Warner Robins Police hosted a railroad safety class taught by Norfolk Southern Railroad Police as part of Georgia Operation Lifesaver.

Harold Pearson, the Supervisory Special Agent with Norfolk Southern Railroad Police, is one of the trainers for the class. Pearson said the class is designed for first responders to gain a better understanding of how to handle and complete thorough investigations of accidents that involve highway rail crossing collisions.

Local law enforcement gathered from different agencies, including Warner Robins Police Department, Macon Police Department, the Houston County Sheriff's Office, and Byron Police Department. They got to take a ride with a conductor as part of their training.

"These officers get to experience first hand the feeling of anguish," said Pearson. "You're approaching a crossing, it looks like you are going to hit a motor vehicle on that crossing and all you can do is apply the brakes and hang on."

Law enforcement also learned more about train-vehicle safety and about the components of a train like how the braking system works and how two cars are joined together.

Sgt. Randy Evans, with Warner Robins Police, said he learned some great tools that he will take with him when he investigates train incidents.

"I've learned some things that I wasn't aware of as far as what the trains do and what they are capable of and just give me a broader aspect of things in doing my job should we have to investigate one of these collisions," said Evans.

Pearson said that officers do get tested on what they learned over the course of two days.