<ARTICLE>      5
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000,000
       
                                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                 DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                      SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                            $    32
<SECURITIES>                                          157
<RECEIVABLES>                                         816
<ALLOWANCES>                                           16
<INVENTORY>                                            60
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    1,272
<PP&E>                                             14,420
<DEPRECIATION>                                      4,515
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     17,509
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               1,308
<BONDS>                                             7,460
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                             0
<COMMON>                                              399
<OTHER-SE>                                          4,896
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       17,509
<SALES>                                                 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    3,881
<CGS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       2,955
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                      (64)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    256
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                       734
<INCOME-TAX>                                          237
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   497
<DISCONTINUED>                                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                         0
<CHANGES>                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                          497
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        1.32 <F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           0

<FN>
<F1> NSC declared a three-for-one stock split payable October 9, 1997, 
     to shareholders of record on September 5, 1997.