What happened to the original post? From where, the operating line or Mt. Union, Saltillo. Robertsdale/Alvan? Things were looking pretty hardscrabble in Mt. Union last time I dropped in. When I told a couple that we'd made the ride from Washington to see the yards and enginehouse (was it 6 or 3 inside?) she asked her husband if he couldn't drive to DC for work.
Also i surprised (and freaked out myself!) when looking into a US army woodsheated boxcar and seeing the a man's blue-jeaned pants standing inside. I think we both nearly fainted! There must have been 20 of the standard gauge cars in that yard.
Plenty of dual gauge rail in that yard! And plenty of trees growing between a lot of hopper cars.
rixflix aka Captain Video. Blessed be Jean Shepherd and all His works!!! Hooray for 1939, the all time movie year!!! I took that ride on the Reading but my Baby caught the Katy and left me a mule to ride.
rixflix wrote: What happened to the original post? From where, the operating line or Mt. Union, Saltillo. Robertsdale/Alvan? Things were looking pretty hardscrabble in Mt. Union last time I dropped in. When I told a couple that we'd made the ride from Washington to see the yards and enginehouse (was it 6 or 3 inside?) she asked her husband if he couldn't drive to DC for work. Also i surprised (and freaked out myself!) when looking into a US army woodsheated boxcar and seeing the a man's blue-jeaned pants standing inside. I think we both nearly fainted! There must have been 20 of the standard gauge cars in that yard. Plenty of dual gauge rail in that yard! And plenty of trees growing between a lot of hopper cars.
I wasn't aware that this had been posted yet. There is a story about it on the Trains Newswire, but I was out there with the work crew the week this was discovered. There was about a quarter mile of rail stolen from an inactive section between Cooks and Robertsdale. The tieves even had a phony letter "signed" by the General Manager that they showed to anyone questioning what was going on. No small coincidence that this was during the week the General Manager was on vacation.
The enginehouse at Mount Union has the third #3 inside.
Somebody posted the link to the Altoona TV station article on the EBT list:
http://www.wjactv.com/altoona/16773631/detail.html
There's also a video linked to the article, but I'm not sure how long they'll leave it operational.
Question how much does this much rail weigh? ie how did the thieves get it out.
personally if the thieves can't replace this when they get caught they should go to jail for a long time.
By the by could someone post the web markings of the rail(ie were was it rolled out & when) so the thieves would have max exposure to being caught.
thx ign
....That would be great, if the thugs are found to force them to reinstall it...In July's heat.
Quentin
narig02 wrote: Question how much does this much rail weigh? ie how did the thieves get it out.personally if the thieves can't replace this when they get caught they should go to jail for a long time. By the by could someone post the web markings of the rail(ie were was it rolled out & when) so the thieves would have max exposure to being caught.thx ign
This area had 85 or 90 pound rail, rolled in the late 1800's or early 1900's. The thieves actually brought in a scrap metal dumpster (a 40 yard size by the stories I've heard) and weren't worried about being challenged because they had the "letter" from the General Manager, and knew that the GM was on vacation, so calling the station would get the answering machine, no quick action.
Unfortunately, the rail was cut by torch into sections about 3 feet long to make it easier to load into the dumpster. Most, if not all, of the rail has already been found at a scrap yard in Williamsport, ironically, a competitor of Joe Kovalchick's. We've been told the police have "solid leads" on the thieves.
Since the entire East Broad Top has been designated a National Historic Landmark, this may become a federal offense.
TomDiehl wrote: narig02 wrote: Question how much does this much rail weigh? ie how did the thieves get it out.personally if the thieves can't replace this when they get caught they should go to jail for a long time. By the by could someone post the web markings of the rail(ie were was it rolled out & when) so the thieves would have max exposure to being caught.thx ignThis area had 85 or 90 pound rail, rolled in the late 1800's or early 1900's. The thieves actually brought in a scrap metal dumpster (a 40 yard size by the stories I've heard) and weren't worried about being challenged because they had the "letter" from the General Manager, and knew that the GM was on vacation, so calling the station would get the answering machine, no quick action.Unfortunately, the rail was cut by torch into sections about 3 feet long to make it easier to load into the dumpster. Most, if not all, of the rail has already been found at a scrap yard in Williamsport, ironically, a competitor of Joe Kovalchick's. We've been told the police have "solid leads" on the thieves.Since the entire East Broad Top has been designated a National Historic Landmark, this may become a federal offense.
thats like 60,000 to 80000 lbs of rail. If my math is correct.
Rgds ign
ps the US Attorney shld file 1 count for each piece of rail.
narign wrote: By the by could someone post the web markings of the rail(ie were was it rolled out & when) so the thieves would have max exposure to being caught.thx ign
Unless they had the heat numbers (stamped/indented on the other side from the mill branding), which I doubt - fat chance. The rail could have come from anywhere.
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
narig02 wrote: TomDiehl wrote: narig02 wrote: Question how much does this much rail weigh? ie how did the thieves get it out.personally if the thieves can't replace this when they get caught they should go to jail for a long time. By the by could someone post the web markings of the rail(ie were was it rolled out & when) so the thieves would have max exposure to being caught.thx ignThis area had 85 or 90 pound rail, rolled in the late 1800's or early 1900's. The thieves actually brought in a scrap metal dumpster (a 40 yard size by the stories I've heard) and weren't worried about being challenged because they had the "letter" from the General Manager, and knew that the GM was on vacation, so calling the station would get the answering machine, no quick action.Unfortunately, the rail was cut by torch into sections about 3 feet long to make it easier to load into the dumpster. Most, if not all, of the rail has already been found at a scrap yard in Williamsport, ironically, a competitor of Joe Kovalchick's. We've been told the police have "solid leads" on the thieves.Since the entire East Broad Top has been designated a National Historic Landmark, this may become a federal offense.thats like 60,000 to 80000 lbs of rail. If my math is correct.Rgds ign ps the US Attorney shld file 1 count for each piece of rail.
And with the scrap steel price above $450 a ton, it's easy to see the thieves motivation.
The police haven't said much publically about the investigation, which is normal before they arrest/charge someone.
450 a ton? go get yourself a real job, I can make that in 2 weeks, its not worth snagging up rail iron and all the work to tear it apart. Now it has to be replaced. Hope the crooks are caught and replace all the rails.
Been to EBT and saw the enginehouse with the 0-6-0 treetrapped inside....it's sister I think was at Freedom Wisconsin on the line up there if my memory serves right.
dinwitty wrote: 450 a ton? go get yourself a real job, I can make that in 2 weeks, its not worth snagging up rail iron and all the work to tear it apart. Now it has to be replaced. Hope the crooks are caught and replace all the rails. Been to EBT and saw the enginehouse with the 0-6-0 treetrapped inside....it's sister I think was at Freedom Wisconsin on the line up there if my memory serves right.
As a former Police Officer, I can say with certainty that all thieves are stupid. Three Stooge stupid. If any of them had an ounce of brains they could do better, but they don't have even that much.
The other standard gauge EBT 0-6-0 is at the Whitewater Valley Railroad Museum in Connersville, IN.
Phil
Sounds like the ROW paralleling the highway south Cooks to Robertsdale. Straight track there. I'm hoping it wasn't the track north to Rocky Ridge. In the '80's and '90's we'd camp at Rocky Ridge just north of then crumbling TO building by the tunnel entrance. It was a "Happy Motoring" billboard or calender shot place on Trough Creek. Musical water sounds, thick pine needles (never needed an air matress), and even a bench someone had nailed against a tree. We called it our "Sweet Spot". Until the last time,when we backpacked in and someone had lumbered it and left a lot of mud. Broke my heart.
Times are tough everywhere. Here in DC we just had a guy caught stealing the brasses from fire hydrants in the VA 'burbs, and the wire and even manhole cover thefts are spreading.
Is the country (some would say we've been for a while) starting to eat itself? I might be willing to CCC it to defend my beloved Eastie.
FLIX
....Rix: That area on the East Broad Top RR where you fellows accepted the thick pine needle "beds" to bed down at night....Isn't that rough enough country to have some creeping things that might join you at bedtime.....? Don't think I could hack that.
Yes, I've slept in pup tents, etc.....oh, so many times....but that part of Pa.....?
It's been 48 years now since we've visited EBT {and rode on it...in the car with the whicker chairs}....and really enjoyed it. Hope it is still doing much the same running as it was back then.
And now....{what have we come to....}, people stealing the rails...Sad.
Quents, never saw a snake or a bear, but we used to imagine (over the previously used fire pit), Eastie's trains coming out of the bore. We hung our butts over a fallen tree to poop and always policed the place before we left. The poop and paper could stay, however.
In the morning, EBT's operations, Altoona, and even Johnstown were within easy travel distance. Some guys were shy about getting nekkid, but a bath wedged between Trough's rocks was cool (read chilly). Anyone to clean up the frying pan?
The hike out to the knoll north of Cooks and the miserable "store" there was always a bummer, but H&Bt, the Portage planes, the Curve, etc were the next day's fare.
Never could get a good night's sleep above the Curve. Just had to tend a low fire and watch the action!!!
rix
mudchicken wrote: narign wrote: By the by could someone post the web markings of the rail(ie were was it rolled out & when) so the thieves would have max exposure to being caught.thx ignUnless they had the heat numbers (stamped/indented on the other side from the mill branding), which I doubt - fat chance. The rail could have come from anywhere.
FYI If you look on rail you will see near the end the markings. It will show the mill were it was rolled the quality of the rail. Trains did an article some months ago bout rail that explained this. Also the rail stolen was kind of an odd lot these days. Not something very common.
Also from one of the other posts it looks like the police have located the looted material. Unfortunetly it sounded like it was cut up, which really destroys any value besides scrap. I think thieves will be caught in this case.
Rgds IGN
(1) You clearly don't understand the difference between a heat number (indented letters) and the mill stamping (raised letters)... the heat numbers is the pseudo serial number for that rail and tells you much more about the rail than the mill stamping, going right down to where in the ingot that particular rail came from. Railroad used to keep detailed track of heat numbers for defect purposes, but do not anymore)
(2) 85# rail is still extremely common in yard, industrial and backtracks. It may no longer be rolled (last rolled in limited quantities in the 1960's IIRC), but it is everywhere and not going away anytime soon.
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