Norfolk Southern Graduates 113 Students from Emergency Response Training School

NORFOLK, Va., July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First responders from across the United States sharpened their skills at responding to hazardous materials incidents during Norfolk Southern-sponsored tank car safety classes this year at the Transportation Technology Center Inc., near Pueblo, Colo.

One hundred thirteen students attended the five-day, 40-hour courses at TTCI's Emergency Response Training Center, which provides training in classes that simulate train, truck and barge accidents. Located on 52 square miles of isolated high desert, the TTCI campus includes 48 miles of specialized tracks to test locomotives, vehicles, track components and signal devices. Some 80 rail cars, intermodal and highway vehicles, and containers are used to provide realistic training exercises.

Participants received hands-on training to assess tank car damage, make repairs and transfer hazardous materials from damaged equipment. Students practiced wearing protective clothing and using self-contained breathing apparatus. For their final exercise, they participated in a simulated hazardous-material accident in order to learn how to work with railroads during emergencies and how to stay safe while on railroad property.

Since 1998, NS has sponsored 17 training programs at TTCI that have been attended by 712 emergency responders, NS employees and contractors. Norfolk Southern also offers free hazardous material training programs to the communities it serves. These classes have reached 34,183 emergency responders since 1997.

Emergency responders who took part in the training during 2007 are listed below.

Alabama Brady Perrigin, Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue Service Bryant Thompson, Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue Service Georgia Paul Molinaro, Marietta Fire Department Maryland Neil Simmons, Baltimore County Fire Department Jack Columbus Fire Department, Missouri Reginald Paige, St. Louis Fire Department Andrew Shost, North Kansas City Fire Department, Mississippi Robert Stephens, Hattiesburg Fire Department Ohio Jim O'Connor, Columbus Fire Department, Wally Jackson, Columbus Fire Department Pennsylvania James Eaborn, Allegheny County HazMat, Pittsburgh Charles Lenz, Bureau of Fire, Pittsburgh Andrew Megonnell, Dauphin County EMA, Harrisburg South Carolina Donald Carson, North Spartanburg Fire District Brent Lewis, North Spartanburg Fire District Tennessee James Arnold, Knoxville Fire Department Daniel Boothroyd, Monroe County HazMat, Madisonville Daniel Hague, Chattanooga Fire Department William Smock Jr., Alcoa Fire Department John Tallent, Monroe County HazMat, Madisonville Paul Walker, Alcoa Fire Department Virginia David Bocock, Roanoke Fire Department Michael Guzo, Roanoke Fire Department Anthony Washington, Alexandria Fire Department Anthony Wallace, Roanoke Fire Department Warren Walker, Elliston Fire Department

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. NS operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America's largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.