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Nine Train Derailers Taken
ABC News ^
| 5/8/03
| Jason A. Ryan
Posted on 05/08/2003 3:54:19 PM PDT by neefer
W A S H I N G T O N, May 8Devices that could be used by terrorists to derail trains are being stolen from rail facilities around the country, the FBI warned today.
Nine derailers, which are normally used to get jumped trains back on track, have been stolen recently, sources said, citing the FBI's weekly intelligence bulletin.
The theft of these items is strange since they are of little use outside of the rail industry, according to the bulletin.
Railroads have been targeted in the past by terrorists, the bulletin said.
It specifically mentioned the Oct. 1995 derailment of an Amtrak train in Hyder, Ariz. In that incident, one person was killed and 78 were injured when parts of the track were sabotaged. The FBI located a derail 50 miles from Hyder.
The bulletin does not mention a specific threat, and the FBI has no indication the derail thefts are related to terrorism. The bulletin is distributed weekly to 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies around the United States.
The bureau has also warned in the past that railways and other mass conveyances could be terrorist targets
TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: fbi; terror
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1
posted on
05/08/2003 3:54:19 PM PDT
by
neefer
To: neefer
I seem to recall on 9/11/01 that there was a train derailment out West.
Coincidence?
2
posted on
05/08/2003 4:04:38 PM PDT
by
martin_fierro
(A v v n c v l v s M a x i m v s)
To: martin_fierro
"have been stolen recently"
It would be nice to have more detail. Over how many months?
3
posted on
05/08/2003 4:15:47 PM PDT
by
neefer
To: neefer
On an unrelated note, spend a day or two in Barstow and youll be amazed at the amount of rail traffic. 24/7. Day and night youll hear the low rumbling of trains passing through. Theyre not little 40 car trains either. They'll literally roll through every five minutes.
Barstow, Baker, Kelso
theres a whole lot of nothing out there. Except for trains.
Id recommend that everybody visit the Mojave area at least once.
To: martin_fierro
I remember that, and at the time, I thought it was terrorism. But you know the drill... "No, not terrorism, nothing to worry about. Nothing to see. Move on people."
To: neefer
It's more likely they was a recent inventory and they were found to be missing.
If they have been stolen, and not misplaced, it's anyone's guess when.
6
posted on
05/08/2003 4:18:24 PM PDT
by
LibKill
(MOAB, the greatest advance in Foreign Relations since the cat-o'-nine-tails!)
To: BagCamAddict
Yup. And if I recall correctly, there was little, if any, follow-up to that incident, save a brief mention that neo-Nazis may have been involved. Hmmm. I wonder if these were like the neo-Nazis and Iraqi agents that a reporter from OKC claimed were also involved with McVeigh and the 4/19/93 OKC bombing?
Nothing to see here. Move on...
7
posted on
05/08/2003 5:07:01 PM PDT
by
demnomo
To: demnomo
Recall that all the usual FR spinmeisters were saying "there are derailments all the time" and yet, I have heard no news of derailments recently.
8
posted on
05/08/2003 5:31:00 PM PDT
by
eno_
To: thatsnotnice
For pure self indulgence, nothing beats sitting in your vehicle in the Safeway parking lot in Benson around sundown[while the Czarina is inside shopping]counting those railcars headed west.
9
posted on
05/08/2003 5:42:05 PM PDT
by
Bedford Forrest
(Roger, Contact, Judy, Out. Fox One. Splash one.)
To: eno_
There were two derailment within 30 minutes of my house just this week. It happens a few times every year I would bet at least once a month. Coal and grain cars mostly not passangers.
10
posted on
05/08/2003 5:47:21 PM PDT
by
Newbomb Turk
(where were you on Holloween night 1965)
To: neefer; Uncle George; Jim Robinson
May 8Devices that could be used by terrorists to derail trains are being stolen from rail facilities around the country, the FBI warned today.Boy, the FBI sure is slow passing this news along.
Uncle George told me about these 9 derail devices being stolen back on April 4, in reply #19 on this thread.
Kudos to FReeper "Uncle George"!!!
You beat the FBI and ABC News in warning us of this by more than a full month!!!
To: neefer
Watching all those cars go by with the cool artwork makes me want to buy stock in Krylon.
12
posted on
05/08/2003 5:51:14 PM PDT
by
Newbomb Turk
(where were you on Holloween night 1965)
To: Willie Green
Isnt that one of the best things about the FR? There are times, when my addiction is at its peak, I watch the national news and think Bo-r-r-ring! Ive read this weeks ago. Considering my source, I thought it was wise not to post under breaking news.
13
posted on
05/08/2003 6:38:31 PM PDT
by
neefer
To: neefer
Well DUH!?!? Last time I worked in rail yards around here they left them lying around willy nilly. Also, the main use in the yards I was in was as a last stopgap on the safety chain to keep peole working on the tracks from getting hit (by derailing an approaching car)...
14
posted on
05/08/2003 6:42:47 PM PDT
by
Axenolith
(I wish I may, I wish I might ...have pizza for my dinner tonight.)
To: Axenolith
I agree, and if they are like the ones i am familiar with, it would be about silly to risk getting caught trying to steal one, and not too difficult a job just to make one.
15
posted on
05/08/2003 6:49:56 PM PDT
by
error99
To: thatsnotnice
Howdy from North Barstow. Two Longs, a Short, a Long. That's what I hear all night long. BNSF or UP trains blowing the equipment crossing just East of the First Avenue
Bridge.
Yup, a couple of derails would slow things down alright.
16
posted on
05/08/2003 7:57:45 PM PDT
by
TaMoDee
To: TaMoDee
I've been to Barstow. I actually spent some fun summers there!
To: Willie Green; Alamo-Girl
Yes, READ IT FIRST ON F.R., as Alamo Girl would say "thanks for the heads up".
To: Uncle George
Indeed! Free Republic has been first on a number of stories, and the pings are extremely helpful to sort through all the wonderfully engaging material. Hugs!
To: Alamo-Girl
Wouldn't you know, after vaguely remembering a train derailment within the last seven days, the thread appears on FR May 6, as it is happening.
Question is: Is there a coincidence of "no coincidence" here? Found a short version of the event on a Myrtle Beach news site:
"GEORGETOWN COUNTY...The cause of a train derailment Friday in rural Georgetown County remains a mystery, according to officials with CSX Railroad.
Company spokesman Dan Murphy said the accident investigation could take another week.
The wrecked railroad cars have been removed from the tracks crossing Pennyroyal Road, just off U.S. 17.
At least seven cars flipped over, dumping about 700 tons of coal on the ground.
The 92-car train was carrying about 9,000 tons of coal to Winyah Generating Station.
There were no reported injuries in the derailment accident."
Then again, certainly there is nothing to see there.....just lots and lots of coal, and a warning issued post haste.
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