CAMPO, CALIFORNIA

The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum was burglarized this past week at their primary museum site in Campo. During the week, someone(s) entered the property and stole five historic air horns from on top of five different locomotives. This event most likely involved more than one person due to the weight of the horns, and, would have also taken several hours to accomplish. “This type of crime against the community is truly unbelievable,” said President Jim Lundquist. “For 23 years we have been volunteering our time and money to preserve the regions railroad history. Now, in the matter of a few hours, someone feels that they can just come onto our site and steal from us? I am really disappointed that this could have occurred from a non-profit museum.”

The air hours are mounted on top of each locomotive and are required by the federal laws to be in place and operational in order to operate the locomotives. Until and unless these can be replaced, these locomotives can not be operated. Each horn has a value of approximately $1,000, making the total value stolen in excess of $5,000.00. The types stolen were: 2 ea. Nathan P3, 2 ea. Nathan P5 and 1 Leslie Super Tyfon 3-chime.

Considered collection items, the most likely candidate to find them is for sale in various ways. “Chances are that someone saw these people while the crime was taking place or will see them for sale soon,” said Lundquist. “I’m so disappoint in these criminals actions that I pledge $1000.00 of my own money for any information which leads to the arrest, conviction and imprisonment of anyone involved in the crime.” Anyone with information is encouraged to call the County Sheriff at 858-565-5200 to make a report.

The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum maintains the Campo Railroad Museum since 1980 and operates the popular San Diego and Arizona Railway offering public rides on the weekends since 1986. For additional information regarding the Museum, please visit www.psrm.org


Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Homepage
jimlundquist55@yahoo.com

Jim, I'm afraid you'll find your air horns were stolen by people who supply them to truckers. RR air horns are much louder than truck air horns (and not street legal on trucks) and some of the less responsible truckers want them to customise their rigs.

This is similar to the air horn theft at SMS in South Jersey.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

There's a Nathan P 3 Chime Locomotive Train Air Horn for sale on Ebay....$400. Search under locomotive air horn.

kenm9@msn.com

Each horn has a value of
> approximately $1,000, making the total value
> stolen in excess of $5,000.00. The types
> stolen were: 2 ea. Nathan P3, 2 ea. Nathan
> P5 and 1 Leslie Super Tyfon 3-chime.

I hate to burst your bubble, but each horn is NOT worth $1,000 and up. Even brand new. The only exception to that would be a NEW Leslie. A used P-3 is going to be around the $400 mark. You will find some P-3's for less. Were they on the low profile manifolds? "Gull Wing" manifold? Old cast? New cast? The Nathan P-5's (depending if they were the Pat. Pend. or Pat. Pending models) can go as high as $500 - $700. A NEW Nathan P-5 is right around $700 if I remember right. Was the 3 chime Leslie a round back? Tab Back? RS back? Bronze back? Low profile manifold? Was it an S3K, S3BJ, S3L, RS3, RS3L?

I am not downplaying your loss, but giving you a more "accurate" estimation.

,” said
> Lundquist. “I’m so disappoint in these
> criminals actions that I pledge $1000.00

Right there will buy at least 2 horns off eBay.

Might just have to lick your wounds and go on.



bbjimbo@yahoo.com

Mark -

yes, the horns are replaceable. What I would rather have is a criminal behind bars for stealing railroad equipment from a railroad museum.

Jim

Home Page - Pacific Southwest Ry Museum
jim@sdrm.org

> Jim, I'm afraid you'll find your air horns
> were stolen by people who supply them to
> truckers. RR air horns are much louder than
> truck air horns (and not street legal on
> trucks) and some of the less responsible
> truckers want them to customise their rigs.

> This is similar to the air horn theft at SMS
> in South Jersey.

I will have to say that you are wrong about that. Yes there are a few truckers who have purchased real locomotive horns for their trucks but the majority of them buy the aftermarket Made in China 3 chime "train" horn that every truck parts company sells. If you ever get to go to a big truck show like the Diesel Truck Nationals in Englishtown NJ or something similar you will notice that they do NOT have stolen railroad property. So think before you speak and stereotype an entire industry when you can almost be certain it was a couple of foamers who took them for resale or for their own collection.

Do you think that a trucker broke into Strasburg and stole the number plates too?

Kevin

wok3002@aol.com

> I will have to say that you are wrong about
> that. Yes there are a few truckers who have
> purchased real locomotive horns for their
> trucks but the majority of them buy the
> aftermarket Made in China 3 chime
> "train" horn that every truck
> parts company sells. If you ever get to go
> to a big truck show like the Diesel Truck
> Nationals in Englishtown NJ or something
> similar you will notice that they do NOT
> have stolen railroad property. So think
> before you speak and stereotype an entire
> industry when you can almost be certain it
> was a couple of foamers who took them for
> resale or for their own collection.

> Do you think that a trucker broke into
> Strasburg and stole the number plates too?

Yes, you are correct in a sense that we can't prove that truckers are stealing the horns. However, discussions with a lot of short lines and horn collectors reveals that a great many of them have been approached by truckers looking for those horns to "blow them idiots who cut me off off the road". Usually, they can be talked out of it by having it pointed out that most states' regulations, one way or the other, will ban them from carrying out their plans. And it has been pointed out that the truckers who have managed to obtain these horns do a good job of hiding their presence from the police, behind shrouds or under hoods.

Air horns of all types are up on eBay all the time, including by one dealer who has an arrangement with a nearby scrapper. It's not necessary to steal a horn. A lowlife is still a lowlife.

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

> Mark -

> yes, the horns are replaceable. What I would
> rather have is a criminal behind bars for
> stealing railroad equipment from a railroad
> museum.

Somehow I think that the charming middle east custom of separating a thief from his/her hands is an appealing idea.


Superheater@rrmail.com

> Somehow I think that the charming middle
> east custom of separating a thief from
> his/her hands is an appealing idea.

Hows about 300 or so hours of Community Service ...ON THE TRACK GANG ....much more politically correct!

Some SOB out there still has my SP five chime from the 50s!


lamontdc@adelphia.net

> Hows about 300 or so hours of Community
> Service ...ON THE TRACK GANG ....much more
> politically correct!

> Some SOB out there still has my SP five
> chime from the 50s!

Since these air horns would appear to have been removed form operating locomotives, it would appear that the crime involved is one of Federal dimensions, that of removing or defeating a railway safety device. Has anyone called our freindly FBI into play on this?

BREHER1257@aol.com

> I will have to say that you are wrong about
> that. Yes there are a few truckers who have
> purchased real locomotive horns for their
> trucks but the majority of them buy the
> aftermarket Made in China 3 chime
> "train" horn that every truck
> parts company sells. If you ever get to go
> to a big truck show like the Diesel Truck
> Nationals in Englishtown NJ or something
> similar you will notice that they do NOT
> have stolen railroad property. So think
> before you speak and stereotype an entire
> industry when you can almost be certain it
> was a couple of foamers who took them for
> resale or for their own collection.

> Do you think that a trucker broke into
> Strasburg and stole the number plates too?

> Kevin

So I guess I was halucinating when I saw that K5LA on that truck a few years ago??

jtjjtb@aol.com

I'd love to think the FBI would be interested - but - I'm just thankful the local Sheriff filed a report! It just isn't a big enough crime money wise.

I do like the idea of losing a hand for the basta...(s) who took them.

Home Page - Pacific Southwest Ry Museum
jim@sdrm.org