Home

Purchase Training
Purchase Training
Purchase Training

Railroad Operations and Safety Training

Safe railroad operations and safety training delivered by a team of expert trainers with a combined 578+ years of experience. 

With a combined 578+ years of railroad expertise, Rail Safe trainers bring an unmatched depth of knowledge to the industry. Most of our trainers have 35+ years of hands-on experience EACH across key roles, including locomotive engineers, switchmen, yardmasters, track inspectors, track repair specialists, track designers, and supervisors. Beyond their extensive fieldwork, they have delivered targeted classroom and practical instruction, offering expert-level proficiency in FRA rules and regulations.

Charles Leonard

Founder and Principal
52 Years Railroad Experience
Read More

Ken Hay

Principal and Senior Training Specialist
53 Years Railroad Experience
Read More

Andrew Johnstone

Rail Training Specialist
14 Years Railroad Experience
Read More

Russell York

Director of Program Development
49 Years Railroad Experience
Read More

Robin Armstead

Learning Technology & Experience Designer 13 Years Experience
Read More

Charles Teeters

Rail & Occupational Safety Specialist
34 Years Rail Experience
Read More

Kristina Teeters

Client Support Specialist
24 Years Experience
Read More

Mike Magazin

Rail Training Specialist
50 Years Railroad Experience
Read More

George Baker

Operational Efficiency Specialist
30 Years Experience
Read More

Dennis Mustoe

Rail Training Specialist
53 Years Railroad Experience
Read More

Gary Cousin

Rail Training Specialist
31 Years Railroad Experience
Read More

Ken Lambert

Rail Training Specialist
51 Years Railroad Experience
Read More

Ashley Leonard

Strategy and Client Engagement
15 Years Experience

Read More

Lanny Dyvig

Rail Training Specialist
50 Years Railroad Experience

Read More

Julio Dioses

Rail Training Specialist
34 Years Railroad Experience
Read More

Travis Herod

Regulatory Compliance Specialist
26 Years Rail Experience
Read More
Contact Us Today
Programs & Pricing

Chuck Leonard began his career in the spring of 1973 as a track laborer with the Burlington Northern Railroad while attending the University of Illinois and then the University of Iowa. In the fall of 1976, he was promoted to a BN switchman/brakeman position and subsequent promotion into the BN locomotive engineer school where he was graduated to a locomotive engineer in May of 1978.

From 1978 until retirement in January 2015 Chuck worked as locomotive engineer in passenger service (Amtrak), switch engine service, local freight service, mixed freight service, heavy freight service (coal, grain, taconite, etc.), work train, and snow plow service. During his years of service, Chuck trained and supervised dozens of student locomotive engineers.

His success in providing effective safety training that supported near zero incidence occurrences enabled him to identify opportunities to improve safety during visits to other rail operations site. Charles then founded Rail Safe to provide the safe operating practices and procedures developed by Class 1 railroads to private industry.

Ken Hay began his career with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad (acquired by the Union Pacific in 1994) in 1972. As a trainman, his jobs included brakeman, conductor, switchman, and yardmaster. In 1997 he was promoted to Manager of Yard Operations and became the Manager of Terminal Operations (MTO) in 2002 until his retirement in 2009. As an MTO, he was responsible for supervising his territory while managing 25 rail-served industries along with the safe and efficient movement of train and yard movements. He was a leader of several safety teams, including derailment assessment, root causation incident reenactment, and public education of railroad crossing safety.

Andrew Johnstone brings over a decade of hands-on railroad experience and safety leadership to his work at Rail Safe Training. He began his rail career in 2012 with BNSF Railway, working as a brakeman, switchman, and conductor before being promoted to locomotive engineer in 2014.

Throughout his time with BNSF, Andrew operated across a wide range of territories, including Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oregon, and California. His experience includes both traditional locomotive operations and remote control locomotive (RCL) operations, providing him with a well-rounded understanding of yard, industrial, and mainline environments. This broad exposure has given him deep insight into varying operating conditions, customer interfaces, and railroad practices.

In addition to his operating roles, Andrew was an active member of the terminal safety team, collaborating with union representatives and company leadership to strengthen safety performance. His work included conducting annual audits of transportation operations and customer facilities, helping identify risks and improve safety standards across the region.

Prior to his railroad career, Andrew worked in Technical Publications at CNH, where he developed a strong foundation in communication and documentation—skills he continues to apply in training and program development.

Since joining Rail Safe Training in 2022, Andrew has played a key role in program development, onsite training delivery, risk assessments, technical support, and business development. He is also an experienced public speaker, presenting on rail safety at industry events and conferences across the United States.

Russell York has over 49 years of experience in railroad operations, safety, and leadership. He began his career in 1977 as a switchman with Southern Pacific Railroad and quickly advanced into management within two years, serving as a Yardmaster and then Assistant Trainmaster, where he began building his leadership career.

Russell continued his career with Union Pacific Railroad, taking on roles of increasing responsibility across operations and transportation management. In 1992, he relocated to Denver, Colorado, where he worked in transportation services and advanced through the ranks into senior leadership positions, including Superintendent of Operations and Director-level roles.

With more than four decades in railroad management, Russell has held key leadership positions including Yardmaster and Director of Train Management. He has overseen the operations of multiple railyards and large-scale rail systems, with responsibilities expanding to include directing train operations, managing dispatching systems, and coordinating complex rail movements across multiple regions.

He has extensive experience leading, managing, and training personnel at all levels, including ground crews and train dispatchers. His hands-on leadership and operational oversight have helped organizations improve efficiency while maintaining the highest safety standards. Notably, Russell led a safety team initiative that reduced annual safety incidents from 35 per year to just 5, demonstrating his ability to drive measurable and lasting improvements.

At the peak of his career, Russell oversaw railroad operations across six states while based in Omaha, Nebraska, further solidifying his expertise in large-scale operational leadership and system-wide coordination.

Today, Russell develops rail safety programs and trains rail employees and managers to operate safely and efficiently. He specializes in teaching proven best practices from across the railroad industry, helping organizations reduce risk, improve performance, and build a strong culture of safety.

In addition to his industry work, Russell has served as an Adjunct Professor at Bellevue University, sharing his real-world expertise with future professionals. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Science in Global Trade, complementing his extensive operational leadership experience.

Outside of his professional work, Russell enjoys spending time in the mountains, including packing and outdoor exploration, as well as scuba diving, hunting, and motorcycle riding. He is especially proud of mentoring his sons and watching them advance in their football and wrestling careers.

Today, Russell is a trusted industry authority who partners with organizations to improve safety performance, reduce incidents, and build a culture of operational excellence.

Robin Armstead holds a Master’s degree in Educational Technology and a certification in Adult Online Learning. She is an experienced learning and development professional specializing in Learning Management System (LMS) administration and high-impact training content creation, with over a decade of experience designing and delivering scalable learning solutions across enterprise environments.

Robin brings a strong blend of technical expertise and instructional design strategy, with a passion for helping customers and their clients succeed through clear, effective learning experiences. Known for her problem-solving mindset and strong critical thinking skills, she excels at translating complex processes into practical, easy-to-follow training that drives performance and consistency. She is committed to delivering practical, results-driven learning solutions that create lasting impact.

Charles L. Teeters, MS, ASHM, is a rail safety professional with over 34 years of experience in railroad operations, regulatory compliance, and workforce training. Charles specializes in rail safety, OSHA compliance, and the development of targeted training programs that support safe and efficient rail operations.

Charles began his rail career with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway as a Conductor and Field Trainer, where he was responsible for the safe movement of trains, hazardous materials compliance, and mentoring new conductors. This operational foundation shaped his practical, real-world approach to safety and training.

He later advanced into leadership roles with Watco Transportation Services, where he served as Northern Region Safety Manager and Manager of Learning Development. In these roles, Charles oversaw environmental, health, and safety programs across multiple rail and terminal operations in the U.S. and Canada. He ensured compliance with FRA and OSHA regulations, conducted audits and incident investigations, and developed corrective actions to improve operational safety. As a subject matter expert, he contributed to development of safety training programs and helped deliver both classroom and hands-on instruction.

Charles holds a Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health with a concentration in Environmental Management, a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health with a concentration in Fire Science and is an Associate Safety and Health Manager (ASHM). He also maintains certifications in CPR/AED instruction, confined space rescue training, and eLearning development.

Kristina Teeters is a client support specialist specializing in OSHA compliance, rail safety training, and workforce development for industrial and rail-served operations. With a diverse background in operations management, sales, and human psychology, she brings a practical, results-driven approach to improving safety performance in demanding environments.

Kristina works directly with rail operators, contractors, and facility teams to identify at-risk behaviors, strengthen compliance with federal safety standards, and implement training programs that translate into real-world results designed to support both new and experienced personnel working in and around rail environments.

Kristina is committed to helping organizations reduce incidents, improve operational efficiency, and create safer workplaces through practical training, strong relationships, and a proactive approach to safety.

Mike started his career in 1976 with the Western Pacific Railroad and served 43 years in the rail industry as a Track Laborer, Switchman, Engineer, Trainmaster for companies such as Union Pacific Railroad,  Amtrak, and the FRA. In 2000 he joined the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) working as a Rail Safety Inspector and in 2005 he took a position as an Operating Practices Inspector for the Federal Railroad Administration. He also worked with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority as a Manager of Operating Rules, Herzog Technologies, Inc. (HTI) as PTC-Specialist Rules and Compliance, and Transit AmericaServices, Inc. (TASI) as Deputy General Manager, Safety & Training at Coaster, and supported their start-up Commuter Rail Services in Connecticut as Manager Safety, Training and Compliance. In 2019, he retired from the Pacific Harbor Line at The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, CA.

George Baker is a seasoned executive coach and public safety professional with over 30 years of leadership experience in municipal fire services, emergency healthcare, and disaster management, including two decades as a Fire Chief. He brings a unique perspective to rail safety through his expertise in team performance, risk management, and operational leadership. As a Professional Certified Coach and longtime advocate for safety and regulatory excellence, George has led initiatives at local, state, and national levels. His collaborative, results-focused approach is grounded in real-world experience, making him a valued advisor in high-stakes, high-reliability environments.

Dennis Mustoe began his railroad career working with Burlington Northern Maintenance of Way Crews in the floods on the Mississippi River in 1973, as a college intern. His career path transitioned through a MOW machine operator, Agent Operator, Train Dispatcher Trainee, Brakeman, and ultimately Locomotive Engineer. Promoted to a Trainmaster/Road foreman of Engines in 1988, he continued to positions of increasing responsibility with Burlington Northern and ultimately the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad as Division Trainmaster/Road foreman, Terminal Trainmaster, Service Manager for the Consumer Products Business Unit, Manager intermodal Operations, Superintendent of Operations, Terminal Superintendent and again as Superintendent of Operations upon retirement in 2010.

Upon his retirement, he started a new chapter with Herzog Transit Services as Deputy General Manager in commuter rail and promoted to General Manager in 2014. Leading the organization for two plus years, he retired again in late 2016. He, like many others at Rail Safe, was a part of a Division Safety Committee early in his career. This was embedded in him throughout as he ended his 42-year career injury free, discipline free and most important to him, no railroad employee was fatally injured under his watch.

Gary hired out in 1995 with the Southern Pacific Railroad in Roseville CA as a switchman. After the merger with the Union Pacific Railroad expanded with opportunities as a Brakeman/Conductor and his responsibilities were the safe spotting, pulling freight cars in a timely manner with general industry, automobile shipments to distribution hubs and oil, chemical refinery assignments. He was promoted to locomotive engineer where he focused on the operation and safe handling of trains and qualified over nine different subdivisions with extremely different and very challenging territories. 


He served as the Manager of Yard Operations and Manager of Train Operations with 380 miles of territory over five subdivisions, with various daily tasks including working with yardmasters and their crews for the timely departures and arrivals of trains. Forecasting train capacity, tonnage, locomotive availability and fuel. The greatest opportunity was shifting at a moment’s notice to customer inquiry, storms, or derailments. Preparing daily operational reports for senior staff. Working with company public relations. He achieved a consistent low operating ratio, below system average on personal injuries, and no fatalities. 
  • Achieved quarterly fuel conservation awards.
  • Peer supporter for company employees that were involved in critical incidents.
  • Volunteered as a presenter with Operation Lifesaver,
  • Worked with high school driver education, professional drivers, and trucking companies. 
His personal mission statement is to leave each day better than when he arrived.

Ken Lambert possesses a distinguished career spanning over four decades in the railroad industry. A graduate of California State University Chico, Mr. Lambert’s journey began in 1975 when he ventured to Alaska amidst the construction of the iconic Alaska pipeline. His tenure with the Alaska Railroad as a brakeman/switchman was marked by the critical role he played in transporting equipment essential for the pipeline’s construction.

In 1977, Ken’s expertise was recognized by the Southern Pacific Railroad, where he embarked on a career, culminating in his promotion to Locomotive Engineer in 1984, based in Tucson, Arizona. A strategic transfer in 1989 brought him to Roseville, California, where he honed his skills in various operational facets, including heavy grade territory, local operations, work train management, and yard switching.

With Union Pacific Railroad’s acquisition in 1996, Ken’s commitment continued in his role as an Engineer until his retirement in 2018. His tenure is notably marked by an impeccable safety record, with no violations or injuries, underscoring his dedication to operational safety and the well-being of his colleagues.

Post-retirement, Ken’s passion for the rail industry and its safety led him to Rail Safe Training. His belief in the paramount importance of safety is not only a personal conviction but also a professional mission to impart invaluable lessons from his extensive experience to enhance industry standards.

With a background in executive coaching and business leadership, Ashley specializes in building performance-driven teams and scalable processes that strengthen communication, accountability, and execution. She works closely with the Rail Safe team to ensure a seamless experience—from initial engagement through post-training follow-through—while maintaining alignment between program expectations and field delivery.

Ashley plays a key role in developing the structure and performance frameworks that enable Rail Safe Training to deliver practical, real-world safety training at scale. Her work ensures that clients experience a coordinated, reliable approach that supports long-term safety performance.

In addition to her work at Rail Safe, Ashley serves on the board of Apalachicola Riverkeeper, supporting efforts to protect and preserve the Apalachicola River and Bay.

BNSF Railway veteran Lanny Dyvig brings more than 50 years of railroad leadership experience spanning operations, maintenance, safety, and transportation management. Beginning his career in the Maintenance of Way Department in 1976 with Burlington Northern and later BNSF Railway, Lanny advanced through positions of increasing responsibility before retiring as Senior Manager of Service Design & Performance. In these various roles, he led large-scale operations and developed strategic plans focused on network efficiency, operational performance, and safety.

Lanny’s expertise includes incident investigation, operational risk assessment, and safety leadership. He is also a former certified Operation Lifesaver trainer and has served his community as a volunteer EMT and firefighter.

Two leadership principles that have guided Lanny throughout his career are: “Communicate, Communicate, Communicate” and “Model the Way.”

After serving in the US Army, Julio Dioses began his railroad career in 1992 as a block operator with Conrail. His dedication and expertise led to promotions, including Train Dispatcher and Assistant Chief Dispatcher. Following the merger of CSX, NS, and Conrail, he was elevated to the role of Manager B&O Chicago Terminal (BOCT) in Calumet City, IL. He then assumed the responsibilities of Director of Train Operations in Selkirk, NY.

WIth 18 years of experience in the Control Center, Julio was promoted to Trainmaster and eventually became the Manager of Train Operations in the North Jersey area. He retired in 2022, having successfully led his team to over five years without injuries. Throughout his career, Julio conducted and led numerous risk assessment and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rules classes, fostering a culture of safety within the organization. He was actively engaged with customers and played a pivotal role on a safety team that helped railroad customers reduce incidents on their properties.

Julio firmly believes that safety is a mindset that must be embraced 24/7.

Travis Herod began his career in transportation and logistics serving in the active duty US Air Force (1992-2000) and Air National Guard (2001-2014)  as a C-130 Aircraft Loadmaster, Joint Airdrop Inspector, and Petroleum and Cryogenics specialist working in bulk storage, distribution, and aviation fuels laboratory analysis operations. Upon leaving active duty in 2000, he attended Clayton College and State University completing the rail certificate program, and began his railroad career as a Freight Conductor and Locomotive Engineer, with CSXT Railroad in Georgia. He found a niche in the shortline railroad industry in 2002, and has served in multiple railroad operations capacities, including Trainmaster, General Manager, and Divisional Superintendent, before developing a passion for railroad safety and training where he has dedicated the bulk of his railroad and logistics career. Through his 26 year career focusing on improving railroad safety, he has served as a Training Facilitator, Regional Safety Manager, Safety Director, VP of Safety, and for most of the past 10 years led a diverse team of safety, environmental, health and industrial hygiene professionals as SVP Environmental, Health and Safety, specializing in safety, training, and compliance with FRA, OSHA, MSHA, DOT and EPA regulations and programs.
 
He holds a Safety Management Certificate from the American Society of Safety Professionals, as well as Training Methodology Specialist, and Master Safety Professional certifications through the National Association of Safety Professionals. He has represented the interests of the shortline railroad industry through service on FRA federal rulemaking RSAC committees, served as a voting member of the General Code of Operating Rules Committee, the American Association of Railroads Safety and Training Committee, and has served as Secretary and Vice Chairman of the American Shortline and Regional Railroad Association Safety and Training Committee. He was named the ASLRRA’s Safety Professional of the year, for 2020 in recognition of his contributions to safety across the railroad industry. 
 
He holds FAA Commercial UAV, and private pilot ratings in both single engine, and glider categories, and serves voluntarily in his private time with two 501 (c) (3) non-profit organizations, the Huntsville Glider Club, supporting youth in aviation, and the Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association serving the the needs of the veteran community.