2. Transporting Hazardous Materials by Rail
Railroads transport over 1.7 million hazardous material shipments in the US each year.
Over 99.96% arrive without incident.
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) tracks hazardous materials transportation statistics and reports this information annually.
Railroad transport over 1.7 million bulk shipments in the United States each year.
Over percent arrive at destination without incident.

3. YOU ARE NOT IN IT ALONE! Transporting Hazardous Materials by Rail
When emergencies occur, the railroads are there to help you handle the incident . . .
When accidents occur, the railroads are there to help you handle the incident - you are not in the situation alone.
YOU ARE NOT IN IT ALONE!

4. Objectives
Provide knowledge and skills to help you respond to transportation emergencies involving anhydrous ammonia.
Contacting the railroad
Railroad resources
Assessing the incident, using:
Rail shipping papers
Markings
Identifying pressure tank cars for transporting anhydrous ammonia
Review the topics you are going to discuss in this segment what you want the responder to get out of the segment:
Contacting and working with the railroad - Importance of contacting the railroad; how to contact the railroad; what information they need; what resources does the railroad bring to the incident; railroad role in ICS
Assessing the incident - using the shipping papers to identify materials (introduce shipping papers, reporting marks and number)
Identifying pressure tank cars for transporting anhydrous ammonia - construction features, safety systems, shelf couplers, head shields, thermal protection and jackets, service equipment (valves and fittings – liquid eduction lines, vapor eduction lines, pressure relief valves, gauging devices, sample line, thermometer well)
Assessing tank car damage (using the railroad teams to do damage assessment).

5. Contacting the Railroad
BNSF
Canadian National
Canadian Pacific
CSX Transportation
Kansas City Southern
Norfolk Southern
Union Pacific UPRR-COP ( )
CHEMTREC
CANUTEC (collect)
When notified of a rail emergency:
Contact the railroad using the railroad’s emergency phone number.
Make sure the railroad knows about the emergency.
Stop trains if necessary.
When accidents occur,
Call the railroad and make sure the railroad knows there is an emergency and that you are responding.
You may have gotten a call through 911, but the call may have originated from a private citizen and the railroad may not be aware of the emergency.

6. Contacting the Railroad
Crossing Sign Information
Ownership
Emergency telephone number
Crossing ID number
Milepost location
The crossing sign will contain the following information:
Railroad ownership
Emergency telephone number
Crossing identification number
Milepost location

7. Contacting the Railroad
Upon arrival, if at railroad crossing:
Contact railroad emergency center immediately.
Give the location of emergency using information printed on signal bungalows or signs at the crossing.
When you arrive on the scene,
Contact the railroad immediately.
Give the exact location of the emergency using information printed on signal bungalows or signs at rail / highway crossings.
Information provided includes:
the railroad who owns the track
the railroad’s 24-hour emergency contact number
the mile post
the US DOT crossing numbers 7

8. Contacting the Railroad
Upon arrival, if between rail crossings:
Look for railroad mileposts in all directions.
Give the railroad emergency center your location using the closest rail milepost number in addition to any other location information.
If you have GPS, provide your coordinates to the railroad emergency center.
When you arrive on the scene, and you are in between rail crossing in a rural area
Look for railroad mileposts in all directions.
Give the railroad emergency center the closest rail milepost number you see and any other location information.
If you have GPS capability, give these coordinates to the railroad emergency center.
(Talk about information provided by signs.)

9. Railroad Resources Railroad Emergency Center
Stay in contact with the emergency center - you are their eyes and ears.
They are staffed 24 hrs/day.
They make reports/calls to CHEMTREC®, National Response Center and shippers.
They make mandatory notifications to state and federal agencies.
At the scene,
Be sure to stay in contact with the railroad.
You will be the eyes and ears of the railroad emergency center until railroad responders arrive.
Railroad emergency centers are staffed 24 hours a day. They are typically located along with the primary dispatching center for controlling trains and operations for the railroad.
The railroad emergency center will make continuing reports and calls to CHEMTREC, the National Response Center, and the chemical shippers whose cars are involved in the incident.
The railroad emergency center will also make mandatory notifications and updates to state and federal agencies throughout the incident.

10. Railroad Resources Geographic Information System - GIS
Railroad emergency centers may have detailed GIS
Maps include data on pipelines, infrastructure, soil types, streams, waterways, environmentally sensitive areas, schools, hospitals, etc.
Railroads share this information about handling the incident.
HARDIN, MONTANA
Many railroad emergency centers have Geographic Information Systems that can provide useful information for responders. For those that do:
Within minutes of a call, the emergency center typically will have detailed maps that likely include information about pipelines, roads and infrastructure, soil types, streams, waterways, environmentally sensitive areas, schools, hospitals, etc.
Railroads work with the Incident Commander and responders.
Railroads share information of what is involved and what resources are en-route to help deal with the incident.

11. Railroad Resources Plume Modeling
Railroad contractors can provide air dispersion modeling capabilities which are made available to you by fax or .
The railroad emergency response center can also contact persons that provide plume modeling of suspected or verified hazmat releases.
Of particular interest is one contractor that provides air dispersion modeling. This information can be made available to you by what fax or .

12. Railroad Resources On-scene railroad personnel
Transportation, mechanical and engineering personnel.
Railroad hazardous materials response personnel, police and environmental personnel.
Re-railing contractors.
Environmental contractors.
These railroad personnel will coordinate with the Incident Commander and responders.
Here are a few of the primary resources the railroad will bring to any major incident.
Managers and personnel from the transportation, mechanical, and engineering departments
Rerailing contractors
Railroad hazardous materials response team personnel, railroad police, and outside contractors
Because of their expertise, hazardous materials response personnel from the railroad can help you assess the damage to the tank car.

13. Assessing the Emergency
Size-up carefully - know what you are dealing with.
Seek out railroad personnel; ask them about the situation.
Get shipping papers from the railroad personnel.
Using binoculars from a safe location, look for visible leaks - vapors or liquids.
Pay attention to the weather conditions and find out how they may change during the emergency.
Do a good job of size-up, so you know what you are dealing with.
From a safe location using your binoculars, look to see if smoke or vapor is visible or if any liquids or leaks are visible
Seek out railroad personnel and ask them about the situation.
Get the shipping papers from the railroad personnel.
Pay attention to the weather conditions and find out how they may change as the incident progresses.

14. Shipping Papers Get the shipping papers
Find the train crew - the conductor is responsible for the shipping papers and has the most complete copy on-scene.
Ask the crew to share the shipping papers with you and help interpret the information provided.
If the train crew is not available, contact the railroad and ask them to fax or a copy of the shipping papers or read the information over the phone or radio.
The key to dealing with a hazardous materials emergency is obtaining and understanding the shipping papers.
Find the train crew.
The conductor is responsible for the papers and will have the most complete train list immediately available to you.
The train crew will share the paperwork with and help you read and understand it.
If the crew is not available, call the railroad emergency center and ask them to fax or you copy of the train list or have them read the information over the phone or radio

15. Shipping Papers
11 UTLX LT19 NFGAS HO754 ICG PUEB AMOS IN ZAP COOL
60-MPH 126-TONS 51-FT 1-P BRK 1585-ATONS AFT
RAIL SECURITY SENSITIVE MATERIAL
FLAT YARD - DO NOT KICK
1/TC, LB
************************* UN1005
* DANGEROUS * AMMONIA, ANHYDROUS
*************************
EMERGENCY CONTACT: RQ (AMMONIA)
INHALATION HAZARD
TN=(ANHYDROUS AMMONIA)
SHIPPER CONTACT
CHEMTREC
HAZMAT STCC =
12 PROX LT32 APOISN OW WULA HEDGES WA AGRIUM GAM      
60-MPH 128-TONS 68-FT 1-P BRK 648-ATONS 305-AFT
RAIL SECURITY SENSITIVE MATERIAL                              
FLAT YARD - DO NOT KICK                                        
1/TC, 72590/KG                          
*************************               UN1005                                  
* DANGEROUS             *               ANHYDROUS AMMONIA                      
*************************               2.3  (8  )                              
EMERGENCY CONTACT:                      RQ (AMMONIA)                            
                             POISON-INHALATION HAZARD                
                                        ZONE D                                  
                                        ERP                              
                                                                     
                                        AGRIUM PARTNERSHIP                      
                                        16KM E OF GIBBONS AB ON H              
                                        REDWATER OPERATIONS                    
                                        BEAMER           AB T0A2W              
                                        SHIPPER CONTACT                        
                                          AGRIUM                                
                                        HAZMAT STCC =
                 
Shipping papers are the primary safety instrument at a rail emergency.
Shipping papers provide:
Location of each HM shipment in a train
Description of contents of each HM shipment
Emergency response information for each HM
Shipping papers are the primary safety instrument at a rail emergency when hazardous materials are involved. The shipping papers (typically at train list) provides the following information:
Location of each hazardous material shipment in a train
Description of contents of each hazardous material shipment
Emergency response information for each hazardous material
Note the two sets of shipping description entries on this shipping paper – one for a United States shipment and one for a Canadian shipment. These two descriptions will also be shown in later slides so you can discuss these shipping description entries and the differences between them.

16. Shipping Papers
Key information for each hazardous material on the train:
Line number
Emergency contact number
Reporting marks (initials) and number
Shipping description entries
19 UTLX LT19 NFGAS HO754 ICG PUEB AMOS IN ZAP COOL
60-MPH 126-TONS 51-FT 1-P BRK 1585-ATONS AFT
RAIL SECURITY SENSITIVE MATERIAL
FLAT YARD - DO NOT KICK
1/TC, LB
************************* UN1005
* DANGEROUS * AMMONIA, ANHYDROUS
*************************
EMERGENCY CONTACT: RQ (AMMONIA)
INHALATION HAZARD
TN=(ANHYDROUS AMMONIA)
SHIPPER CONTACT
CHEMTREC
HAZMAT STCC =
The primary safety instrument at a railroad emergency is the shipping papers.
The train list will show the reporting marks (initials) and number, an indication of Loaded or Empty (L or E) status, an emergency contact number, and the hazardous materials description per the regulations associated with a line number.
Line number – show position of car in train [discuss issue with counting from front or rear of train UP is the odd-ball)
Reporting marks (initials) and number – Cars are identified on the train list by their reporting marks (initials) and number. This car is UTLX This alpha-numeric stencil is the positive identifier of this rail car. No other rail car in North America will have these initials and numbers. They are like a license plate number. Spot them with your binoculars and match the car to the shipping papers.

17. Shipping Papers Train List - “Cars Listed from Rear of Train”
If the train’s cars are listed in order from rear to front, the shipping papers will indicate that at the top.

18. Shipping Papers Shipping description entries - United States
1/TC, /LB
************************* UN1005
* DANGEROUS * AMMONIA, ANHYDROUS
*************************
EMERGENCY CONTACT: RQ (AMMONIA)
INHALATION HAZARD
TN=(ANHYDROUS AMMONIA)
SHIPPER CONTACT
CHEMTREC
HAZMAT STCC =
Using this graphic, explain the key entries - box of asterisks with or without wording, emergency contact number, total quantity notation, identification number (possibly two locations today), proper shipping name, hazard class (US/Canada), packing group not required for NH3, RQ designation, Inhalation hazard notation, TN notation, shipper contact, hazardous material STCC, shipper/ consignee information if present
Hazardous material shipments are quickly identified on rail shipping papers by the presence of a box of asterisks. Within this hazmat indicator box you may see words such as generic contraction HAZMAT, or words such DANGEROUS, POISON GAS, EXPLOSIVES, or RADIOACTIVE -- or it may be blank.
You will also find an emergency contact telephone number, the rail consignee (who is receiving the shipment) and rail shipper (who shipped the car). 18

19. Shipping Papers Shipping description entries - Canada 1/TC, 72590/KG
*************************               UN1005     
* DANGEROUS             *               ANHYDROUS AMMONIA   
*************************               2.3  (8  )
EMERGENCY CONTACT:                      RQ (AMMONIA)
                             POISON-INHALATION HAZARD
                                        ZONE D 
                                        ERP        
                                           
                                        AGRIUM PARTNERSHIP
                                        16KM E OF GIBBONS AB ON H
                                        REDWATER OPERATIONS
                                        BEAMER           AB T0A2W
                                        SHIPPER CONTACT 
                                          AGRIUM              
                                        HAZMAT STCC =    
Point out differences between US and Canada in terms of shipping papers including
the hazard class 2.3 instead of the US hazard class 2.2.
POISON-INHALATION HAZARD not just INHALATION HAZARD
Emergency response plan information

20. Shipping Papers
Shipping description entries - residue/empty shipments of anhydrous ammonia
1/TC
************************* UN1005
* DANGEROUS * RESIDUE: LAST CONTAINED
************************* AMMONIA, ANHYDROUS
EMERGENCY CONTACT:
RQ (AMMONIA)
INHALATION HAZARD
TN=(ANHYDROUS AMMONIA)
SHIPPER CONTACT
CHEMTREC
HAZMAT STCC =
Note that the tank car in this example of the entries for a residue anhydrous ammonia shipment. This car has a small amount of product still in the car that was not possible to unload under normal operations. As this is typical, expect residue tank cars to still have some material remaining.
Look for the line: Residue: Last Contained, preceding the Proper Shipping Name.
The placards applied to residue tank cars will look like a loaded car.
The only way to know if the car is a load or residue is from the shipping paper.

21. Shipping Papers Emergency Response Information
COMMODITY NUMBER IS                  AMMONIA, ANHYDROUS <OR> AMMONIA              SOLUTIONS                                    DIVISION 2.2 (NONFLAMMABLE GAS)              UN1005                                      ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE
 (RQ-100/45.4) 
                        ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IS A CLEAR COLORLESS GAS WITH A CHARACTERISTIC ODOR.  IT  WILL BURN UNDER EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS IN CONFINED AREAS.  IT IS SHIPPED AS  A LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE.  IT IS SOLUBLE IN WATER FORMING A CORROSIVE LIQUID.  ALTHOUGH AMMONIA VAPORS ARE LIGHTER THAN AIR, THE VAPORS FROM A LEAK          INITIALLY HUG THE GROUND.  IT WEIGHS 6 LBS./GAL.  LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO LOW    CONCENTRATIONS OR SHORT TERM EXPOSURE TO HIGH CONCENTRATIONS CAN RESULT IN    ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS FROM INHALATION.  UNDER PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO FIRE OR  INTENSE HEAT THE CONTAINERS MAY RUPTURE VIOLENTLY AND ROCKET.  IT IS USED AS  A FERTILIZER, AS A REFRIGERANT, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF OTHER CHEMICALS.                                                                                  IF MATERIAL ON FIRE OR INVOLVED IN FIRE                                          SOLID STREAMS OF WATER MAY BE INEFFECTIVE                                      EXTINGUISH FIRE USING AGENT SUITABLE FOR TYPE OF SURROUNDING FIRE                (MATERIAL ITSELF DOES NOT BURN OR BURNS WITH DIFFICULTY.)                    COOL ALL AFFECTED CONTAINERS WITH FLOODING QUANTITIES OF WATER                APPLY WATER FROM AS FAR A DISTANCE AS POSSIBLE           
In addition to the USDOT Emergency Response Guidebook, many US railroads include an emergency response information listing in the train documents. This information is pulled from an industry data file and is presented in clear, easy to read language that is more specific to the material and response than information in the ERG.

22. U.S. Nonflammable Gas placard
Placards
Shipments within the United States
U.S. Nonflammable Gas placard
1/TC, /LB
************************* UN1005
* DANGEROUS * AMMONIA, ANHYDROUS
*************************
EMERGENCY CONTACT: RQ (AMMONIA)
INHALATION HAZARD
TN=(ANHYDROUS AMMONIA)
SHIPPER CONTACT
CHEMTREC
HAZMAT STCC =
United States regulations require the NONFLAMMABE GAS (2.2) placard.

23. Canadian placard for Anhydrous Ammonia
Placards
Canadian shipments - in Canada or to/from the United States
1/TC, 72590/KG            
*************************           UN1005     
* DANGEROUS             *           ANHYDROUS AMMONIA   
*************************           2.3  (8  )
EMERGENCY CONTACT:                  RQ (AMMONIA)
                         POISON-INHALATION HAZARD
                                    ZONE D 
                                    ERP        
                                       
                                    AGRIUM PARTNERSHIP
                                    16KM E OF GIBBONS AB ON H
                                    REDWATER OPERATIONS
                                    BEAMER           AB T0A2W
                                    SHIPPER CONTACT 
                                      AGRIUM              
                                    HAZMAT STCC =    
Canadian placard for Anhydrous Ammonia
Canadian regulations use the Canadian Anhydrous Ammonia placard (as depicted on the screen).
Reciprocity between Transport Canada (TDG) rules and US DOT rules allow the Canadian Ammonia placard to be displayed in the U.S. for shipments to and from Canada.
The railroads in the U.S. as common carriers accept either the Canadian 2.2 Ammonia Placard or the U.S. DOT Non-Flammable gas placard.
In some cases you may find both placards displayed when moving in both countries.

24. Tank Cars for Anhydrous Ammonia
Pressure tank car – typically DOT/TC Class 105s and 112s (specifications 105S340W, 105J300 W, and 112J340W)
Steel tank (minimum 11/16” thick)
Top mounted fittings within a protective housing
About 70 percent of the hazardous materials transported by rail in the United States moves in tank cars. Tank cars are built to specifications, standards, and requirements established, implemented, and published the US Department of Transportation, Transport Canada, and/or Association of American Railroads. They are specially designed and built for the class of products they transport.
Explain the basic construction of the pressure tank car used for transporting anhydrous ammonia. [See Field Guide to Tank Cars]
Metal thickness (tank and jacket – identifying jacketed tank cars --- moot point most all are required to be jacketed)
typical thickness for anhydrous ammonia tank cars are in the 11/16 to 3/4 inch range –
typical thickness for tank car jacket is 1/8 inch.
Flashing over body bolster (or cradle)
Rough weld seams -- wide, smooth crowns to welds, widely spaced along the tank side tells you that you are looking at a non-jacketed tank car.
Weld seam on the tank head or end of the tank
Patches welded onto the surface -- tank cars tanks are not patched.
Top mounted fittings
Protective housing
Specification (tank test pressures, burst pressures)

25. Tank Cars for Anhydrous Ammonia
Tank Car Safety Systems
“Top and Bottom Shelf” couplers
- aka “Double-shelf couplers
(coupler vertical restraint systems).
Tank Car Safety Systems
Double-shelf couplers (coupler vertical restraint systems)
All tank cars in North America must be equipped with double shelf couplers. These couplers lock the cars together very effectively and help to avoid punctures to adjacent cars in the event of a derailment.

26. Tank Cars for Anhydrous Ammonia
Tank Car Safety Systems
“Top and Bottom Shelf” couplers
- aka “Double-shelf couplers
(coupler vertical restraint systems).
Head shields (tank head puncture-resistance systems).
Tank Car Safety Systems
Head shields (tank head puncture-resistance systems)
Half head shields and full head shields are required by regulation for many common materials, particularly liquefied compressed gases or materials in US DOT Hazard Class 2. (Flammable gases, non flammable gases and toxic gases).

27. Tank Cars for Anhydrous Ammonia
Tank Car Safety Systems
“Top and Bottom Shelf” couplers
- aka “Double-shelf couplers
(coupler vertical restraint systems).
Head shields (tank head puncture-resistance systems).
Thermal protection (thermal protection systems - fire).
Tank Car Safety Systems
Thermal protection (thermal protection systems – fire)
Thermal protection is required by regulation for many common materials, particularly liquefied compressed gases or materials in US DOT Hazard Class 2. (Flammable gases, non flammable gases and toxic gases)

28. Tank Cars for Anhydrous Ammonia
Thermal Protection Performance
Will not lose any lading due to effects of heat (except through the pressure relief device) for:
- 100 minutes in pool fire
- 30 minutes in torch fire
Thermal protection performance:
Will not lose any lading due to effects of heat (except through the pressure relief device) for:
- 100 minutes in pool fire
- 30 minutes in torch fire 28

29. Tank Cars for Anhydrous Ammonia
Tank Car Service Equipment
(valves and fittings)
Liquid eduction lines (2)
Vapor eduction line (1)
Pressure relief valve (spring loaded)(1)
Gauging device (closed type)(1)
Sample line (1)
Thermometer well (1)
Ball type
Plug type angle valve
This is a typical pressure tank car protective housing. All valves and fittings for loading and unloading pressure tank cars are found on the top of the car inside this protective housing.
Typically:
two liquid eduction lines and control valves (either ball or plug valve)
one vapor line and valve
pressure relief device (spring loaded relief valve)
Possibly:
a gauging device, for determining the liquid level within the car while loading, and
(less commonly), a sample line and possibly a thermometer well

30. Tank Cars for Anhydrous Ammonia
Tank Car Markings
Placards and markings
Specification mark
Test date qualification
Commodity name
Inhalation hazard mark
Tank cars have additional information to offer in your size up.
Look for placards and markings that help identify what materials may be loaded in the cars.
A unique feature to these stencils is for special or additional hazards such as Inhalation Hazard, thermal hazards and environmental hazards. Many hazardous materials require that the tank car be marked with the Proper Shipping Name of the material.
Match what you see to the train list or shipping papers.

31. Damage Assessment
Utilize railroad responders to determine damage; they are trained to assess damage to tank cars and other rail equipment.
Utilize railroad response teams to assess and determine damage to rail cars. The railroad hazmat team is trained to do this kind of work.

32. Damage Assessment Jacket damage - not leaking.
Until the railroad response team is on scene, remember that the large majority of tank cars utilized in North America have an outer wrapper known as a jacket. This thin steel jacket, approximately 1/8 inch thick, holds the thermal protection in place. As you look at the tank car, it may appear to be damaged, but the damage may be to the jacket and not the tank. If you do not see a liquid flowing or pooling or do not see a large vapor cloud, the tank is likely in tact. Utilize railroad responders to do damage assessment on tank cars. These teams will need to get into the incident scene and closely approach the tank cars to determine damage and make decisions on what the appropriate steps are for dealing with the cars involved.

33. Questions Contacting the railroad Railroad resources
Assessing the incident, using:
Rail shipping papers
Markings
Tank cars for transporting anhydrous ammonia
Review the topics you discussed in this segment Ask if there are any questions on what you want the responder to when responding to rail emergencies involving anhydrous ammonia:
Contacting and working with the railroad - Importance of contacting the railroad; how to contact the railroad; what information they need; what resources does the railroad bring to the incident; railroad role in ICS
Assessing the incident - using the shipping papers to identify materials (introduce shipping papers, reporting marks and number)
Identifying pressure tank cars for transporting anhydrous ammonia - construction features, safety systems, shelf couplers, head shields, thermal protection and jackets, service equipment (valves and fittings – liquid eduction lines, vapor eduction lines, pressure relief valves, gauging devices, sample line, thermometer well)
Assessing tank car damage (using the railroad teams to do damage assessment).
Remind students that they are not out there alone Mention that the railroad response personnel are not far away.
Remember, you are NOT out there alone.
Railroad response personnel are on their way to help.