Precious metals

[JimC2]

Hi All!

 As I was sitting in front of the computer last night ordering my last, hopefully, several hundred dollars worth of brass rail, I got to thinking about someone jumping over the fence at night and stealing all my brass track for the sake of the brass.  Whether it's worth much or not it still shines! I work in fire protection and you can't keep the brass caps on sprinkler, fire department connections anymore. Even in Albuquerque this weekend a couple dumbies got up on the roof to steal copper wiring of a large box store while they were open! They didn't think the store would loss electric, but not!  With the help of FD ladders, the police nabbed them real quick.  Second time it's happened at this store this year.

 Has anyone had this problem with track in the backyard? I'm not in a bad neighborhood but that doesn't seem to matter much anymore.

 Jim

[ttrigg]

Here in San Diego we had an experience of one of our commercial layouts (Walter Anderson’s Nursery) suffered at the hands of mid night thieves. That loss included cars, engines, track, bridges, and even a few buildings if I remember right. Most believe it all went into someone’s new layout. I do know that the scrap yards are looking out for strange stuff showing up as salvage. There were a few pieces of 2 & 3 inch rails in a bag of soda cans the wife took to recycle a few months back and that weekend we had the local Deputy Sheriff knocking on the door, after showing him the layout he was satisfied and left.

[DennisB]

I know a young man that worked for a number of years at one of Ontario's largest scrap yards. They are very sensitive to what comes in for salvage. And yes, the local police are on speed dial and are called often making inquiries about local theft. There are metal scrap yards that accept questionable material. They cut it up further making it harder to identify. I believe that our layouts are safer than one might suspect. Regards, Dennis.

[LUMPY G]

Here in Las Vegas we have had similar problems with thieves so bold as to steel the aluminam fins from AC units beside peoples houses at night while they are sleeping.
One guy last year took the cap off a light pole base in a neighbour hood near me tied
the wire to his trailer hitch and drove off with several 1000 ft of copper wire.
We have to show every thing but a birth certificate to scrap metal here now so what I'm saying
is a crook will find a way to get what he want's, put your layout in and enjoy it wory about the
small things later my friend dont let them ruin your fun.

LUMPY G.
 

[IRB Souther Engineer]

If you have a fence around your yard you will probably be ok.

[Rex in Pinetop]

My layout is in the front yard where everyone can see it - kids- parents, drivebys - everyone including the cops.  One morning I had five patrol cars parked in front of our house with at least half the police department of Pinetop.  The cops love the layout and the kids do too so everyone watches out for it.  We only live there in the summer when it's too hot here in the desert so the place is empty at least six months of the year.  The track stays out year round although the buildings come in for the winter.  So far the only thing that's happened to the layout was some snow plow damage the first year when they piled a load of snow and rock on the rails bending up a section or two.  Word got out and it hasn't happened since.  Call me lucky but the town has taken "ownership" of the attraction and is keeping it secure.  I don't think that would be the case here in the big city Phoenix area.

I agree with others that say don't let the few spoil our fun.  Enjoy your layout while you're still in good enough health to run trains.

Rex 

[EMPIRE II LINE]

JimC2

 Has anyone had this problem with track in the backyard? I'm not in a bad neighborhood but that doesn't seem to matter much anymore.

 Jim

Hi Jim,

I live in the tourist area of Disney World, with-in an 800 site plus, Mobile Home/Campground facility.

I do on quite a regular basis have trains and accessories, out setting on the tracks and around my layout, daily and even through the night. Infact right now I have a USA set of ABA F-3's NP consist, and eleven passenger cars setting out on the track beside my place.

So far I have never had any problems what so ever.....People come from all over the world, at times, to view my set up....they know me as the train guy, as I'm called by the locals, and many just stop in to our office here and ask where I am located. I've been in this location since 2005.

I do use stainless steel rail though, and maybe there is not such a demand to steal that metal.....don't know for sure.....anyway I have had no theft or vandalism problems at all, except for some past little petty jealouse neighbor incidents.......which quickly ended after a timely visit from the locale deputy.

Byron