Report from TrainOrders indicates that a distinctive (possibly unique) steam gauge from SP&S 700 was stolen in a burglary at the Brooklyn Roundhouse offices (along with a VCR, cash, soda, etc.) this weekend. Report at TrainOrders has photos of the gauge in question.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/r ... ?10,687279

TrainOrders thread
LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

As long as there are fans you will have this. I often thought of a web site that lists all stolen RR items.
Over the months and years we will tend to forget what was stolen if it wasn't removed from us personally. A web site would keep a list hopefully for years that everyone could refer to just in case something seems fishy.This would also let the thief know we have not forgot.

TWM Long (Mr. Tom), former owner of the Reader RR always used to say," The vereh (very) ones that get teahs (tears) in their eyes when they heah (hear)the whistle blow are the ones that'll steal it when your back is turned."

I think this is an excellent idea. It really bothers me that some greedy jerk thinks that a piece of a living artifact is in a better place hidden under his bed, than as part of the object it has been a crucial part of for decades.
I guess it just goes to show you how far some "railfans" will go and why I always call myself a preservationist instead.
To show the other side of the coin, I've always admired the family of the late great Graham County RR engineer Ed Collins. They rightfully owned his signature whistle that sat on "his" Shay 1925. When the engine was restored, they donated this priceless artifact to the NCTM, to help complete the Shay for others to enjoy. If you've ever heard it, you'd know it and realize that it is part of what made the 1925 and the GCRR unique.
Lets hope they get the b**turds.

Mike
TWVRPS

> As long as there are fans you will have
> this. I often thought of a web site that
> lists all stolen RR items.
> Over the months and years we will tend to
> forget what was stolen if it wasn't removed
> from us personally. A web site would keep a
> list hopefully for years that everyone could
> refer to just in case something seems
> fishy.This would also let the thief know we
> have not forgot.


yenko117@yahoo.com

We all tend to think railfan, Foamer, or whatever when something like this happens. However, the report indicates this was the only locomotive related item taken, along with easily pawned stuff like a VCR etc.
The possibility, or probability, exists that it may have been an individual with no interest in vintage railroad equipment at all. Or, not even interest in any railroad subject.
Instead, it can easily be a typical derelict addict looking for stuff to sell quickly for money. Seeing that "cool" guage, knowing nothing about it other than it looks cool, he takes it along. It may even now be adorning a shelf in a pawn shop, or more likely laying on a cardboard box in a rented room, a souvenir until he's evicted and moves on, taking only that which he can carry. The rest, left behind, is thrown in the garbage by an annoyed landlord who has no knowledge of what it is.
Why do I say this?
Because this type of thief is far more common, and because other items steam locomotive related were apparently not taken.
Rail people wouldn't bother with a vcr, or pop, and would instead take all the jewelery they can haul off.
Mark D.

> TWM Long (Mr. Tom), former owner of the
> Reader RR always used to say," The
> vereh (very) ones that get teahs (tears) in
> their eyes when they heah (hear)the whistle
> blow are the ones that'll steal it when your
> back is turned."

I have ridden the Reader with Mr.Tom and have
wandered all over his property. That's why I was so suprised to arrive there and find it all fenced in and with the 'No Tresspassing" Signs.
It was in a conversation with him later that he
said they had never had a problem until the word got out that they were closing. After that stuff
just began to evaporate and he felt that it was the fans who were walking off with the relics.
I have belonged to the Rocky Club since back in the 50's and it made me proud to have an official
on one of our 3 day Alamosa to Durango trips tell me that with our club they never worried about us. Our behavior on the property was such that
they didn't worry about us doing foolhardy stunts
or walking off with railroad property. This wasn't true of all the groups they handled and he
cited the instance of one group stealing all the
seat back head covers.
With our display engine we worry all the time that
someone will come in and steal the gauges, bell or whistle and have asked the Police Department for extra security patrol because of that worry.
Jim

rrfanjim@charter.net

Kindly allow an ole retired southern PO' - lice to opine....

This sounds like a "contract" job. Here's how it is done. A railfan, not necessarily local, finds a local thief or some bunch of thieves. Easy to do in most cities... the cops know'em... lawyers know'em... and so do most serious local news reporters (that leaves out 99.44% of your town's pretty TV types). Anyway, the buyer places the "order" plus tells the thief to take anything else he can haul as a bonus.

Now, come a problem for the recipient of the stolen goods -- how do you tell anyone, show anyone, what you've just acquired.

Keep y'alls ears to the ground...rumor often will lead you to the item. It may get returned through some murky 3rd or 4th party "intermediary" who get his pockets lined with one or two large.

I worked a case like this involving a load of classic Indian artifacts (ceremonial flint blades and pottery). We made it "real hot" on a half dozen thieves. They started getting stopped and ticketed for everything from cracked windshields to having no license plate lights. In economic terms, we raised the cost of doing business on a whole class. Sure enough, the collection resurfaced and came home one night, transferred into the trunk of my Crown Vic in a local hotel parking garage. I don't know if rules and regulations allow this sort of law enforcement any more. However, it sure was fun, and often effective.

I always knew who the thieves and the recipient were. But knowing it and proving it are two different things. Might have to settle for just getting the artifact back...and then calling a local alarm company for an upgrade.

amiller@rtms-movietrains.com

This incident brings me back a year ago when the number plates and other items were stolen from the Strasburg Railroad. I have been looking for those plates ever since and not a hint has surfaced about them. I hope that this gauge does not disappear like those plates. It is really sad that these problems seem to be on the increase. Air horns, plates, and now gauges!!

steamfan@crusoe.net

> A long time ago, probably in about 1967 or so, my brother an I came across an older guy {probably 40, I was young} who was taking the brake valve/stand off the Woodward #41 at Mid-Continent musuem. My brother was suspicious and we confronted him. He gave us a PT Barnum bit about rebuilding these brake valves for the museum and then putting them back later on. He said he did work for the Union Museum too. I forget if we took his licence number or what. Don't think we ever pursued it anyway. To this day the engine is missing it's brake valve/stand and we never saw the guy again. Hope it is on a running engine anyway. I wish I had been older and wiser at the time, I would never even think of backing off and letting this type of thing go unchecked. As a 11 or 12 yr old kid, I didn't think to much about it at the time. Oh well. Regards, John.

springfield@tds.net

Just curious, is this a jewelry item that would normally be taken off the locomotive during storage in the roundhouse? I know that SBRHS removes whistle, bell, number plates etc. I hope no one who reads this board is low enough to steal from a preservation group or anyone else for that matter. Really sad.

ed.sinclair@solutionintegrators.com

Having been tru the "crime scene", I can say that I highly doubt the criminal was a railfan and only saw the the value in scrap. There's alot of other items that weren't taken and and criminal had set up a "shop" to strip wire.

I'm waiting to see this as a story published in town.......

Smokebox

> Just curious, is this a jewelry item that
> would normally be taken off the locomotive
> during storage in the roundhouse?

Read the reports--the gauge WAS removed and was in storage in an office, not on the 700, or so the reports say.

Also, look at the photos. The gauge was distinctive, possibly unique--not a run-of-the-mill, off-the-shelf gauge.

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

> Read the reports--

What reports?? read them where??

the gauge WAS removed and
> was in storage in an office, not on the 700,
> or so the reports say.

what reports?

> Also, look at the photos. The gauge was
> distinctive, possibly unique--not a
> run-of-the-mill, off-the-shelf gauge.

what photos, what reports ?


mike211@yknet.ca

> What reports?? read them where??

> the gauge WAS removed and

> what reports?

> what photos, what reports ?
Well, the best reports I read were on Trainorders. Photos and all. After reading the reports I came to the conclusion it was not likely a railfan/thief but rather someone looking for stuff for quick cash and when they saw that big gauge just HAD to have it.
Mark D.

> What reports?? read them where??

Read the first post in this thread--it had links to the TrainOrders thread, which (for the time being) can still be read by non-members.

Here it is again:
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/r ... ?10,687279

and AGAIN..........
LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net