A couple of local kids take a joy ride.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16666352/from/RS.2/

Teenagers interested in trains? Sign 'em up (if they're not psychos).

I sent out this story to some of my E-mail correspondents, and received a comment from an RMNE member about this incident----

"Seriously, given the sometimes-insane nature of Our Times (classroom massacres, bombings, etc. on the part of our youth), on a comparative basis, this crime is mild, especially if he and his friend were not out to intentionally harm anyone. They need to be punished, yes, because what they did certainly could have resulted injury, loss of life, or destruction of property. But, if the kid does not have a violent history, or otherwise doesn't have any deep-seated psychoses, and if only this kid's energies could be properly channeled, he could become a fine engineer, or even railroad executive, someday. I'm sure that's how some young boys ended up railroading back in the days of old."

Anyone from Hocking Valley care to weigh in on this incident?

Howard -

An interesting point of view. After some thought, I think I'd have to agree with you. How about community service AT Hocking Valley? Say maybe 100 hours for each kid. Cleaning, scrubbing, painting, etc. See how they feel about railroading after that time, and more importantly, how HV feels about THEM!

Les

LB, that's a great idea. Kind of a trial period. It could turn out positive for both HVRR and the two kids.

Oh, by the way, we decided we did NOT want any "community service" from the delinquents who torched our troop sleeper last May.

How anyone can say "this crime is mild" is absolutely flabbergasting. They could have slammed that locomotive into another train, a school bus, a oil tanker, you name it. Then who would pay for the death and destruction? Two kids from reform school, or the railroad? I certainly wouldn't want them working around me, and I can't speak for my museum, but I'm sure we wouldn't either.

It's unusual for newspapers to print the names of underage criminals like this, isn't it? Let's be sure to write them down.

Randall Hicks

Yes, it is a crime. Yes, it could have turned out much worse than it did.

But frankly, I had to smile when I read it, and really, a part of me is sort of pulling for the kids to get their lives on track and be able to tell the tale of how they "stole an engine" to their grandkids. I can't tell you how many oldtimers whose dads worked for railroads have told me their stories of sneaking into a yard and climbing into an engine that still had steam pressure, or the embers of a fire burning, and running the engine back and forth or down the line, only to get the "whuppin' of their life" when the super approached the daddy about the kids.

Good for them! Sorta. Good for Hocking Valley that it didn't turn out bad too.

Matt Bumgarner

A small part of me is jealous... reminds me of the time about 25 years ago when I got busted by the UP special agents for climbing through the cabs of some stored locomotives behind the UP station in SLC. I wasn't even driving age yet, but my goal was to start and/or move one of the locos. I didn't have a clue how to do that, and likely none of them were operational anyway, so nothing happened. The biggest threat to me would have probably been one of the transients that lived in/around the locos and nearby buildings.

'Robin Hood' analogies aside, I don't think bad behavior should go unpunished, lest copycats attempt to destructively one-up what was essentially a harmless prank. Next time, it could be worse.

Yes, what they did is serious. Yes, they should be punished. But, be creative enough so that the punishment becomes a positive-- a learning experience for those two, and just possibly, they may see why what they did was not good, and they may be able to see how to properly get "hands on" with this big iron. There is obviously a fascination there (at least with the older kid)--- put it to positive use.

Punish them harshly enough, and HVRR won't be able to build high enough fences to keep out resentful, vengeful vandals. Why not try converting them into two kids with a vested interest in the place?

Once again, one of the top five issues facing us is recruitment of those under oh, say, 40 years old. Maybe there's a couple of live ones here; maybe not.

Just to set things in perspective, I tend to be slightly to the right of Attilla the Hun when it comes to vandalism and related crimes.

Those kids could have done a bunch of things, but worrying about what might have happened is futile because it didn't happen.

I want to know how they knew how to move an engine. Locomotive brakes are not very intuitive, nor is starting a locomotive. Starting our GE or Plymouth takes some patience to fire up, especially in cold weather!

Hey guys i know one of the lil idiots that took off with that engine. Burks knows more about trains than probably the guys running them. He's from a problem family and has lack of disaplen. Before going to juvy he'd get up in the engines at Huntington without permission and such.



Scott

Heck, with that resume they could end up in congress!

While Engine is Shut down for the absence of people a the railroad the 400Amp fuse sure be pull a take to the locker a the want to prevent a 400Amp Knife switch by put a standard type to Blade from go to in the the stational portion.

Stan

That's an excellent idea. In fact, I do the same thing on my interurban cars so no one can accidentally put 600V on the third rail shoes. That could be deadly.

Out in NJ, there used to be a refuge for underemployed 'big cats.'
How about locking a couple of those critters in the 'house with the equipment overnight ? And-don't feed 'em...'til the sun rises.

Seriously, a couple of guard dogs ought to solve problems such as has been described.

DPK

I this get is this problem in the Museum RR 1 to 200 member can not like dog or scared.

The DERAIL attached to the branch near the main line with a different packlock to it the keep in the lock-up. The will keep the Car or Engine from that happen a accident or intention. Loose Air is the no,no.

The 400Amp fuse on the Engine remove at put in the lock-up. Or block the 400Amp Knife by a Standard type the go over the pole (Square (D) or Westhouse (call the to Square or Westhouse factory) or McMaster-Carr
The 400 is the same is the large factory to prevent a accident

Stan