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Railroad Operations and Safety Training

Safe railroad operations and safety training delivered by expert trainers with 35+ years’ railroad experience.

Each Rail Safe trainer has 35+ years’ railroad experience in areas ranging from locomotive engineers, switchmen, yardmasters, track inspectors, track repair, track design, and supervision. Their experience has also included targeted hands-on and classroom instruction that includes an expert level of familiarity with FRA rules and regulations.

Rail Safe instructors’ knowledge and experience in the railroad industry is unparalleled.

Charles Leonard

Founder and Principal
36 Years Railroad Experience

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Ken Hay

Principal and Senior Training Specialist
47 Years Railroad Experience

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Andrew Johnstone

Rail Training Specialist
9 Years Railroad Experience

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Russell York

Director of Program Development
43 Years Railroad Experience

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Erica Breiterman

Director Business Development
32 Years Railroad Experience

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Joe Dugary

Rail Transportation Advisor
26 Years Railroad Experience

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Barbara Anderson

Rail Training Specialist
40 Years Railroad Experience

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Steve Haley

Rail Training Specialist
40 Years Railroad Experience

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Mike Magazin

Rail Training Specialist
46 Years Railroad Experience

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Jim Sandman

Rail Training Specialist
35 Years Railroad Experience

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Wesley Hazlett

Rail Training Specialist
41 Years Railroad Experience

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Gary Moller

Rail Training Specialist
33 Years Railroad Experience

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Steve Fitzpatrick

Rail Training Specialist
40 Years Railroad Experience

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Ed Hanson

Client Support
35 Years Sales Management

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Lanny Dyvig

Rail Training Specialist
43 Years Railroad Experience

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Dennis Mustoe

Rail Training Specialist
51 Years Railroad Experience

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Wes W. Hazelett

VP of Roadway Worker Safety Division
26 Years Railroad Experience

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Gary Cousin

Rail Training Specialist
30 Years Railroad Experience

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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 began his railroad career in 2012, working for BNSF Railway out of Sioux City, IA. He performed work as a brakeman, switchman, and conductor before being promoted to locomotive engineer in 2014.  During his time with the railroad, he operated trains from the plains of the Midwest to the mountains of Oregon and California. While with BNSF, Andrew was a co-chair of the site safety committee.  He was responsible for performing terminal and subdivision physical plant risk assessments, along with monthly safety briefings for crews within his home terminal. Andrew brings 9 years of railroad experience to Rail Safe Training.

Russell is a second-generation railroader, who began his career with the Southern Pacific, in 1977. He started as a switchman then became a yardmaster while in El Paso, TX. In 1992 he was promoted to Corridor Manager and on to Superintendent of Transportation Services in Denver, CO.  After the merger with the Union Pacific, Russell worked in Omaha, NE as Director of Train Management and finished his 42 year career in Portland Oregon.  While working for the Union Pacific Russell attained an MBA, and worked part time as an adjunct professor, at Bellevue University.

While working at the Union Pacific, Russell also led a successful safety program, for a 5-state region, at the Harriman Dispatching Center. 

Erica Breiterman began her career in Marketing at Burlington Northern Railroad after acquiring her BS in Logistics from Penn State.  With an MBA from Southern Methodist, Erica moved on to food and agricultural product Sales and Product Management for Conrail, before becoming a shipper.  Through multiple spin offs, mergers and acquisitions, she was able to collect experience in warehousing, bulk distribution, operations management, procurement, transportation and customer service for variety of agriculture, chemical, medical and industrial products companies before returning to railroad sales for CSX and CP, where she managed customers in intermodal, refining, petroleum, paper, mining, and consumer products.  Before joining Rail Safe Training, Erica lead AdvanSix’s Global Logistics team of operations and procurement managers for all modes of transportation delivering year over year productivity savings while improving efficiency and safety. 

Joe is an experienced rail transportation professional with over 40 years working in various management positions at a Class 1 railroad. For 20 years, he held a leadership position where he trained hundreds of railroad employees on safety awareness and best practices. With safety as the number one priority, he supported corporate goals in becoming the safest Class 1 Railroad in North America.  His areas of expertise include: rail transportation, rail operations, supply chain management, problem resolution and safety training.   

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Rowan University and has been married for over 30 years with 2 children and two grandchildren. His hobbies include golfing, fishing, boating and physical fitness. 

Barb Anderson began her 40-year career in freight with Burlington Northern and passenger service with AMTRAK as a brakeman, switchman, and conductor. In 1983, she was promoted to train dispatcher, relief chief dispatcher, and train master. Promoted again in 1997, she was worked as a terminal train master in Sioux City, IA and as Terminal Manager in Memphis, TN and Springfield, MO, for a regional railroad, IAIS, as a Manager of Operating Practices, and as a private contractor doing computer-based training for Union Pacific. In all disciplines, Barb was active on safety committees and promoted a safer work environment.

In 2006, Barb started working for the Federal Railroad Administration as an Operating Practices Safety Inspector. Her primary duties included hands on inspections of Class I, Regional, and Short Line Railroads for compliance with Federal Railroad Regulations. As an inspector, Barb received the Superior Achievement Award and Inspector of the Year Award for Region 6. In 2012, she was promoted to Chief Inspector in Council Bluffs, IA where she focused on short line inspections, drug and alcohol compliance enforcement, and accident investigations until her retirement in December of 2015.

Stephen Haley retired from BNSF in 2012 with more than 40 years of experience in the railroad industry. He started his railroad service as a brakeman and expanded his experience and responsibilities to yardmaster. During this time, he served as a switch foreman and utility man assuring the safely of each train that entered and exited the switchyards. Selected to assist with hiring new employees, his expertise in employee selection led to the hiring of several long-term employees. In addition to his recruitment services, Steve was also a member of the BNSF safety committees where he mentored multiple classes of new employees, ensuring the education of safe operations in rail yard operations.

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.

Jim Sandman began career at Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Working as trainman, he held positions of switchman, brakeman, and was promoted to conductor. He completed a certificate of Quality Concepts Q90, a program designed to improve processes and set standards in the workplace. In pursuit to increase public awareness, Jim taught railroad safety to elementary and high school students through Operation Lifesaver. He was selected to represent the Sioux City, IA terminal at the local and state level as a safety rep for 15 years and co-chaired the terminal safety committee for five years. He was also responsible for performing terminal and subdivision physical plant safety audits. Jim coached, mentored, and trained new hires. He retired from BNSF in 2012 with over 35 years’ service.

Wesley Hazlett began his career working freight with Burlington Northern and passenger service with Amtrak in 1968 as a switchman and conductor. Wes was promoted to locomotive engineer service in 1979. During the next 30 years he completed certification of Quality Concepts Q90, became a Safety and Rules Trainer in a terminal of 150 employees, worked with Operation Lifesaver as a facilitator and chaired the focus group to make recommendations for improved operations at a facility. He also served on the Willmar terminal safety committee. He retired from the BNSF in 2009.

Gary Moller started his railroad career in Boone, IA on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad in May of 1980 after serving in the USAF Iowa Air National Guard. He worked as a switchman, switch foreman, and brakeman before being promoted to conductor in 1984. He was promoted again in 1993 into locomotive engineer service. As a conductor and engineer, he worked all classes of service: freight service, container trains, local service, work trains, switch engines, and loading and unloading of coal trains in coal fields. As part of CNW/ Union Pacific merger in 1996 and during the merger with UP, Gary was trained on each railways’ territories. Due to his extensive knowledge base, Gary was elected to cross train UP and CNW engineers each other’s territories, control setup, and operation, as well as training all new hires. Gary served as a member of the Iowa Legislative Branch and President of local 699 while on CNW/UP railroads. After 33 years of service, Gary retired from Union Pacific in November of 2013.

Steve Fitzpatrick retired in 2013 from Union Pacific with over 40 years of railroad experience, Steve began his railroad career in 1973 with the Chicago Northwestern Railroad as a brakeman. Promoted to conductor in 1976, he worked several different assignments including switching operations and freight positions. After the 1996 Chicago Northwestern merger with Union Pacific Railroad, he continued his railroad career at the Council Bluffs Iowa Terminal and Fremont Nebraska Terminals. He was also involved with “Operation Redblock”, a drug and alcohol program that recognizes and helps rehabilitate employees so they can return to work. Steve was also instrumental in getting the “Total Safety Culture” off the ground in the Sioux City area. TSC is a joint effort between labor and management to identify and rectify problems in the everyday workplace environment.

Edward Hanson graduated from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Spring 1988. He started his career as an IT Manager for a upcoming company. Since that time, he has moved up the ranks (Network Admin/CTO) for multi-million dollar companies. In 2010, because of health reasons, he semi-retired doing IT Sales & app development.

Ed has assisted Rail Safe from their beginning with the Learning Management System to deliver their courses online. He continues to work with Rail Safe and their clients for any course or technical assistance.

Lanny Dyvig began his career with the Burlington Northern Railroad in the spring of 1976 in the Maintenance of Way department at Laurel, Mt. Over the next 7 years, he worked as a laborer, machine operator, track inspector, assistance foreman, and foreman. In October of 1983, Lanny was promoted to Assistant Roadmaster, then over the next 36 years, held positions with increased responsibility as Division Roadmaster, Division Trainmaster, Terminal Trainmaster, Manager Maintenance Planning & Scheduling, Superintendent of Maintenance Schedules, Manager of Merchandise Operations, Manager of Merchandise Service Performance, and Senior Manager of Service Design & Performance. Each of these positons were responsible for supervising a specific territory as well as being part of a team that managed the safe and efficient movement of train and yard movements. Each position included continual review and development of improved safety and operational plans as well as direct involvement in training, mentoring, and discipline.

During his career, Lanny attended training courses for safety, rules, operations processes, track defects, derailment assessment/investigation, incident reenactment, employee investigation, human resource processes, drug & alcohol awareness, and multiple software products. He also took college classes in Industrial Safety as well as attained an Emergency Medical Technician License subsequently serving his community as a volunteer EMT and Fireman. Lanny was a certified trainer for Operation Lifesaver and worked to educate the public on railroad crossing safety while also participating on multiple Safety teams mentoring new managers and union employees.

Lanny finished his career in Service Design, working to develop train plans that not only expedited customer commodities but also reduced hazardous exposure to employees handling these goods. During his last couple years, he worked as a subject matter expert with the technology team in an effort to develop new software that assisted in developing improved and safe operational plans. Lanny retired from BNSF Railway March 1, 2019 with 43 years of railroad experience.

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.

Wes W. Hazlett is a second-generation railroader and began working around railroad tracks in 1990 where he worked as a contracted chemical applicator working near the railroad right-of-way.  He then worked the next few years in the construction industry where he performed construction testing and geotechnical drilling with a civil engineering firm both on railroad and non-railroad projects. Wes began his railroad career with BNSF Railway in 1996.  Wes worked in the track department as well as in train service. He is familiarized with GCOR, MOWOR, and Engineering rules on multiple class one railroads and has served as a rules qualified Roadway Worker in Charge (RWIC) while also serving as an RWIC Field Trainer. Wes has performed consultation to an international audience in the area of railroad flagging and has performed FRA Part 214 classroom Roadway Worker Training. Wes is in extremely rare company in that he has been directly involved in roadway worker protection as a railroad employee in conductor and track laborer; a contracted laborer, inspector/coordinator, utility inspector coordinator, and as a rules qualified Roadway Worker in Charge (RWIC). Wes has the education and experience to know what’s going on under the track, on the track, over the track, and around the track.

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.