Sometime between Friday, Nov. 6th and Tuesday, Nov. 10th, a theft occurred at the Roanoke Chapter NRHS's maintenance facility. It probably took place sometime over the weekend while we were occupied with operating our successful Amtrak excursion. A cut in our fence was noticed on the 10th, but not reported. Members attending an 1118 work session on the 12th discovered the missing items. GP30 #522 had it's bell stolen. This was a standard brass diesel bell, stamped "C&O Ry.", and was the personal property of one of our members. The small "Stop Look Listen" sign in the below photo was taken. (it was a repro)

http://wizzy.rrpicturearchives.net/show ... id=1763723

Also , the data plate from a privately owned Fairmont M-19 motorcar was removed.
This was obviously a "railfan" theft, things that would have attracted your typical scrap thieves were undisturbed. The theft was reported to the Roanoke City police and covered by the Roanoke Times.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/226150

If anyone has any information on the thefts, please contact us.
Thanks,

Sorry about the thievery... Is that the CW Baldwins from the scrap yard?

Best of luck catching the jerks who stole your members' stuff...

Mike

Gary, I'm sorry to hear this. We still fondly remember your hospitality this past July.

the rusty diesels behind it are the cw diesels from the scrap yard.

Mike, Yes, that's CW 662 and 663 behind 41. The photo was taken the day we moved them in.
Steve, Thanks for the kind words. I hope you and Rick can make it down again soon, we can compare notes on N&W 4-8-0's.
We had a mechanical committee meeting last Saturday. Besides working on the restoration plan for 1118, we decided to ask the Board for some funding for better security measures.

Regards,

I see why you don't care for rail fans much. Some low life to break in and steal these items. Even when I find a abandoned rail or trestle I leave things as I found them. Living not far from the NRHS facility I know this all too well. Just a few weeks ago someone got in my backyard and took some scrap radiators I had. I also have a 6ft chain link fence but that did not stop them.
As this is a older story I hope the stolen items were found.

Many years ago I coined the term "railfinks" for the marginal characters on the fringes of our hobby/calling/business who bring disrepute to the whole world of railfans. For example, there was one fellow who thought No Trespassing didn't apply to him: among other things, he got into the Southern Pacific West Colton Yard and boarded cars going down the hump track to get "unique" home movies. Back in the 60's when retired LA streetcars were stored at Vernon Yard (southeast of downtown LA) some local traction "fans" were found removing parts from the PCC cars waiting to be sold to other countries. That was bad enough, but when they identified themselves as members of the local railway preservation group, their memberships were promptly revoked. Some time later, there was a story circulating about one of the few surviving Midwestern electric railways that finally had to post signs reading, bluntly: Railfans stay out after losing valuable hardware to some sticky-fingered railfinks. It's a shame when scarce funds have to be spent on security rather than positive projects, but until I am elected Supreme Deity and have the power to hurl thunderbolts at evil doers, it's part of life.

I thought the term was RALF Rail Artifact Liberation Front or something like that. Try an electric fence, a few thousand volts deters lots of unwanted people and if they cut the wire it can set off an alarm.

Somebody might want to check recent eBay sales. I seem to recall a bell was sold with C&O identifying marks.