Trains.com

This Is Horrible! Take A Look!

3850 views
42 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2002
  • From: Reedsville, WI
  • 557 posts
This Is Horrible! Take A Look!
Posted by wcfan4ever on Friday, February 11, 2005 12:43 PM
Photo: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=94008

This is getting bad. Years ago, I never heard of a locomotive being tagged before. It was just railcars. Obviously wherever these locomotives were parked, there wasn't anyone watching. I guess the only thing to be done is hire more railroad police to stop this. I have yet to see a tagged locomotive in Wisconsin. Is it just a problem in California or all over?

Dave Howarth Jr. Livin' On Former CNW Spur From Manitowoc To Appleton In Reedsville, WI

- Formerly From The Home of Wisconsin Central's 5,000,000th Carload

- Manitowoc Cranes, Manitowoc Ice Machines, Burger Boat

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Indianapolis, Indiana
  • 2,434 posts
Posted by gabe on Friday, February 11, 2005 12:48 PM
I agree it is horrible.

Does anyone else find that engine allignment a bit odd?

Gabe
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 12:57 PM
Whoa!!!!!!!!!!! Its obvious that someone/somebody dont like the UP. Now lets see......is there a decal set of this?[:-,]
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Aurora, IL
  • 4,515 posts
Posted by eolafan on Friday, February 11, 2005 1:15 PM
Interesting that we hear lots about police chasing away railfans like us at our favorite spots, but somebody was able to "tag" this unit to the extent they did which had to take quite a long time and nobody was around to chase them away like they try and do with railfans...interesting....I also seldom if ever see tagged locomotives in and through Aurora, IL, likely due to the fact that most railroads keep their units moving in revenue service and not sitting long enough to get tagged.
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,279 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Friday, February 11, 2005 1:33 PM
Locomotive get tied up a many outlying points where the are used by local road switching assignments. I many cases these are 5 day, one tour of duty jobs. ie. there is only a crew using the locomotive 5 days a week, and thier work day will be 12 hours or less meaning the locomotive is unattended for 12 or more hours at least 5 days a week and may be unattened for the rest days of the assignment.

Railroads have assignments that start at hundereds if not thousands of outlying points, making the railroads ability to police those sites on the off hours of the assignments a practical imposibility. The railroads do work closely with the local authorities to keep an eye on railroad property, however!!!!!!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Friday, February 11, 2005 1:37 PM
A while back I commented that a BNSF 70 was tagged and went west to coal country. Haven't seen it since then and it is the only one that I saw but these hardly ever sit still.
So it does happen, not often and if you are a determined tagger - just remember not to stand still or your next!

Mook

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Upper Left Coast
  • 1,796 posts
Posted by kenneo on Friday, February 11, 2005 1:37 PM
The switch engine is an ex-SP SW1500. I thought that all of those locomotives were supposed to have been stored? Also, that most (not all, most) former SP units were also supposed to be taken out of service soon if not already.

Soooooooo, perhaps, these were stored units? SD60's(??) stored?
Eric
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 1:48 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by cnwfan11

......is there a decal set of this?[:-,]


Only if you want to pay UP for it, I'm sure that they already have it copyrighted and will sue anyone/anything that tries to use it[;)]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 3:57 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by corailfan

QUOTE: Originally posted by cnwfan11

......is there a decal set of this?[:-,]


Only if you want to pay UP for it, I'm sure that they already have it copyrighted and will sue anyone/anything that tries to use it[;)]
You got that right!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 4:19 PM
Aside from the graffiti, why is the paint-job on the lead unit so messed? The paint seems to be coming off, as well as the logo on the front; the paint on the fuel tank is also messed. Did the vandals do this, or is it just ware and tear?
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 389 posts
Posted by corwinda on Friday, February 11, 2005 4:31 PM
On the peeling paint: Wear and tear. (actually it may well have been defective paint; but definitely nothing the vandal did. And I have seen such peeling on several UP SD60s.)

SW 1500s: There has been one (at least) in service in the Eugene, OR area until very recently - if not currently. (It's been a few months since I saw it; but I don't go by the yard often.)
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: West Coast
  • 4,122 posts
Posted by espeefoamer on Friday, February 11, 2005 5:14 PM
These units are NOT in storage[:(!].They are in UPs small yard in Anaheim CA.(it figures!).
Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Duluth,Minnesota,USA
  • 4,015 posts
Posted by coborn35 on Friday, February 11, 2005 5:16 PM
Not to be offensive or anything, but that's the best UP paint scheme I have seen yet!

Mechanical Department  "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."

The Missabe Road: Safety First

 

  • Member since
    May 2015
  • 5,134 posts
Posted by ericsp on Friday, February 11, 2005 5:41 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

These units are NOT in storage[:(!].They are in UPs small yard in Anaheim CA.(it figures!).

I have been there and agree. A couple of years ago, I saw my first MP15AC there (in person anyway). One time when I was there (2002 I think) I saw 3 SW1500s.

This is an odd yard. There is a wye with some spurs and sidings, along with an MOW building at Broadway (no bright, neon lights) and Mable Street. This is where the locomotives are parked between assignments. If you go north on Interstate 5 off to left you will see strings of cars parked on sidings. This is the yard, one or two tracks along with the branchline.

"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Duluth,Minnesota,USA
  • 4,015 posts
Posted by coborn35 on Friday, February 11, 2005 5:56 PM
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=94009 Here is another tag pic. The UP deserves to have this unit tagged after they destroyed the beautiful SP paint scheme.

Mechanical Department  "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."

The Missabe Road: Safety First

 

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 4,115 posts
Posted by tatans on Friday, February 11, 2005 6:15 PM
Get used to it, this is just the beginning, you will soon see some pretty grotesque paint jobs in the future on locomotives, these bozos are also now tagging individual automobiles in parking structures, white suv's and vans being the prime target along with high end cars, I guess when these guys spay paint YOUR car, attitudes toward this crime will change.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 7:28 PM
I remember a few years ago I saw an SP engine tagged.
  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: US
  • 62 posts
Posted by jwinter on Friday, February 11, 2005 8:33 PM
Eolafan hit it on the head. The railroads chase railfans but can't seem to find these vandals. The vast majority of these railfans would be the first to report vandals like these and can be the eyes and ears for the railroads, but instead fans get chased away. Maybe we're easy targets.

A week or so ago I posted a story about a tagger that was killed while committing his crime. It still surprises me that more of these idiots aren't killed or seriously injuried more often. When these nuts are caught, their punishment should be to clean grafitti off of railcars with paint remover and a toothbrush.

John / Wisconsin
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 9:21 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by cnwfan11

Whoa!!!!!!!!!!! Its obvious that someone/somebody dont like the UP. Now lets see......is there a decal set of this?[:-,]
----IS NOTHING SACRED?????----
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, February 11, 2005 11:31 PM
Unfortunately, I saw a nasty one today at work--a UP SD70 so covered with graffiti that you couldn't see the flag that should have been there (it was in the 4900 series; didn't note the exact number).

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Rock Springs Wy.
  • 1,967 posts
Posted by miniwyo on Saturday, February 12, 2005 11:42 AM
I saw a tagged SP unit come throught here the other day. somone painted a prefect rectangle under the cab windows. i believe it was a yellow with some red numbering inside it!!! [:D][}:)]

RJ

"Something hidden, Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges, Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go." The Explorers - Rudyard Kipling

http://sweetwater-photography.com/

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Aurora, IL
  • 4,515 posts
Posted by eolafan on Saturday, February 12, 2005 4:01 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by jwinter

Eolafan hit it on the head. The railroads chase railfans but can't seem to find these vandals. The vast majority of these railfans would be the first to report vandals like these and can be the eyes and ears for the railroads, but instead fans get chased away. Maybe we're easy targets.

A week or so ago I posted a story about a tagger that was killed while committing his crime. It still surprises me that more of these idiots aren't killed or seriously injuried more often. When these nuts are caught, their punishment should be to clean grafitti off of railcars with paint remover and a toothbrush.

John / Wisconsin


On Saturday evenings I like to watch COPS television show on Fox network and frequently see the police using sting tactics to catch "johns" of prostitutes and then ask my wife (while watching all the police "high five" each other for a job well done) why these cops are not out catching the REAL criminals (like killers, child molesters, and especially drug sellers) and not so involved in such crimes only because they can get such publiciity on COPS or other such shows.
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 4,115 posts
Posted by tatans on Saturday, February 12, 2005 4:27 PM
eolafan: I saw a comedian report the U.S. government can trace the exact barn and stall where ONE reported cow with mad cow disease is in Canada, but cannot find 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. I remember as a schoolkid getting caught and reprimanded by the railway police at least 20 times a year for only walking across the tracks on our way to school. Priorities???
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 1,092 posts
Posted by oskar on Saturday, February 12, 2005 4:37 PM
I saw a CSX on a spray train it had graffti all over the words CSX on one side of the engine.

tatans- you joined TRAINS on my Birthday!!



kevin
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 12, 2005 4:45 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by miniwyo

I saw a tagged SP unit come throught here the other day. somone painted a prefect rectangle under the cab windows. i believe it was a yellow with some red numbering inside it!!! [:D][}:)]


I think I saw that same engine miniwyo. That was the day I got sick and threw my lunch up!...

Trainluver1
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 12, 2005 4:54 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by jwinter

Eolafan hit it on the head. The railroads chase railfans but can't seem to find these vandals. The vast majority of these railfans would be the first to report vandals like these and can be the eyes and ears for the railroads, but instead fans get chased away. Maybe we're easy targets.

A week or so ago I posted a story about a tagger that was killed while committing his crime. It still surprises me that more of these idiots aren't killed or seriously injuried more often. When these nuts are caught, their punishment should be to clean grafitti off of railcars with paint remover and a toothbrush.

John / Wisconsin


I agree with you 100% John. When I was a kid and teenager, we climbed around on rail cars, jumped from one to the other and made club houses out of them, but we never defaced them in any kind of way.

Trainluver1
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 12, 2005 7:55 PM
I know that im NOT sapossed to say this,Anyone who is caught spraying Graffiti on any Railroad property should be shot on the spot & then locked up a long time.
  • Member since
    May 2015
  • 5,134 posts
Posted by ericsp on Saturday, February 12, 2005 10:01 PM
Here is an aerial photograph of where those locomotives, in the original post, were at.
2004
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/addressimage.aspx?t=4&s=9&lon=-117.933030660276&lat=33.8308939360247&alon=-117.93303783&alat=33.82908685&w=3&opt=0&qs=Mable%7cAnaheim%7cCA%7c&addr=W+Mable+St%2c+Anaheim%2c+CA+92802
1994
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/addressimage.aspx?t=1&s=10&lon=-117.93303783&lat=33.82908685&alon=-117.93303783&alat=33.82908685&w=3&opt=0&qs=Mable%7cAnaheim%7cCA%7c&addr=W+Mable+St%2c+Anaheim%2c+CA+92802
The building inside of the wye is the MOW building.

"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,011 posts
Posted by tree68 on Saturday, February 12, 2005 10:11 PM
I was gonna say that based on the looks of the "real" paint job on that loco, the taggers came close to doing UP a favor...

I saw an autorack (trilevel) the other day that had the WHOLE side painted. Top to bottom and end to end. Do these taggers bring along scaffolds, too? Sheesh!

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...

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Anywhere there are trains
  • 578 posts
Posted by Train Guy 3 on Sunday, February 13, 2005 12:06 AM
At least you can still read the engine numbers.

TG3 LOOK ! LISTEN ! LIVE ! Remember the 3.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy