member becomes eligible for participation in the Thrift and Investment Plan (TIP) of NS and Participating Subsidiary Companies, the Member may transfer his Plan balance to TIP and, if the Member does not elect to do so, the balance will be automatically transferred from the Plan to TIP as of the calendar quarter following the quarter in which the Member becomes eligible for TIP.

A Member may be allowed to transfer, as a direct transfer, their Accounts to another Code Section 401(k) plan of an affiliate or to another plan of NS or to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers 401(k) Savings Plan for Employees of Norfolk Southern Carriers (BLE Section 401(k) Plan) if the Managers determine that the transferee plan is comparable to this Plan, and the employee is eligible to participate in such other plan.

A Member who does not have an outstanding loan under the BLE Section 401(k) Plan may be allowed to transfer their account from the BLE Section 401(k) Plan as a direct transfer to this Plan.

Plan Termination

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, NS has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA.  In the event of plan termination, Members would remain 100% vested in their employee and employer contributions.

3.  Investment Program

A Member must make an initial investment election which will apply to the Member’s Accounts.  If a Member does not make an affirmative initial investment election, the Member will be deemed to have allocated all contributions to the Vanguard Wellington Fund.

A Member may elect at any time to exchange the existing balances in the Member’s Accounts invested in any option to another option(s), subject to any frequent trading policy or similar restriction.

9



4.  Investments

Investments at fair value that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s assets available for benefits consisted of the following:

     
As of December 31,
 
     
2011
   
2010
 
     
($ in thousands)
 
               
Plan interest in Master Trust for NS Stock  
$
253,662
 
$
234,769
 
               
Value of interests in mutual funds:              
   Balanced funds:              
     Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares    
58,908
   
--
 
     Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares    
--
   
58,586
 
   Equity growth and income funds:              
     Vanguard Institutional Index Fund    
40,228
   
--
 
     Vanguard Growth Index Fund Institutional Shares    
27,868
   
--
 
     Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares    
--
   
41,853
 
     Vanguard Growth Index Fund Investor Shares    
--
   
29,039
 
     Vanguard Windsor II Fund Investor Shares    
--
   
27,509
 
   International stock fund:              
     Vanguard International Growth Fund Investor Shares    
--
   
28,566
 
               
Value of interest in common collective trust:              
     Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust V (stable value fund)    
61,541
   
--
 
     Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust (stable value fund)    
--
   
57,334
 

In 2011, the Plan’s net depreciation in fair value of investments ($4.2 million) included realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year.

10



5.  Fair Value

Fair Value Measurements

ASC 820-10, “Fair Value Measurements,” established a framework for measuring fair value and a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels, as follows:

Level 1 Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access.

Level 2 Inputs to the valuation methodology include:
  • Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
  • Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;
  • Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and
  • Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

  If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3 Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value.  There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Mutual funds:  Valued at the net asset value (NAV) of shares held by the Plan as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at year end.

Common collective trust – stable value fund:  The Plan’s holdings of the stable value fund units (Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust) are valued at NAV, which is used as a practical expedient for fair value.  There are no imposed redemption restrictions and the Plan does not have any contractual obligations to further invest in the trust.  The underlying investments of that trust consist of traditional investment contracts, valued based upon expected future cash flows for each contract discounted to present value; alternative investment contracts, valued based upon the aggregate market values of the underlying investments in mutual funds and bond trusts, and the value of the wrap contracts; and investments in mutual funds and bond trusts, valued at the NAV of each fund or trust determined as of the close of the NYSE at year end.

The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values.  Furthermore, while the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

11



The following tables set forth the Plan’s investments by variation technique level, within the fair value hierarchy (there were no level 3 valued investments), excluding plan interest in Master Trust for Norfolk Southern Corporation Common Stock:

As of December 31, 2011  
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Total
     
($ in thousands)
 
                 
Mutual funds
$      224,406
 
$               --
 
$      224,406
Common collective trust – stable value fund
--
 
61,541
 
61,541
                 
         Investments at fair value
$      224,406
 
$       61,541
 
$      285,947


As of December 31, 2010  
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Total
     
($ in thousands)
 
                 
Mutual funds
$      229,192
 
$               --
 
$      229,192
Common collective trust – stable value fund
--
 
57,334
 
57,334
                 
         Investments at fair value
$      229,192
 
$       57,334
 
$      286,526

12



6.  Interest in Master Trust for Norfolk Southern Corporation Common Stock

The Plan’s investment in NS common stock (NS Stock) is included in a master trust along with investments in NS Stock held by the Thrift and Investment Plan (TIP) of NS and Participating Subsidiary Companies.  The NS Stock Fund consists of shares of NS Stock, measured at fair value, and a small cash balance for liquidity purposes, and is divided into units (rather than shares of stock) for the purpose of valuing assets of the participating plans and the participants’ accounts.  A unit represents a proportionate ownership interest in investments of the master trust. A unit value is calculated daily by dividing the total value of NS Stock and cash, reduced by any unpaid commissions and fees associated with the master trust’s transactions, by the number of units credited to participants of both plans in the master trust. Units are allocated among the plans based on total units credited to participants of each plan. The Plan’s percentage of master trust investment assets was 42.1% at December 31, 2011, and 41.9% at December 31, 2010. The Plan’s interest in the fair value of master trust investment assets was $253.7 million at December 31, 2011, and $234.8 million at December 31, 2010.

The following table presents the assets, including investments of the master trust:

     
As of December 31,
 
     
2011
   
2010
 
     
($ in thousands)
 
               
Norfolk Southern Corporation Common Stock  
$    599,068 
 
$    558,243 
 
Money market funds  
3,219 
 
3,075 
 
     
602,287 
   
561,318 
 
               
Accounts receivable    
20 
   
169 
 
Accounts payable and other expenses  
 (416)
 
(571)
 
               
         Net assets  
$    601,891 
 
$    560,916 
 

Investment income for the master trust was as follows:

 
Year ended
 
December 31,
     
2011
 
 
($ in thousands)
         
Net appreciation in fair value  
$      87,811 
 
Dividends and interest  
14,165 
 
         
         Total investment income  
$    101,976 
 

The closing prices reported in the active markets in which the securities are traded are used to value the investments in the master trust.  The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value.

NS Common Stock:  Valued based upon the closing price reported on the NYSE at year end.

Money Market Funds:  Valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the funds are traded.

13



The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the investments at fair value of the master trust (there were no level 2 or 3 valued investments):

As of December 31, 2011  
Level 1
   
 
($ in thousands)
 
           
Common stock  
$     599,068
   
Money market funds  
 3,219
   
           
         Total investments  
$     602,287
   

 

As of December 31, 2010  
Level 1
   
 
($ in thousands)
 
           
Common stock  
$     558,243
   
Money market funds  
3,075
   
           
         Total investments  
$     561,318
   

7.  Federal Income Taxes

The Internal Revenue Service determined and informed NS by a letter dated October 2, 2003, that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Code.  Although the Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter, the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code.  Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.

The plan is generally subject to examination for a period of three years after the filing of its employee benefit plan annual return.  There are currently no audits for any plan years in progress.

The Plan follows the provisions of ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” as it relates to uncertainties in income taxes.  ASC 740 requires that a liability be recorded for the Plan’s estimate of uncertain tax positions, including a determination that income is nontaxable under the tax law.  The Plan has no liabilities recorded at December 31, 2011 and 2010 for unrecognized tax benefits.

8.  Plan Amendments

The Plan was amended effective November 23, 2010, to grant specific powers and duties to a Benefits Investment Committee comprised of the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer of NS.

The Plan was amended effective January 1, 2010, to: (a) merge each Member’s Catch-Up Pre-Tax Contributions Account into the Member’s Pre-Tax Contributions Account; (b) permit each Member to make Roth Contributions; (c) increase the percentage that a Member could contribute to the Plan as Pre-Tax Contributions and Roth Contributions to an amount between 1% and 75% of the Member’s Compensation (as defined in the Plan); (d) accept Roth rollover contributions from another employer’s tax-qualified plan; and (e) to permit in-service withdrawals of Rollover Accounts.

14



9.  Related Party Transactions

Certain plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by The Vanguard Group, Inc.  The Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company and The Vanguard Group, Inc. are the independent trustee and the record keeper, respectively, as defined by the Plan; therefore, fees paid to these entities for trustee, administrative and other transactions qualify as exempt party-in-interest transactions under ERISA and the Code.

The Plan, through the NS Stock Fund, holds NS Stock.  NS is the employer and Plan Sponsor.  The investment in the NS Stock Fund qualifies as an exempt party-in-interest transaction under ERISA and the Code.

10.  Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500

The following is a reconciliation of benefit claims payable and benefits paid to participants per the financial statements to Form 5500:

     
As of December 31,
 
     
2011
   
2010
 
     
($ in thousands)
 
               
Benefit claims payable to participants per the financial statements  
$               --
 
$               --
 
Add:  Current accruals for withdrawing participants  
 269
 
87
 
               
     Benefit claims payable to participants per Form 5500  
$            269
 
$              87
 

 

 
Year ended
 
December 31,
 
2011
 
($ in thousands)
           
Total distributions per the financial statements, excluding
  administrative expenses
 
$      66,148 
   
Add:  Current accruals for withdrawing participants    
269 
   
Less:  Prior year accruals paid in current year  
 (87)
   
           
     Benefits paid to participants per Form 5500  
$      66,330 
   

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Schedule 1

Thoroughbred Retirement Investment Plan of
Norfolk Southern Corporation and Participating Subsidiary Companies

Schedule H, line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2011

Identity of issue, borrower,
lessor or similar party
 
Description of investment, including maturity date,
rate of interest, collateral, par or maturity value
 
Cost
 
Current Value
       
($ in thousands)
             
Plan interest in Master Trust
   for NS Stock*
 
10,387,477 units of NS Stock Fund
$     131,031
$       253,662 
             
Value of Interests in Registered
Investment Companies
:
     
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
1,088,278 shares of Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares
 
60,240
 
58,908 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
   349,691 shares of Vanguard Institutional Index Fund
 
41,737
 
40,228 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
   876,616 shares of Vanguard Growth Index Fund Institutional Shares
 
28,469
 
27,868 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
   577,308 shares of Vanguard Windsor II Fund Admiral Shares
 
27,431
 
26,412 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
   450,208 shares of Vanguard International Growth Fund Admiral Shares
 
27,735
 
23,406 
  Western Asset Funds, Inc.  
1,224,415 shares of Western Asset Core Bond
 
13,385
 
14,522 
  The Royce Funds  
   348,719 shares of Royce Premier Fund
 
6,226
 
6,458 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
   367,712 shares of Vanguard Target Retirement 2015
 
4,419
 
4,523 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
   165,240 shares of Vanguard Target Retirement 2020
 
3,547
 
3,584 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
   153,000 shares of Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares
 
3,020
 
3,013 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
   122,743 shares of Vanguard Target Retirement 2040
 
2,446
 
2,516 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
   198,526 shares of Vanguard Target Retirement 2035
 
2,415
 
2,484 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
   110,520 shares of Vanguard Target Retirement 2030
 
2,266
 
2,312 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
   150,267 shares of Vanguard Target Retirement 2045
 
1,883
 
1,934 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
   151,791 shares of Vanguard Target Retirement 2025
 
1,822
 
1,862 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
     71,267 shares of Vanguard Target Retirement 2010
 
1,547
 
1,599 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
     69,094 shares of Vanguard Target Retirement 2050
 
1,376
 
1,410 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
     95,117 shares of Vanguard Target Retirement Income
 
1,055
 
1,097 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*  
     19,043 shares of Vanguard Target Retirement 2005
 
197
 
228 
  The Vanguard Group, Inc.*
       1,903 shares of Vanguard Target Retirement 2055
 
43
 
 42 
             
       
231,259
 
 224,406 
Value of Interest in Common
Collective Trust –
           
  Vanguard Retirement Savings
    Trust V*
 
58,691,161 units of Stable Value Fund
 
58,691
 
61,541 
             
    Total investments at fair value  
420,981
 
539,609 
             
    Adjustment from fair value to contract value for
  fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
 
--
 
 (2,850)
             
    Total investments at contract value  
$     420,981
 
$       536,759 
*Party-in-interest            
             
See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

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SIGNATURE


The Plan pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Board of Managers of the Thoroughbred Retirement Investment Plan of Norfolk Southern Corporation and Participating Subsidiary Companies has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT INVESTMENT PLAN OF
NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION
AND PARTICIPATING SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES


Date:  June 7, 2012   BY:  /s/G. W. Dana
        G. W. Dana
        Secretary, Board of Managers




EXHIBIT INDEX

         
Exhibit
Number
   
      Description
       
23
   
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
       





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