(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, June 4, 2015)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Norfolk Southern in a ceremony at Washington, D.C.’s Union Station unveiled its latest commemorative locomotive, a vibrant SD60E honoring emergency first responders. The locomotive – with insignia recognizing police, fire, and emergency services – will enter general revenue service on Norfolk Southern’s 22-state network.
“The relationships we have with first responders across our network are vital components of operating a safe transportation system,” said Jim Squires, NS president and CEO. “We hope everyone who sees this locomotive will think about the dedication, the expertise, and the sacrifices first responders make to serve our communities. We at Norfolk Southern are grateful for their support, bravery, and partnership.”
The red, white, and gold locomotive – its paint scheme designed by NS’ Visual Communications team and painted at the company’s Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, Pa. – features the Maltese Cross of fire services, the Emergency Medical Services’ “Star of Life,” and the Police shield. It also features the logo for Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response (TRANSCAER), a national outreach organization dedicated to providing education and resources to help raise the level of emergency preparedness for the unlikely event of a rail incident. The locomotive sports “9-1-1,” the phone number to request emergency assistance, as well as the Norfolk Southern OAR shield.
OAR – Operation Awareness & Response – is an NS program to educate the public about the economic importance of the safe movement of hazardous materials by rail to connect emergency first responders in Norfolk Southern communities with information and training resources.
Norfolk Southern is a nationally recognized leader in providing training and educational resources to first responders. NS earned TRANSCAER’s 2014 National Achievement Award, the 15th time TRANSCAER has recognized Norfolk Southern for its efforts to help communities prepare for and respond to hazmat transportation incidents.
“Incidents involving trains and hazardous materials are rare,” Squires said. “This is a safe mode of transportation. To make it even safer, communities and Norfolk Southern work together to raise the level of emergency preparedness, which is why we continuously facilitate training, dialogue, and partnerships with emergency response leaders across our network.”
Norfolk Southern conducted or participated in 98 TRANSCAER community outreach events in 17 states during 2014. These included classroom and hands-on training, tabletop simulations, and full-scale exercises, which provided training for 5,442 emergency first responders. NS assisted in the development of the AskRail app that allows first responders to use their mobile phones to look up commodity and response information on shipments, and NS continued its commitment to providing high-level training at the Security and Emergency Response Training Center in Pueblo, Co.