As the head of a preservation group working on restoration to display status of a RI 4-6-2, I am concerned about the current wave of brass theft.

I am particularly interested in theft of axle brass bushings on steamers and tenders. Have any been stolen? How were they accessed? What has been the collateral damage when they were stolen?

Knowing the trouble it took me to get the brass out and back in, I find it hard to fathom someone putting this much time and effort out.

I pulled our webpages explaining how we got the bushings out. I really hated to do that, but felt I might be providing a manual for a thief.

In that same line of thinking, if you have some input on this subject and are not sure you want to present it to the forum, you can send it directly to me through this website or my e-mail: President905@cableone.net.

I will use the information provided to design our security.

Thanks, Mike Stuckert, President, Save the 905, Inc., http://www.RockIsland905.com

Tack-welding the journal box lids closed is a good precaution against theft of the brasses. "Out of sight, out of mind". Fortunately most folks don't know that plain journal bearings can be removed as you did; they assume that everything is pressed-on roller bearing.

Large brass and bronze valves are more problematical. Thieves know what these are. Boxing in the cab with expanded metal, painting everything so the valves don't appear as brass, and lighting the locomotive at night all help.

- Doug Debs