All,

I recently had a headlight stolen from a locomotive. Thankfully, they only got away with a 200 dollar pyle headlight panel and NOT the whole number board. What types of anti-theft fasteners are available? I'm looking for a 1-5/16 anti-theft nut for the front and rear head lights. I've temporarily rigged up steel cables, zipties and gorilla tape over the bolts to the headlights as a deterrent in case they come back, which obviously won't stop someone determined.

Thanks.

McMaster-Carr they still print paper catalogs for all of us Luddites! They have thousands and thousands of products. Odd fasteners, metal products of all different alloys. Even found Whitworth thread dies! I'm sure its on line. They have been a go to company for me and others. And I'm positive that they stock many options in fasteners to meet your needs. We had a spate of airhorn thefts and as a quick fix we welded two nuts on the base of the horn together with a small steel strap. Still wouldn't stop some determined individual but worked for us. Invest in a camera if you have a place to put it they are getting less expensive all the time.
Good luck to you!
And the rest of us!!

The railroad I work for uses these, or a variant of.
https://www.mcmaster.com/security-machi ... -screws-8/

But, the reality is..its just as easy to get the various wrench/socket heads for those now also.. but it slows the morons down.

If they are morons, why are they outsmarting you?

Proprietary anti-theft screws https://www.brycefastener.com/
https://www.fastenright.com/products/se ... rity-bolts

Short of building a cage around everything, a cordless grinder will take off damn near anything.

Lightly tack-weld the bolt heads.
T7

After noticing those at work I went and bought a set of bits for them, I think at either Canadian Tire or Princess Auto, didn't have to look far at any rate.

Welds probably are the only firm solution, but as has been noted the more determined morons will just come back with a grinder.

Best device of all is a 200 lb. Rotwieller on a 200 ft. leash that's trained to take out the bad guys. End of troubles.

Ross Rowland

I found staking out the high horn theft location with the bulls was a good deterrent, too bad the thief slipped down the embankment and broke his wrist and ankle

I think the tack weld would slow some jerk down. A camera would help. As would a Pit Bull with PMS.

Rather ghoulish and socially incorrect but might get a point across after cameras, welding and Pit Bull with an attitude. How about hanging a head on a pole complete with painted up gross details with a crude sign that says "Vandal" or "thief", maybe "railfan". Only a moron would think it was actually real, but you might send a message that you catch them in the act it won't be pretty? Or less socially incorrect a sign that says all bodies will be shipped to East St. Louis or the South branch/Stetsons Canal off Cermack rd which ever is closest to home?

Regards, John.

The flip side is you cant tack a bolt on an aluminum or bronze horn, unless you can get to the bolts on the bottom, which can be a real chore in some places.

I am amazed that more groups are not making use of trail cameras. Battery powered, records to an SD card. Dirt cheap.

RCD hit the bullseye. Bryce Fastener. Do it once the right way. Great product. Great company.

At our yard, we use well hidden trail cams and move them around often. We’re also installing an HD security cam system with cell phone notification when they’re triggered. After the original horns were stolen off the 471, we just take them off, lock them up in a secure location and reinstall when we need to operate. It’s a PITA, but they won’t get stolen again. We’re looking into theft resistant fasteners, too so this is a timely thread.