No you're not mistaken, not only do the system special instructions refer to the safest place as the nose of a locomotive, historical evidence has provided repeated proof that the steel box provides great protection.
Being a storm spotter (chaser if you want to use that term loosely) I was keeping a close eye on the radar for rotation. Fortunately all areas of tornadic activity remained a few miles to our north and south, but we were under a warning nonetheless, always prepared to move from the cinderblock structure this was taken from to the engines at a moment's notice.
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I should also clarify, if you do have a basement or other substantial structure to seek shelter in, those places are recommended, but such suitable buildings aren't exactly common on railroad property. At Mill Street your choices are cinderblocks on a slab, or a trailer. I'll take my chances in the nose.
That being said, some facilities have actual below-ground tornado shelters. BNSF Argentine Yard, just across the river, is one of them.
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