LINCOLN, Neb. — There are thousands of rural towns across the U.S. crisscrossed by railroad tracks where trains pass through daily. Since the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment and burn-off of some 900,000 pounds of toxic vinyl chloride in East Palestine, Ohio, workers and farmers near rail tracks nationwide have become increasingly concerned about their situation. Their concerns are shared by rail workers, who are looking for ways to take control over safety and work conditions. A number of