That can do lots of damage, indeed.
Posted on 09/27/2007 7:26:37 AM PDT by batter
FBI Investigating Suspected 'Sabotage' of Commuter Train Tracks in Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) -- The FBI is investigating whether a section of commuter train tracks was sabotaged after Metra workers discovered a dozen railroad spikes missing in an area on Chicago's South Side.
The spikes hold down metal plates that bind the rails to wooden ties underneath.
"If a sufficient number of spikes are removed in a contained location, there's the potential for the rail to shift, which would lead to disastrous results and train derailment," said Federal Railroad Administration spokesman Steve Kulm.
Metra discovered the missing spikes on Monday and notified police and federal authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration, which investigates threats to planes and trains.
The FBI said it was conducting a criminal investigation into "sabotage." FBI spokesman Ross Rice said agents were checking for possible connections to a domestic violence case involving a Metra engineer.
The affected tracks carry three commuter lines, including the Metra Electric Line to University Park and Blue Island, with around 40,000 riders daily, and the South Shore Line to Michigan City and South Bend, Ind.
I’m surprised they didn’t go ahead and declare that it is NOT terrorist related!
Better start checking the Baptist churches in the area! This act totally has the markings radical Baptists I tell ya - especially the old, white-haired granny types!
This could be the most murderous "domestic violence" case ever.
Talk about "lack of respect for human life."
On the serious side, hopefully there is some sort of evidence on this - whoever pulled the spikes needs to be stopped. It would also be nice to know if there was any recent work on the tracks (crew may have screwed up) but with the FBI called in and I’m betting that has already been looked into and ruled out.
Yeah. I guess the engineer’s spouse/live in/whatever rides the train?...
Not to criticize people and or a government that emboldens those who are actually MURDERISTS by calling them TERRORISTS, but perhaps we would all do better by describing them as such. Even though I live in Washington DC and for most of the years since September 11, 2001 (stop calling it “911” while we’re at it) my precious five-year-old attended a day care school in a high target federal government facility, but I have never been terrorized by these murderists. Let’s call them what they are, not what they want us to feel: anyone — be they American, Middle Eastern, or Chinese, who would seek to harm innocent civilians or even our military are MURDERISTS.
Well, one thing is certain, this isn't "suspected" sabotage. Spikes don't pull themselves out of ties and walk off, although you might think so from the speculation indulged in by whomever wrote the article.
Muskateer (see #7) also makes a good point. It will be interesting to see where this story goes (if the media follows it any further).
I’da been more worried if they would have found two pennies on the rail.
According to the same Trib article, shots were fired at two Metra trains in that area in June. She was not running either of those trains.
That’s my guess too. If a terrorist wanted to derail a train, there are faster more certain ways that it could be done than removing railroad spikes. Besides they are looking for bigger headlines that a derailed train killing maybe dozens.
This si southside Chicago. Not enough manpower to check ALL the Baptist churches there.
Excuse me! I haven’t been in CHI town since last year.
Excuse me! I haven’t been in CHI town since last year.
Isn't derailment about the most disastrous thing that can happen to a train?
Growing up, the train yard was one of those place my friends and I loved to play in. Looking back, its absolutely amazing we didn’t get ourselves seriously hurt or killed. Train hopping was a means of transportation from the east side of Cincinnati to the west side, and parts in between.
Having spent several summers around ‘the yards’ its not unheard of for kids to pull up loose ties...and its hardly uncommon for loose ties to be found along active rail lines.
In short, I seriously doubt its ‘sabotage’. A whole 12 spikes?
That can do lots of damage, indeed.
(chuckle)
Point well taken.
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