Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 10/25/16. Chattanooga first responders attend an emergency response preparedness training event hosted by Norfolk Southern on Tuesday, October 25, 2016. Norfolk Southern brought their new hazmat safety train to Chattanooga as one of 18 cities they will visit during the 2016 tour. Staff Photo by Dan Henry
Norfolk Southern brought its hazmat safety train to Chattanooga this week to help train area first responders in how to handle hazardous materials. The railroad company uses its boxcars as classrooms to demonstrate how to respond if there is a train accident or leak of hazardous materials on the rail lines through Chattanooga. The train will stop in 18 cities this year and help train more than 5,000 first responders. Norfolk Southern also conducts railroad operations classes for FBI agents and railroad liaisons from the National Joint Terrorism Task Force.