Published: July 15, 2008 10:52 pm      

Officials tour CSX Russell yards

RUSSELL — Some emergency responders and other local officials on Tuesday received a VIP tour of CSX Transportation’s Russell rail yards.

The purpose of the visit, according to the railroad, was to help ensure that emergency workers are familiar with the layout of the facility, in the event that they need to be summoned there.

The tour was one of the recommendations that came out of a series of meetings between CSX and local officials that followed a pair of rail car leaks at the Russell yards in October of last year, CSX spokesman Bob Sullivan said.

“One of things that the responders felt would be helpful would be for us to all get together at the yard, walk them through the protocol, show them the yard in a general way and just let them see how we function there,” he said.

The railroad was more than happy to comply with the agencies’ request, Sullivan said.

“We place a tremendous emphasis on safety, and part and parcel of that is working with the community to ensure its safety, too,” he said.

Representatives of the Raceland, Russell, Flatwoods and Worthington fire departments were on the tour, as were Greenup County Emergency Management Agency Director Dennis Bass and Judge-Executive Bobby Carpenter.

Carpenter said he found the visit helpful and instructive. He said was particularly interested to learn how the railroad has the facility — which was at one time the largest privately owned railyard in the world and touches five communities — divided into zones.

The tour also gave local officials the opportunity to meet some new top personnel at the Russell yards — terminal Superintendent Bill Setser and assistant Superintendent Jason Woods, said David Hall, another CSX spokesman.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.