Nine Train Derailers Taken

ABC News ^ | 5/8/03 | Jason A. Ryan

[neefer]

W A S H I N G T O N, May 8—Devices 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

[martin_fierro]

I seem to recall on 9/11/01 that there was a train derailment out West.

Coincidence?

[neefer]

"have been stolen recently"

It would be nice to have more detail. Over how many months?

[thatsnotnice]

On an unrelated note, spend a day or two in Barstow and you’ll be amazed at the amount of rail traffic. 24/7. Day and night you’ll hear the low rumbling of trains passing through. They’re not little 40 car trains either. They'll literally roll through every five minutes.

Barstow, Baker, Kelso… there’s a whole lot of nothing out there. Except for trains.

I’d recommend that everybody visit the Mojave area at least once.

[BagCamAddict]

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."

[LibKill]

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.

[demnomo]

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...

[eno_]

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.

[Bedford Forrest]

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.

[Newbomb Turk]

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.

[Willie Green]

May 8—Devices 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!!!

[Newbomb Turk]

Watching all those cars go by with the cool artwork makes me want to buy stock in Krylon.

[neefer]

Isn’t 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! I’ve read this weeks ago.” Considering my source, I thought it was wise not to post under “breaking news.”

[Axenolith]

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)...

[error99]

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.

[TaMoDee]

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.

[hedgetrimmer]

I've been to Barstow. I actually spent some fun summers there!

[Uncle George]

Yes, READ IT FIRST ON F.R., as Alamo Girl would say "thanks for the heads up".

[Alamo-Girl]

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!

[snickeroon]

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.