Conneaut, OH – Yesterday evening, 13 members of the Springfield Volunteer Fire Department, along with personnel from several Ohio fire departments, participated in a specialized training focused on railroad safety and emergency preparedness. Hosted by Norfolk Southern, the free multi-day event, titled “Railroad 101: Safety and Response,” was held June 24 - 26 and offered two hands-on sessions each day to accommodate a wide range of emergency personnel.

The train is part of Norfolk Southern's Operation Awareness & Response (OAR) program. OAR was launched in 2015 to cultivate and strengthen relationships with local first responders by providing classroom, web-based, and field training on hazardous materials transportation, as well as information about rail operations.

The Norfolk Southern hazmat safety train is a specialized mobile training platform designed to bring real-world railroad emergency preparedness directly to first responders. At its core is a 2,000-horsepower, 273-ton locomotive painted in honor of emergency personnel, featuring insignia that recognize police, fire, and emergency medical services. Accompanying the locomotive are two boxcars that have been converted into fully equipped classrooms, each capable of accommodating up to 30 participants. The train also includes four types of tank cars - DOT-105, DOT-111, DOT-112, and DOT-117 - used to demonstrate a range of valves, fittings, and protective features found in rail transport. Rounding out the train are two 89-foot flatcars, typically used for transporting intermodal containers, which provide additional hands-on training opportunities for responders.

Training was divided into three core components. The first portion took place in a classroom setting, where participants received instruction on general railroad safety, how to interpret rail shipping documents, and how to identify different types of railcars and tank cars. Instructors also covered the D.E.C.I.D.E. process and walked through the nine stages of a hazardous materials emergency. Other topics included chemical and physical properties of materials, site assessment, initial safety protocols, flammable and corrosive substances, tank car/container assessment, and the use of first responder mobile tools such as the AskRail app.

Following the classroom session, attendees split into groups to rotate through a hands-on portion of the training. One group explored the anatomy of general service and pressure tank cars, learning about protective housings, valves and fittings, safety appliances, truck components, shell and head construction, and external placards and markings. The other group reviewed locomotive safety and emergency procedures. After both groups completed the hands-on stations, they reconvened in the classroom to walk through a mock rail crossing incident. The group collaboratively developed an incident action plan, discussed offensive response tactics, and practiced applying concepts that they learned to a realistic railroad emergency.

Norfolk Southern operates around 20,000 rail miles of track across 22 states and employs more than 20,000 people. The company transports over 7 million customer carloads annually, ranging from raw materials to hazardous chemicals, making preparedness and coordination with local emergency responders a top priority.

Through programs like TRANSCAER (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response), Norfolk Southern continues to invest in community resilience by ensuring first responders have access to advanced training tools and real-world experience before the next incident occurs.