Within the past few days, one or more persons entered the property of the Everett Railroad Company at Claysburg, PA, and removed journal brass from several friction-bearing cars. The thieves obviously knew what we had, where we had it, and had enough railroad knowledge and tools to do the job.

I would encourage everyone with friction bearing equipment to periodically check your cars to make sure everything is still there that is supposed to be there.

With the general escalation of scrap metal prices, we will have to give more thought to how we secure our property.

Alan Maples
Everett Railroad Co.

Another thing that we have had to watch is rail maintenance equipment such as tie plates, spikes, and even parts of crossing gate boxes. If it is easy to throw in the back of a truck, or the trunk of a car, it needs to be under lock and key or hidden.

Alan-

Dually noted, and as we have an active railroad next door, it is becoming a daily occurrence to check. Several individuals have been electrocuted in this state trying to take overhead wires, so this probably seems like a small risk in comparison.

And just when you thought no one in the general public REMEMBERED brasses anymore..... (sigh)

TJG

Unfortunately we have already been down this road too, and have had to retrieve track material from the scrap dealer with the aide of local law enforcement.

Alan Maples

We have twice lost scrap iron but nothing of any importance. This scrap iron was dragged under a fence so now we have pulled everthing away from the fence line. We also lock up any type of item made in any metals that we can not afford to lose. We are on railroad property as well and they have been losing scrap metals.

Thanks for the heads up on the caboose brasses. Our cabooses used to sit in the open where anyone could get to them, which someone did in the past (slight vandalism). Now our useable cabooses are stored behind fence with barbed wire topping. At least those are safe for now.

A bit off topic but this occurence is amazing. Recently, that past 4 months or so, someone has been stealing high tension power lines on my and other adjancent properties. These lines used to power a steel mill. The plant has been dormant for some years now. The theives actually cut down an "H" pole with a chain saw to start the process of gathering up the 1 1/2" thick high power copper wires. So far I am estimating several miles of wire is gone. Now they are stealing the wire from the other end of another adjacent property. They must have used spikes to climb up the "H" pole to cut the wire there. So far about 1000 ft is gone from that end. The Power Company has been alerted but seem to be in no hurry to look into this. They kind of know who it is but without catching them in the act, nothing can be done. We are suppose to alert them when we see something going on. Usually in the wee hours of the morn is their time of operaion. What, the local or state police can't set up a sting? The Power Company can't send their security team in on a stake out? The theives will probably end up with another 3 miles or so of copper power lines before its all over. Wait til the Steel Mill tries to power up one of these decades and nothing happens....Gary

Yet, forget to pay or pay late your electric bill and you are sure to get action from the Power Co and or Police if you should try to "steal" power.