http://www.orovillemr.com/news/ci_15155413


Park loco mania sinks to new level.

Rob

Police praise citizens for notifying them of this guy, but they have had him several times before and apparently didn't do enough to keep him off the streets. He will be back out menacing the public quite soon, and all of this will have to repeat ad infinitum.

Eventually the guy's habit will do him in. Unfortunately, it will probably be kids who discover the result and have to live with the memory.

Other than good lighting, a fence, strong locks, and hopefully a busy location, do any readers have good (legal!!!!!!!!!) suggestions of ways to make park displays an unattractive place for drunks and drug addicts to do their thing?

Steve Hunter

The phenomenon of unprotected park displays should become extinct in my opinion! What a bad idea to begin with.

But I think what the city of Lima has done with 779 should be a model for others to follow, sheltered loco., windward side blocked off, and fencing to keep the meth heads out.

This Locomotive is surrounded by a fence, barbed wire on top, lights, AND (now, finally) a camera. Still, over the years; Bell stolen, WP signs on tender taken, and last year most electrical fittings in the cab, lubricator, whistle, gauges, air pump regulator and some other small fittings were stolen (at the same time the Shay at the other end of the park lost a sight glass, lubricator, injectors and the air compressor governor. It too is surround by a barbed wired fence--that was cut to allow the parts to be removed. I think we know who did the stealing--he even sold the sight glass and the brake handles on eBay, but the police claim I can't identify them, so eBay was not contacted.
Also, the windows in both locomotives have been replaced many times, and are presently in a complete state of disrepair due to vandals.
Outdoor displays will be vandalized, there is no way around it. These locomotives were not engineered to be left out in the weather--that's why railroads spent so much money on roundhouses!!
BTW, the locomotive on display in Dunsmuir, Ca lost its whistle, air bell ringer and a few other items. Sure sounds like someone was on a "shopping spree." This is not stuff taken for the scrap metal value!!
Also, back to this clown, he apparently took the broken bell cradle that has been in the cab for decades and dragged it over to a park bench were it was found and is now stored--with a fresh break on the ringer mount. Sad to say, I suspect when the bell was stolen decades ago, it WAS for the brass, else why leave the cast cradle behind?
What isn't stolen off outdoor display engines will rust & rot away until they are cut up for scrap.
Disgusting!!
Steamcerely,
David D.

To prevent scrap metal theft, have you guys come across "SmartWater"? This stuff is an artificial DNA marker which is sprayed on and lasts for up to 10 years on metal. In the UK the cops can scan a suspect piece of scrap for the dye, and find out where it came from inside a few hours. If you are a scrap merchant, or if its in the back of your pick up, and you can't explain how you got it, you have a problem. Around Birmingham NetworkRail spray the stuff from a backpack along the lineside, using a different code for every quarter mile. After a few thorough raids, I'm told the local merchants have got very wary of buying odd stuff from funny people.

Tim

It would be nice if someone could post the identity this thief uses on Ebay to unload these stolen items Id like to see him put out of business and behind bars