***STOLEN BELL ALERT***-Southern 154

o484 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:30 am

hullmat991 wrote:

I remember reading this on Cockroach2008's youtube profile after seeing the horrible comments he posts on all steam videos and after reading the thread it made me wonder how much of the above is really within his ability to do.

You can't take Cockroach seriously; he is simply just a troll. Back on topic, this is great news and probably one of the few times stolen (metal) property has been returned intact in this day and age.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Jan 21, 2015 4:05 pm

traindude70 wrote:

A little bit more info on the recovery.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/local-news ... n_92532360

"Full story available to subscribers only."

Can anyone give us the one-sentence synopsis?

dinwitty · **Joined:** Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm **Posts:** 2226

yes, where was it found, who took it

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Thu Jan 22, 2015 11:41 am

The good guys win. Refreshing.

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1087

A January 20, 2015 Press Release from the Three Rivers Rambler:

Quote:

Press Release ~ Bells and Whistles: The Return of Stolen History

Today the Three Rivers Rambler held a special ceremony to celebrate the return of No. 154's stolen bell.

No. 154 is an 1890 steam engine that ran freight operations in Knoxville in the early 1900's. The engine was stored in a Knoxville park for fifty years before being restored by the Three Rivers Rambler train ride. The coal-fired steam engine- believed to be one of the oldest operating steam engines in the United States- has been in service on the Three Rivers Rambler for about four years.

Last summer 154's bell was stolen from the engine. Two members of the Knoxville community- Bo Shafer, owner of a local insurance company, and Finbarr Saunders, a city councilman- each stepped forward to donate a replacement bell to the 3RR. Bo Shafer's bell is now in operation on steam engine No. 203. Finbarr Saunder's bell will be permanently displayed in the new 3RR depot.

Due to the efforts of the Knox County Sheriff's department, 154's bell was recently recovered and returned today to its proper place. A replica of 154 was given to Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones as an expression of gratitude.

And an irreplaceable piece of history rings in its rightful place once again.

p51 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2015 8:36 pm

I guess I have to ask the obvious question: What's to stop this from happening again?

southern154 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:54 pm **Posts:** 321

p51 wrote:

I guess I have to ask the obvious question: What's to stop this from happening again?

They are welding the bell to the top of the locomotive, and since that time 203, 154 (and 60) have been stored inside locked areas. 203 is normally stored down by the Tennessee River just about a half mile up river from Neyland Stadium and 154 at G&O shops, I don't know where 60 is stored.