I have started a new thread, since the "611 news" thread has been beat to death.
Criminal charges filed against x-employee, press release available on WMSR's FB page.
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One of the most interesting items I noticed in that "press release" was, all the drivers are now at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Shop for re-work of the axles, crankpins and quartering of same. All six drivers had previously been re-worked (new tires and various machining) at the Strasburg Rail Road Shop, but then the WMSR folks just let them sit out in the weather, upon their completion. Then again, maybe the contractor for the WMSR (Diversified Rail Services) didn't like the work that Strasburg did, so now it has to be done all over again at the TVRM? Certainly VERY strange goings on at the WMSR!!!
Kelly Anderson posted:We were hired to replace the tires only. The journals and crankpins came in covered up, and we were told not to disturb the covers since those parts were, "in excellent condition and needed no work."
Just as I figured, i.e. those folks at WMSR don't know what the he&& they are doing!
OK, here's a link: https://www.facebook.com/WMSRa...ts/10156027130242970
It's just sickening that someone involved in restoring this treasure would do something so despicable. Sold for scrap? Cripes. I'd give him the maximum in jail.
Kent in SD
There’s a lot that doesn’t smell right at the WMSRR. Not just a disgruntled ex employee breaking in and stealing things. Just another in a series of unfortunate events.
Now WMSR is steamless for a while with 734 down. I guess your next best option is Cass, or Great Smoky Mountain, TVRM, Reading and Northern, etc. All of them have operating steam.
superwarp1 posted:There’s a lot that doesn’t smell right at the WMSRR. Not just a disgruntled ex employee breaking in and stealing things. Just another in a series of unfortunate events.
Smells like mismanagement to me.
First thing I would do is have the books audited, see if anything else is missing.
AmeenTrainGuy posted:I have read the facebook post but don't understand one thing: Is it actually worth it to sell these pieces of metal to the scrap yard?
Absolutely! May I suggest that you research the prices for scrap brass and copper? You will be amazed. That's why the "professional copper thieves" break into new construction homes, and quickly steal every inch of copper pipe, and/or copper roof flashing & gutters.
Do these pieces of metal, or brass actually get good money, or do they just get a few bucks?
Extremely good money. Again, look up the daily prices of scrap metals, i.e. copper and brass.
I am sorry if the question is really stupid but I don't know much about this business.
Well, that's you you learn about the "business" of stealing copper and brass.
AmeenTrainGuy posted:I meant the business of metal working!
The thieves do NOT "work the metal". They just sometimes cut it into smaller pieces, and take it all to a scrap yard.
But anyway thanks for the reply HotWater.
Something like this can delay or kill the project. What if he would have made off with the parts and actually sold them to a scrapyard? I guess this and UP’s program under Ed have been the two most controversial steam projects going on. But at least UP is actually going somewhere with the Big Boy restoration. The 2100 and 2102 restorations are another thing. Those are having delays as well. And where would 2100 run? CVSR? If you want to see an articulated run you might as well save your pennies and go to Cheyenne or wherever in 2022 or whenever the big boy runs. Who knows if 1309 will even run.
Robert K posted:If you want to see an articulated run you might as well save your pennies and go to Cheyenne ........
Or South Dakota.
Kent in SD
Were the stolen items from the #1309 recovered? As stated, the salvage yard notified the Allegany County Sheriff's Office of suspicious salvage activity.
Most of the salvage yards in the Cumberland area are always on the look out for RR property. CSX has the locomotive shops there, as well as car and row repair parts there, so salvage yards are well aware of any type of railroad equipment.
I don't think one thief is reason not to think 1309 won't run someday. Maybe it won't be soon, but when they do you will be able to see one of the larger steam locomotives almost every weekend, no class 1 railroad needed for operation.
Ed
I hope 1309 does run someday. Once it's all assembled it's landlocked though in the sense that the only connection to the outside world is CSX at Cumberland. I read that CSX won't even tow a dead steam locomotive, it has to be shipped on a flat car which is how 1309 got from Baltimore to Cumberland. Along the way the CSX move handling 1309 ran into a fallen crossing signal on the tracks and had to stop. If it does run it will be the largest operating steam locomotive besides the Big Boy. But does WMSR have any open window coaches? They look like all 1950's streamlined coaches with sealed windows like that were on the NS steam excursions the past several years. I guess they allow vestibule riding, though.
They do not have any open window coaches. The vestibules are about the only place you can catch the air. One thing they did i did not agree with was they either sold or traded away "Man O' War", which had those big open windows at one end. It was great for watching and also shooting video. also liked the history of that car, it was towed by 611 for many a mile! (As well of 734, later of course)
Ed
Gotta pay for those Oxies somehow...
Jon 
PAUL ROMANO posted:Were the stolen items from the #1309 recovered? As stated, the salvage yard notified the Allegany County Sheriff's Office of suspicious salvage activity.
Can anyone reply to the above question with a definitive answer?
Meanwhile, a second 2-6-6-2 Mallet is being restored and just might be finished in time for this season. There will then be TWO of these running on the Black Hills Central Railroad. Dare I say, "double headed Mallets?"
Things are being done quietly and right in South Dakota.
http://www.blackhillsbadlands....-60-years-1880-train
Kent in SD
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New information posted on RYPN, provides a link to a news release. Reportedly, the Allegany County Sheriff's Deputies served an arrest warrant on 39 year old (on Feb 14, 2018), former WMSR employee, Scottie Dixon. He is charged with Felony Theft.
