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Wild Wild West

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  • Member since
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  • From: MP CF161.6 NS's New Castle District in NE Indiana
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Posted by rrnut282 on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 1:11 PM

One of the benfits of roadrailers (Triple Crown) was that the trailers were coupled so close together, the doors of the front trailer couldn't be opened.  Only the former Amtrak unit with side doors were vunerable en-route. 

Mike (2-8-2)
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Posted by jeffhergert on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 1:31 PM

ROBERT WILLISON

 

 
Norm48327

 

 
RME
Paul_D_North_Jr

Well, let's see now... (looks at watch) maybe 18 hours ago or so, on average?  There's an item on the Newswire now just about repeated criminal gun thefts.  Organized groups like the Conrail Boyz actually made something of a repeat paying business out of crime.  

Why try to hold up commuters for pocket change, or Amtrak passengers for whatever money and jewelry they carted along, or cat-burgle the multi-thousand-dollar suites on some Canadian trains when you can make more just by busting into cars or getting the 'inside scoop' on nifty car ladings sitting long enough for their cars to sprout graffiti...

 

I'm inclined to think it is a daily occurrence given that the media only reports on those they consider important. It is, at least, frequent in the inner cities, but the media isn't going to report the theft of a few tires from a box car.

 

 

 

norm your absolutely correct. But the do report frequent robberies of guns oin the Chicago area. I willing to bet thefts from freight trains is a large amount per year.

 

 

There have been reports on network news casts about container trains having containers broken into and electronics and other higher value items stolen.  As I recall the last report I saw (a few years ago) was about trains on the UP's Sunset route where the tracks were near the border being targeted.

About 5 years ago, I was on a double stack train.  We had just got on and were waiting for a signal to go when I noticed someone way back walking between the train and a vehicle.  Not wanting to use the radio incase they had a scanner, I got out my phone and called the yard office to report this activity.  The person on duty said he would look into it.  A few minutes later he called back over the radio.  It was a railroad special agent checking doors.  Making sure they were closed and sealed properly.  

Jeff

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 1:29 PM

The 1st train robbery (well... one of several that are claimed to be the 1st) occurred in the eastern side of the MID-west (not the "west")... just outside of Seymour Indiana, the evening of October 6, 1866 by the Reno Gang (the infamous scourge of southern Indiana).

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reno_Gang

 

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by Norm48327 on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 1:12 PM

ROBERT WILLISON
norm your absolutely correct. But the do report frequent robberies of guns oin the Chicago area. I willing to bet thefts from freight trains is a large amount per year.

I would hazard a guess it is a substantial amount (just  one gun qualifies for that) but it's "small potatoes" compared to the thefts from residences or cars where people thought they were safe under the seat.

Norm


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Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 9:27 AM

Norm48327

 

 
RME
Paul_D_North_Jr

Well, let's see now... (looks at watch) maybe 18 hours ago or so, on average?  There's an item on the Newswire now just about repeated criminal gun thefts.  Organized groups like the Conrail Boyz actually made something of a repeat paying business out of crime.  

Why try to hold up commuters for pocket change, or Amtrak passengers for whatever money and jewelry they carted along, or cat-burgle the multi-thousand-dollar suites on some Canadian trains when you can make more just by busting into cars or getting the 'inside scoop' on nifty car ladings sitting long enough for their cars to sprout graffiti...

 

I'm inclined to think it is a daily occurrence given that the media only reports on those they consider important. It is, at least, frequent in the inner cities, but the media isn't going to report the theft of a few tires from a box car.

 

norm your absolutely correct. But the do report frequent robberies of guns oin the Chicago area. I willing to bet thefts from freight trains is a large amount per year.

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 9:08 AM

RME
tree68

To say nothing of the registered mail in the RPO or head-end cars ... also no longer an issue on passenger trains.

If you view operations of RPO's on YouTube, note that all Mail Clerks in the RPO carry a side arm!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

RME
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Posted by RME on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 8:19 AM

tree68
Used to be the express/baggage car had valuables - a prime target.

To say nothing of the registered mail in the RPO or head-end cars ... also no longer an issue on passenger trains.

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 6:34 AM

Used to be the express/baggage car had valuables - a prime target.  Of course, that's not the case these days.

As noted, the valuables are now in containers.

LarryWhistling
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There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by Norm48327 on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 5:31 AM

RME
Paul_D_North_Jr

Well, let's see now... (looks at watch) maybe 18 hours ago or so, on average?  There's an item on the Newswire now just about repeated criminal gun thefts.  Organized groups like the Conrail Boyz actually made something of a repeat paying business out of crime.  

Why try to hold up commuters for pocket change, or Amtrak passengers for whatever money and jewelry they carted along, or cat-burgle the multi-thousand-dollar suites on some Canadian trains when you can make more just by busting into cars or getting the 'inside scoop' on nifty car ladings sitting long enough for their cars to sprout graffiti...

I'm inclined to think it is a daily occurrence given that the media only reports on those they consider important. It is, at least, frequent in the inner cities, but the media isn't going to report the theft of a few tires from a box car.

Norm


RME
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Posted by RME on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 12:39 AM

Paul_D_North_Jr
How long has it been since a train robbery?

Well, let's see now... (looks at watch) maybe 18 hours ago or so, on average?  There's an item on the Newswire now just about repeated criminal gun thefts.  Organized groups like the Conrail Boyz actually made something of a repeat paying business out of crime.  

Why try to hold up commuters for pocket change, or Amtrak passengers for whatever money and jewelry they carted along, or cat-burgle the multi-thousand-dollar suites on some Canadian trains when you can make more just by busting into cars or getting the 'inside scoop' on nifty car ladings sitting long enough for their cars to sprout graffiti...

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Posted by Miningman on Monday, March 20, 2017 2:35 PM

Well there was "the great train robbery" as it's known in 1963 of the Royal Mail in Great Britain ...a large gang of men,15, stormed the train and beat up the engineer. 

In a true "North American" tradition they hid out in a barn. Most of the loot was never recovered..2.6 million pounds, a lot of money in 1963 and the pound was really worth something. 

Not sure about this side of the pond. Someone will know.

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Monday, March 20, 2017 2:19 PM

How long has it been since a train robbery ? (subways excluded)

- PDN. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by zugmann on Monday, March 20, 2017 2:03 PM

Somehow I doubt someone stealing cows would be interested in people.  They don't get as much per pound on the open market.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by Miningman on Monday, March 20, 2017 2:00 PM

You answered your own question. Point 2. negates Point1. 

So thanks!

You are correct about The Canadian being put in the hole all over the place for substantial amounts of time. Wonder if VIA ever thought about something like that while they are sitting there out in the Prairies or wherever?

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Posted by traisessive1 on Monday, March 20, 2017 1:27 PM

1. What does this have to do with trains?

2. The Canadian is parked by CN so frequently, all the robbers have to do is walk on the train. 

10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ... 

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Wild Wild West
Posted by Miningman on Monday, March 20, 2017 1:17 PM

Cattle rustlers made off with 3 calves from Saskatchewan ranch

 
 
 
 
 
Ranchers around Saskatchewan are having problems keeping calves dry, fed and alive because of unseasonal weather.

File photo of a calf. Cattle rustlers stole three young calves from a ranch in southern Saskatchewan on March 16, 2017.

Vytai Brannan / Global News
A A +

Cattle rustlers made off with three calves from a ranch in Saskatchewan’s Ormiston district.

The theft happened at around 3:30 a.m. on March 16, 2017 when a rancher spotted a dark-coloured Ford extended cab truck parked in an approach on Grid 717.

READ MORE: Sask. RCMP urge safety, prevention first over frustration about rural crime

He then saw a man and a woman stealing the calves from his pasture.

The three calves were between the ages of three and seven days.

The rustlers took off westbound when the rancher approached.

He stopped following the truck when it reach Highway 36.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Coronach RCMP at 306-267-1830 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

I know the price of beef is pretry high but c'mon. 

Next thing you know they will stop the "The Canadian" and rob the passengers. 

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