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Twenty-six U.S. emergency response personnel recently completed a Union Pacific Railroad-sponsored tank car safety course at Transportation Technology Center Inc. in Pueblo, Colo.

During the five-day, 40-hour course, participants learn how to identify tank car types, fittings and construction features during an emergency; they also receive hands-on experience in assessing tank car damage, making repairs, controlling the release of hazardous materials from damaged equipment, and using protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus. In their "final exam," attendees participate in three simulated hazardous material accidents.

"Our tank car safety programs are designed to provide the knowledge and skills local responders need to analyze an emergency involving tank cars and plan a response within their capabilities," said Charlie Wright, manager of hazardous materials training at UP, which covers all attendees' course expenses.

Since 1986, UP has sponsored 40 five-day TTCI training programs for more than 800 emergency response personnel from communities the Class I serves. More than 150 UP workers also have taken the course.