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How Low Can One Go?

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How Low Can One Go?
Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, November 9, 2023 2:52 PM

Is there no depth to the depravity of some people?  Surprise

Just when you think you've seen it all THIS happens!  Angry

https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/paramus/64k-in-locomotive-airhorns-stolen-by-nj-transit-machinist-feds/

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, November 9, 2023 2:57 PM

The Adirondack Railroad had four horns stolen several years ago.  There were no clues as to who did it - like graffiti, this stuff happens out-of-sight.

I've seen numerous suggestions for how to make them significantly harder to steal.

I'd suspect that while it's possible you might find some of them on some railfan's mantle, it's more likely they are mounted in semi's.  

LarryWhistling
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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, November 9, 2023 3:24 PM

Flintlock76
Is there no depth to the depravity of some people?  Surprise

Just when you think you've seen it all THIS happens!  Angry

https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/paramus/64k-in-locomotive-airhorns-stolen-by-nj-transit-machinist-feds/

When I was working we had a quarry in the Northeastern part of Maryland where we would normally leave the locomotives with the cars they took to be loaded.  After several times of the Outbound Crew called to get the loads found the locomotives without horns.  After several instances of this, we would bring the locomotives back to Baltimore and have the crew get the power in Baltimore and go to the quarry to get the train - probably added three hours to the run, on average.

The Northeastern part of Maryland is a short hop through Delaware from New Jersey.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, November 9, 2023 3:47 PM

BaltACD
The Northeastern part of Maryland is a short hop through Delaware from New Jersey.

Horns are a hot commodity all over the country.  Between collectors, truck drivers (everything from semis to brodozers), and yeah, even some fire departments. 

Since this guy was a machinist, I'm goint to go out on a limb and say this was probably more of a "taking from the supply closet" instead of the "climbing on engines with a wrench" sort of thing. 

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


  

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, November 9, 2023 4:37 PM

zugmann
even some fire departments. 

While I'd like to believe that a fire department would be above board enough not to steal a horn themselves, that's not to say that they haven't picked up horns from the "used" market...

LarryWhistling
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...

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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, November 9, 2023 5:16 PM

tree68
While I'd like to believe that a fire department would be above board enough not to steal a horn themselves, that's not to say that they haven't picked up horns from the "used" market...

One of our local departments had a 5 chimer they picked up off Ebay for their rescue.  When pointed out on a local fire forum (this was several yars ago) that there was a good chance it was stolen, their repsonse was pretty much "we don't care - horns go HONK!".  

 

Probably wouldn't have been happy if someone unbolted the Q off their bumper and took it.  That department was a big believer in the buddy box system, so par for the course I guess. 

That was years ago, so I don't even know if they have the rescue or horns anymore.  

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


  

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, November 9, 2023 5:34 PM

Over the decades of this century we have seen integrity in society become a rare commodity.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Backshop on Thursday, November 9, 2023 6:26 PM

zugmann
 

Since this guy was a machinist, I'm goint to go out on a limb and say this was probably more of a "taking from the supply closet" instead of the "climbing on engines with a wrench" sort of thing. 

They said that he worked for NJ Transit but stole them from CSX and Norwalk (Norfolk) Southern. I guess security isn't what it once was.  Although, he probably had it down to a science.

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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, November 9, 2023 6:33 PM

I stand corrected.  Guess he really was up there with a wrench. 

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 samfp1943 on Thursday, November 9, 2023 6:34 PM

BaltACD

Over the decades of this century we have seen integrity in society become a rare commodity.

     and to your statement: a response would be, a hearthy AMEN!

      It certainly seems to be the directtion that we, as a country,  are headed in; with no end in sight. 

    {In some 25 years OTR,  I heard, and saw more "rairoad (?)-style" air horns around the coal hauling districts of Alabama; than anywere else....}  

 

 


 

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Posted by rdamon on Thursday, November 9, 2023 7:43 PM

Wasn't there a series of M*A*S*H episodes where Radar O'Reily mailed home a jeep one part at a time?

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Posted by Leo_Ames on Thursday, November 9, 2023 8:00 PM

rdamon

Wasn't there a series of M*A*S*H episodes where Radar O'Reily mailed home a jeep one part at a time?

 

It was just one episode. The season one Christmas episode.

I always wondered how he'd of gotten the frame and other big components home, lol.

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, November 9, 2023 8:46 PM

It takes a significant air supply to blow railroad horns, especially if you intend to blow them more than once.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by samfp1943 on Thursday, November 9, 2023 9:36 PM

Leo_Ames
rdamon

Wasn't there a series of M*A*S*H episodes where Radar O'Reily mailed home a jeep one part at a time?

It was just one episode. The season one Christmas episode.

I always wondered how he'd of gotten the frame and other big components home, lol.

 


 

 

 

 [/quote]
 
Almost believeable... In 1967 we had a kid from Philly, in 1st Mar Div ; he had sent back to his gang in Philly an 81mm mortar....He was caught, when  the last piece he sent; the sea bag containing the outer ring of the base plate, was found in the Div. Post Office, in Danang..... So  just sending a Jeep,in peces by mail;could be beieveable.....
     U.S. grunts can be very resourceful.....Semper Fi   USMC MARINE CORPS 10Nov2023    makes them 248 years old....

 

 


 

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, November 9, 2023 9:57 PM

rdamon

Wasn't there a series of M*A*S*H episodes where Radar O'Reily mailed home a jeep one part at a time?

Shades of Johnny Cash...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uErKI0zWgjg

 

LarryWhistling
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Posted by rixflix on Friday, November 10, 2023 7:55 AM

Or the "Nein, vee tink you are trying to escape." joke from Memphis Belle.

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.

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Posted by jeffhergert on Friday, November 10, 2023 11:55 AM

BaltACD

It takes a significant air supply to blow railroad horns, especially if you intend to blow them more than once.

 

As long as the compressor can keep up. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTRYm_peqGA

Jeff

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, November 10, 2023 12:33 PM

jeffhergert
As long as the compressor can keep up.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTRYm_peqGA Jeff

I'm reminded of a guest who occasionally visited a morning radio show (J.P. McCarthy, IIRC) in Detroit back in the 1960's.

The guy did phenomenal sound effects - with his mouth.

You had to hear his version of moving between two railroad passenger cars to believe it.  Even included the "clickety-clack."

He installed a PA system in his car.

For some period of time he and a co-worker commuted through a small town each night at oh-dark-thirty.  The town had no rails running through it.

He started broadcasting the sound of a passing train each night through the PA.  

Reportedly he all but had the town's residents on their hands and knees looking for the tracks...

LarryWhistling
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...

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