SANFORD - A movable, 68,000-gallonrntrain tanker car at Central Carolina Community College's Emergency Services Training Center offers new and exciting opportunities for fire, police and rescue worker training not possible before.

For this critical addition to the training of public safety and emergency workers, the North Carolina Society of Fire Rescue Instructors has presented its Training Prop of the Year Award to Joey Shue, ESTC Fire/Rescue coordinator, and the ESTC.

The award, an engraved acrylic plaque in a pewter base, was presented to Shue during the organization's statewide conference May 7-10, in Asheville, and again at the ESTC on May 23.

Only three tanker-car training scenarios exist in North Carolina, and none except the ESTC's can be moved on a track.

"The ESTC's tanker car scenario is so versatile because the car is movable," said John White, first vice president of the 600-member NCSFRI and a lieutenant with the Apex Fire Department. "The ability to move the car means that you can do so much with it, that fire, emergency services, and law enforcement can train on it."

The tanker can be used to simulating collisions with vehicles, hazardous materials accidents, tanker car fires, and other scenarios that provide important skill training.

"Anytime there's a grade crossing, there's exposure of an accident between a vehicle and a train," said Mike Hill, NCSFRI executive director. "Anytime a train is on the tracks, there's a chance for derailment."

Shue was able to arrange the donation of the tanker car to the college from the former Atlantic & Western Railroad Co. and another company donated the tracks. The Lee County Office of Emergency Management assisted in getting a $6,000 Homeland Security grant to move the tanker from downtown Sanford to the ESTC.

"This was Joey's deal," said Landis Phillips, ESTC director. "We're excited about the tanker car scenario and we're excited about the award. We're here to provide training for emergency workers in Lee, Harnett and Chatham counties - and from many other places - and our folks go above and beyond."

The 116-acre ESTC site on Airport Road, in Sanford, provides emergency services training for 1,500-2,000 personnel each year.