The TRAINS NEWSWire of this date [09/12/16] has a story of how a Utah Businessman tried to steal a former DRG&WRR Branch Line; and his crew accuatually accomplished the theft of some of the track. The branch is located about 60 mi south of Salt Lake City near Elberta,Ut.
FTA[snip]:'"...Utah County businessman Alan Dean McKee was charged with felony communications fraud and theft after he allegedly tried to sell pieces of a Union Pacific rail line in Elberta, about 60 miles south of Salt Lake City. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, earlier this year a UP special agent discovered a work crew tearing up track on the railroad’s former Denver & Rio Grande Western Tintic Branch. The workers told the officer that McKee had hired them to remove the track. McKee was apparently trying to sell the materials for scrap. The railroad estimates McKee caused between $180,000 and $240,000 in damage, the newspaper reports..." [snipped]
Here is a link to a history of the Tintic Branchline @http://www.drgw.net/info/index.php?n=Main.TinticBranch
FTA[snip]:"...Tintic Branch History... In order to tap the booming Tintic mining regions, the Rio Grande Western organized a subsidiary, the Tintic Range Railway, to build a standard gauge branchline to serve the mines. The new branch would extend from the Soldier Summit main at Springville, UT, westward, initially 40 miles to Eureka, UT. While the eastern segment was easy - primary stretching across the Goshen Valley - the west end required a double loop and some spectacular trestlework to gain the elevation to cross Homansville Pass. This initial segment was put into operation in 1891..." [snipped]
Apparently, theft of railroad track is not unusual(?) There was a story from some time back of a gang steal unused railroad spur track and selling it for salvage.\, out in California.
Some years ago while I was laid over in Monteagle,Tn. I was told a story about a former NC&StL line being stolen there in East Tennessee.
The was on the former NC&StL line East from Cowan, Tn. to Tracy City,Tn. [locally referred to as 'The Mountain Goat Line'] between Sewanee and Tracy City. This part of the line is apparently now a bike trail(?) Link to a map of the abandoned Tracy City Branch @ http://www.abandonedrails.com/Tracy_City_Branch
and the Cowan Railroad Museum @ http://www.cowanrailroadmuseum.org/history2.html
Hi Sam,
When I saw the topic "How to steal a railroad", I thought this was going to be about the Rolling Stone article about the disposition of what would become Conrail.
chad s thomas Hi Sam, When I saw the topic "How to steal a railroad", I thought this was going to be about the Rolling Stone article about the disposition of what would become Conrail.
I had hoped that Deggesty{Johnny} would have something to say, or add on that NC&StL Branch through Suwanee,Tn.
I'm sure Mudchicken has a few stories along that line.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Suspect it can happen realtively easily. Line sits unused for a period of time and the rail gets well rusted and the owning carrier doesn't present an active presence by having hirail inspectors traversing it on occasion. Locals get to the point they 'believe' it has been abandonded.
Guys with equipment and hard hats show up and begin picking up rail, joint bars, tie plates and spikes. Locals figure they are 'legitmate' salvors and don't challenge the operation.
The term: use it or lose it.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I'm sorry to disappoint you, Sam, but my experience with the NC&StL is limited to the line between Nashville and Atlanta and the station in Chattanooga. I knew of the branches, but I never knew much detail on them.
It is sad to know that such people think that there is no problem with their taking steel (stealing steel) that belongs to someone else.
Johnny
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