Norfolk Southern Corporation engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in the United States. It transports coal products, including utility, export, metallurgical, and industrial coal products; chemical products comprising sulfur and related chemicals, petroleum products, chlorine and bleaching compounds, plastics, rubber, industrial chemicals, chemical wastes, and municipal wastes; agriculture, consumer products, and government products, such as soybeans, wheat, corn, fertilizer, livestock and poultry feed, food oils, flour, beverages, canned goods, sweeteners, consumer products, and ethanol, as well as various items for the military; and metals and construction products consisting of steel, aluminum products, machinery, scrap metals, cement, aggregates, bricks, and minerals. The company also transports automotive products that include finished vehicles and auto parts; and paper, clay, and forest products, which comprise lumber and wood products, pulp board and paper products, wood fibers, wood pulp, scrap paper, and clay. In addition, the company is involved in the intermodal operations comprising shipments moving in trailers, the United States and international containers, and RoadRailer equipment. Further, it transports overseas freight through various Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports, as well as provides a range of logistics services; and operates passenger and commuter trains. Additionally, the company engages in the acquisition, leasing, and management of coal, oil, gas, and minerals; development of commercial real estate properties; and leasing or sale of rail property and equipment, as well as in telecommunications activities. As of December 31, 2012, it operated approximately 20,000 miles of route in 22 states and the District of Columbia. The company was founded in 1982 and is based in Norfolk, Virginia.