Norfolk Southern Graduates 113 Students from Emergency Response Training School

NORFOLK, VA -- 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 (NYSE: NSC) 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.

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Norfolk Southern contacts:
(Media) Susan Terpay, 757-823-5204 (susan.terpay@nscorp.com)