disappearing derails

[edblysard]

Hi Guys and Gals,
Here in Houston, within the last week, we have had someone or a group of someones removing derails from industrial sidings and main line sidings, spurs and some yard tracks. All of the major railroads have been hit, BNSF, UP, and us, The PTRA. Now, unless you need a emergency boat anchor, or one heck of a door stop, derails have only one purpose, to put a locomotive or train on the ground. I was wondering if you guys had heard anything similar in your areas. This made the local evening news, so I would guess if its happening in your local, it should be on TV.
I havent heard of derails being a collectors item, like locomotive headlights, horns or builders plates, but I do know of a few people who collect old switch stands, and I cant imagine there would be too much of a market for derails, even if they are being sold as scrap, the effort to remove them, and their locations would preclude a scrapper doing this, its just way too much work for those guys.
The FBI, and some suit from homeland security were down here yesterday, asking the usual, and acting very important. Sadly, the suit got switch grease on his really nice and shinny shoes and pants leg. He was not in a good mood when he left.
Its a rough old life, aint it...
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[DTomajko]

Ed, I haven't heard of anything like that happening around Pittsburgh,but the major areas are well patroled by the NS Police.A few years back,the derails protecting the ends of Pittsburgh's pig terminal kept getting closed during the night.Since that time,we have locked them open and closed.I can't imagine anyone expending the great deal of effort necessary to unspike one of these.But I guess that just goes to show us that some folks have way too much time on their hands! Stay safe & enjoy yourself. DT,Pa.

[edblysard]

Me to, but the suit did notice that the pry marks were made by a spike puller, so whoever is stealing them knows the fastest way to pull the spikes. And we lock ours too, both open and closed.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[DTomajko]

I have a spike pulling bar in my service truck and I can tell you it is still a lot of work to pull even an old spike. Stay safe,DT pa.

[cabforward]

the mystery is solved! dont you get it? one post says missing derails.. another post says future derails are happening now.. where's rod serling when you need him?? let's get back to the future so we can stop the derails that have already, or might, or possibly could have, in a parallel universe, gone into another dimension, or crossed over, or something.. wouldnt you say?

[louisnash]

Hey Ed,
Been a couple days since I've been on here. Up in in North KY (Cincy area) have not heard anything on the news about the derails. Haven't really been watching much news, to depressing, and when I do watch the war coverage I can't get away from it. But that's a different subject for a different post.

Anyway,on the NS that runs beside my workplace I have noticed a lot of the pickups going behind the trains or just running alone. They are doing a great job up here. I just pray nothing like that happens here with the derails. I guess some people have major problems.

Anyway have a great day!
Brian (KY)

[edblysard]

Tried to adjust the horziontal, tried to adjust the vertical, but the problem is not with my set...
Did we enter the derail zone?
In all seriousness, it bugs me because the only use for a derail is, well, you get the picture.
If only one was pulled, then I would guess a fan or collector, but this many is weird.
And some of the sites are only accessable by Hi Rail, or train. So someone was serious about getting them.
Stay Frosty
Ed

[Soo2610]

Sure hope those things don't show up in the wrong place or that suit will have more than a greasy pants leg to worry about. The whole thing is actually kind of scary.

[edblysard]

Yup, it really is. And you know how hard it is to see one at night, running backward thru a curve, so...
Chilled,
Ed

[Anonymous]

I don't know, but I'm sure that if all these derail frogs are being removed by anyone other than RR personel, ( a possibility), and if they are used to derail trains, then us railfans will come under suspicion again. Sad times we live in now indeed........

Todd C.

[Anonymous]

Ed, don't underestimate a determined theif or vandal, they get anywhere. Sometimes when I'm riding on commuter transit routes into suburban areas, I'm completely flummoxed by the location of some of the graffiti. I often wonder how (and why) the heck these people manage to cross lines, scale walls and fences etc, just to tag a wall with a spray can. They'd have an easier job getting into Fort Knox.

[eolafan]

You make a point I have been perplexed over for years, that being WHY IN HELL somebody would spend all of the time and tons of money (although they probably steal the paint) on spray paint, to tag a car they will very, very likely never see again in their lives. Go figure!

[Anonymous]

Haven't heard anything up here in ohio but if we see something well let the railroad and cops know.Hope you catch them.
enjoy your friday
joe and matthew

[edblysard]

Yeah, I have seen it in some unreachable places myself, and wondered why go through that much work.
Ed

[Anonymous]

Hey, maybe the FBI should be looking for these guys. Boy that though makes me cringe! But who knows. Whoever is lifting the derails ought to remember - or be informed - that during WW2 messing with the rails could get you shot on sight - if there was an alert National Gaurdsman around. Even if they weren't shot on sight, certain execution as an enemy agent awaited anyone caught doing it.

Why isn't the Gaurd out there now! Or are they - and we just aren't told everything.

Someone better be watching! - Besides the train crews.

[Anonymous]

I have been told by the TM here in K.C. that the Guard has been on patrol. I hope that the rumor is true.
Ken

[Anonymous]

Hey Ed there been alot of discussion on the RR yahoo groups about these derails being stolen and all of them have been stolen from the eastern Texas area. Greenville, Tx has the most stolen with Seven.

[cabforward]

there are 2 aspects of dealing with unlawful behavior: deterrence and apprehension.. the first is where guys show up in uniforms, marked cars, flashlights and dogs-- to scare away the bad guys; the second is where the police dress in plainclothes (as gomer pyle said, 'i got a real old suit at home, it's as plain as anything') hoping the creep will appear at a location under surveillance.. of course, they're not telling anyone what they're doing or where.. you can't really tell what's happening by what you see, or don't see, can you?

the first sign that tells you something is going on is when everything looks perfectly normal..

[Anonymous]

Boy, I sure miss the good old days. As a teenager, I "lived" at the Grand Trunk shops during the summer. I had cab rides up the ying-yang. How's a young railfan to get those experiences these days? As paranoid as they are now, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to hear about 10 year olds being arrested for hanging around the local rail yard.
To quote my father, "For cryin'out loud!"
Todd C.

[BNSFNUT]

Wouldn't it been nice to have an railfan or two around with an camera.
It would be very hard to steal a derail or damage some track with someone watching.
Oh well.
Later