Theives have taken two water valves for the tender of Georgia Northern 107, currently undergoing a cosmetic restoration at Thronateeska Heritage Center in Albany, GA. The flanged valve bodies had intergral discharge pipes with bronze hose clamp fittings. While the valves were cast steel, I suspect the theives were after the bronze, and not being able to remove it quickly on site, threw them into the back of a pickup truck and did their work elsewhere.

The restoration area is, unfortunately, quite open, but the valve assemblies were somewhat hidden in tall grass and weeds on a pallet until we started cleaning up as the project winds down. Once all the clutter was cleaned up around them, I suppose they became more obvious and more easily accessible. I have posted notices with the 2 scrap dealers here in town, but with no luck so far. I do not expect to recover them, but if anyone knows of a pair of discharge valves with a 10 1/4 inch bolt center flange please let me know.

Lesson learned...even steel valves are subject to being theived with the price of scrap as high as it has gone.