According to a report on the EBT list, the Huntingdon (PA) Daily News reported that there has been an arrest. I have not been able to find an online version of the story, so I am only passing on what the EBT list report says. The thief allegedly sold the stolen rails to a scrap dealer in Lewistown for $10,475. The rails were valued at $72,000 and damage to the railroad is estimated to be $44,000.

The report says that the individual was arraigned on two felony counts of theft and a misdemeanor count of theft, one count of theft by deception and one count of criminal mischief.

--
Chris Webster
Personal Website Last Updated in 1996

According to the post on the EBT list, the thief was apprehended in Hamilton County, Nebraska on July 18. What I'm wondering is: where did this guy live - was he hiding out in Nebraska, or was that his home base? He obviously had local knowledge of the EBT, otherwise how did he know to forge the RR GM's signature on a phony bill of sale? If he was based in Nebraska, does this mean that he's been watching for disused tracks all over the country? (your siding could be next!!) By the way, the same report mentions the thief's new residence is the Huntingdon (PA) County Jail.

Jim Vliet

I found this on a news web site.

HUNTINGDON COUNTY, Pa. -- Police have been dealing with more copper and scrap metal thefts lately in the Alleghenies, but in Huntingdon County thieves have gone as far as lifting a quarter-mile stretch of railroad tracks right off the ground.

It's not something thieves could steal discretely. Officials at the East Broad Top Railroad said the thieves had it all planned out, right down to the bogus letter that said they had the rights to pick up the track.
The general manager of the railroad said he was on vacation for two weeks when the thieves stole the track. They showed a fake contract to some neighbors who stopped by to ask what they were doing. It even had the manager's signature on it.

The missing piece is worth about $25,000.

Some people who live along the railroad between Cooks and Robertsdale said they assumed the contract was legitimate. Others said they heard some banging and thought maybe the three men were just building a road. However, they were shocked to learn that the tracks were stolen.

State police said they do have suspects, but their investigation is ongoing.

The railroad wasn't in service. However, it is part of a national historic landmark. Officials said that means the thieves may have committed a federal offense.
Here's video:
http://mfile.akamai.com/12927/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2008/0702/16774213.200k.asx

Hope that helps,
Len.

I don't know any details, but I can assure you that you could find better rail to steal someplace closer to Nebraska than the EBT... Something just doesn't make sense.

When you're selling rail for scrap, they pay by the pound. There must be some abandoned branchlines in the midwest with big steel on them.

The bottom line is that your not to steal at all, that is plain stupid and illegal.
Len.

As a follow up to my previous post, I just heard this morning that the rail thief was from Saxton PA, which is about 10 miles west of the crime location.

Jim Vliet

Obviously, but my point was that if he did want to steal rail, he certainly could have someplace else to get it if he was coming from Nebraska. It turns out he was only 10 miles away, making it a crime of opportunity, and thus making more sense.

Don't you know, regardless where he was coming from, Crime doesn't pay!

Len.