Published: April 18, 2008 03:31 pm            

CSX teaches safety

CSX teaches kids to ‘Look, Listen and Live’ when it comes to train crossings

Click here to see the April 19, 2008 Neighbors section in its entirety


By Bert Scent / For the Times-Tribune

The KCEOC Community Action Agency Head Start children at Cannon Center received a special treat this past week, compliments of the CSX Railroad and Corbin resident Gary G. Davis, who brings to children “Operation Lifesaver.”

Davis arrived at the Knox KCEOC Head Start at Cannon, just northeast of Barbourville, in style. He was driving a spotless black Hummer and a sharp customized trailer emblazoned with the CSX logo and carrying the Look, Listen, and Live model train, complete with bells, whistles and flashing lights.

The Look, Listen, and Live Train is a program for Head Start and elementary school children to learn about railroad safety in a fun, exciting way. The kids get their very own engineer hats and get to meet some new friends, like Sly Fox.

At the end of the day, the kids have the skills they need to be safe around railroad tracks. Lead teachers Brenda Tuggle and Linda Lewis were pleased that nearly 50 children had the chance to hear about the dangers of playing around the railroad tracks.

The presentation at the KCEOC Cannon Head Start Center was one of hundreds that Davis does each year around the state.

“I talk to ten to fifteen thousand kids about railroad safety each year.” said Gary Davis, with public affairs and safety at CSX. Of course, he seemed especially proud that he was teaching youngsters from near his own home. Davis was well received and fielded many questions from the curious children.

Davis said he would be happy to bring the Look, Listen, and Live train to any school. He can’t help but feel he is on the right track with this new program. After all, he said, everyone loves a train ride.

Davis is a Williamsburg native who has lived and made his home in Corbin for the last 35 years. He is married, and has a daughter who is a senior at Corbin High School.

CSX is the eastern United States’ largest rail network, with 21,000 miles of rail that span 23 states and two Canadian provinces. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., it employs more than 33,000 people, hauls more than 5 million car loads per year and plays a major role in the economic development of this country.

        

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