30 Tonnes of Rail Stolen

[PFX]

Just came across the following story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-24474207.

About 30 tonnes of rail has been stolen from a railway yard in Aberdeen.

British Transport Police said it was likely a lorry was used to remove the rail, which is worth several thousands pounds, from Kittybrewster Retail Park between 04:00 and 05:00.

Could this be one of the most brazen rail thefts yet?

 

[michael769]

Afraid not. Thefts of this nature are quite common country wide.

 

[Markos72]

Saw this on the Control log earlier in the week.

 

[rebmcr]

So at 60kg/m (-ish), that's 500m worth.

 

[swt_passenger]

Leamside was an infamous theft, ten years ago.

Bloke set up a false company and hired a workforce, worked in Jarvis hi-vis, passers by thought they were the full monty...

As reported here:

An engineer who set up a sophisticated scam to steal two and a half miles of railway track worth £250,000 was jailed for two years yesterday.
Glen Pendleton formed a maintenance company to hire unsuspecting workers to lift 350 tons of metal in broad daylight to sell as scrap.
His labour force spent six days using heavy machinery to dismantle the Leamside line near Penshaw, Sunderland.
Pendleton, 49, gained his knowledge of the rail industry while working for the maintenance company Jarvis.
He hired machinery and drafted in workers from Sheffield after setting up KGT Enterprises, of which he was a director.
Newcastle upon Tyne Crown Court heard that his labourers wore Jarvis jackets to make them look less suspicious to onlookers.
When Pendleton felt that work was not progressing quickly enough he ordered a second mechanical digger to be brought in on the fifth day.
But his scheme came to light the next day when a genuine Jarvis employee saw what was happening and called in the police in January.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...ineer-stole-two-miles-of-track-for-scrap.html

 

[Ploughman]

Similar case near Wakefield in mid 90s.
1/2 mile of rails disappeared from a disused branch over a weekend.

 

[455driver]

Saw something similar at a commuter station at 2 oclock on an afternoon once, a 24 tonne lorry with a hiab parked in the car park with the hiab reaching over the fence picking up the cut rails and loading them on the back of the lorry, I wrote down the reg no and contacted the signaller who wasnt aware of anything scheduled so rung the Police up and he was arrested for the theft of the rail. Did I get any sort of thanks, did I hell as like.

 

[Murph]

It reminds me of a case I heard of a good while ago. There was a new office building which was very nearly completed, with an external backup generator. The generator was a huge container-sized thing, high value, more or less the engine, alternator, and cooler groups from a diesel locomotive.

Over a weekend, a team turned up with low loader, mobile crane, hi-vis, hardhats, clipboards, etc. The generator was never seen again, presumably spirited out of the country. Plenty of people saw it being stolen, but nobody said a thing at the time because it looked so official/professional/legit.

 

[Teaboy1]

Same thing happened on ex-Harworth branch at Tickhill during X-mas day and Boxing day 2009 I recall. Took about 1/2 mile of both rails, so must have had cutting gear, trolleys and Hiab truck over road bridge. Must have been some 250 ton total and well kitted out with man-power etc
Because was Xmas hols, no-one took any notice etc etc!!

 

[142094]

Leamside is probably the best example. As 455 says he didn't get a thanks, wonder if the real Jarvis employee got any sort of recognition?

 

[Philip Elliott]

Leamside is probably the best example. As 455 says he didn't get a thanks, wonder if the real Jarvis employee got any sort of recognition?

That was about a mile wasn't it?

Try nearly 10 miles in the Clipstone area...:cry:

 

[Yew]

The old colliery branch lines? or did some of High Marnham get nicked?

 

[Philip Elliott]

The colliery and ex-Manfield Railway lines - most of Bilsthorpe, Blidworth, Rufford and Clipstone colliery branches along with most of Clipstone Jns to Clipstone colliery junction which was twin track plus a long loop.

 

[HowardGWR]

Saw something similar at a commuter station at 2 oclock on an afternoon once, a 24 tonne lorry with a hiab parked in the car park with the hiab reaching over the fence picking up the cut rails and loading them on the back of the lorry, I wrote down the reg no and contacted the signaller who wasnt aware of anything scheduled so rung the Police up and he was arrested for the theft of the rail. Did I get any sort of thanks, did I hell as like.

So why did you not complain to your employer? Either you are pleased you prevented a crime and are satisfied with that (well done), or you feel injustice (I would support you to the hilt). It's disgraceful that your employer does not recognise your good work. Give it some thought, please and I assure you my post is well meant.

 

[Mugby]

If it's so attractive to steal, why do Network Rail leave hundreds of miles of scrap rail lying around?

 

[HSTEd]

If it's so attractive to steal, why do Network Rail leave hundreds of miles of scrap rail lying around?

Because it costs too much to remove it when you have to follow railway safety regulations.

Unless you think all these thieves have trackside work permits and all the requisite training up to date?

 

[michael769]

Did I get any sort of thanks, did I hell as like.

Your line manager should be ashamed of his/her self. What do they do all day?

 

[High Dyke]

Leamside is probably the best example. As 455 says he didn't get a thanks, wonder if the real Jarvis employee got any sort of recognition?

There was report in a European Railway magazine a few months back where thieves in Bulgaria stole a whole steel rail bridge.

 

[DarloRich]

Just came across the following story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-24474207.



Could this be one of the most brazen rail thefts yet?

This is a fairly standard approach by the criminals I am afraid. They arent stupid!

 

[HowardGWR]

Your line manager should be ashamed of his/her self. What do they do all day?

I quite agree. I have altered my previous comment as it was OTT. We should be grateful to staff like 455.

 

[455driver]

So why did you not complain to your employer? Either you are pleased you prevented a crime and are satisfied with that (well done), or you feel injustice (I would support you to the hilt). It's disgraceful that your employer does not recognise your good work. Give it some thought, please and I assure you my post is well meant.

I am pleased about the thief getting caught but a bit of recognition wouldnt go amiss, I dont expect much from manglement (does anyone ) just a thumbs up and a well done would do (I dont think thats unreasonable) but nothing.

 

[Chrisgr31]

Just came across the following story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-24474207.



Could this be one of the most brazen rail thefts yet?

The bit I like is that it says its thought it was taken by lorry. How else do they think it would be taken? Unlikely to go in a car!

 

[CalderRail]

There was report in a European Railway magazine a few months back where thieves in Bulgaria stole a whole steel rail bridge.

Reminds me of the case of Cleckheaton Central Railway Station

in the words of the prosecution counsel "what the case really comes to is that this man last August in effect stole Cleckheaton station"​

 

[edwin_m]

The bit I like is that it says its thought it was taken by lorry. How else do they think it would be taken? Unlikely to go in a car!

They could have stolen a train to take it away in?

 

[CockneySparrow]

If it's so attractive to steal, why do Network Rail leave hundreds of miles of scrap rail lying around?

Where disused branch lines are concerned, should they be reopened the whole track would almost certainly have to be lifted and relaid as the rails are most likely to be on wooden sleepers that have possibly rotted away over the years especially around the plates that hold the track to the sleepers

Nowadays they use concrete sleepers and they come factory fitted with rails attached perhaps cheaper to get the supplier to do this with heavy duty machinery in a factory than it is for NR to do themselves, not saying they can't or wont do this in certain circumstances but its something NR dont want to if they dont have to (I am sure someone will correct if wrong but I've seen trains moving around fully kitted ready to drop the whole lot sleepers and rails connected)

Years ago well into the mid 80s when a line closed the track was lifted soon after, I guess nowadays with sub contracters who would need paying to lift the track coupled with NR having bigger fish to fry with new signalling systems that will eventually save money in wages they aren't interested

 

[edwin_m]

Modern track laying machines put the sleepers down first and then attach the rails afterwards. Panels of complete track are sometimes seen travelling around on wagons, but this may be old track where the rails ahve been cut into sections and each piece lifted bodily. I believe new track is sometimes laid in the same way but the rails are only short lengths so have to be replaced afterwards by long ones. Perhaps one of the PW experts on here would like to comment?

 

[CockneySparrow]

Modern track laying machines put the sleepers down first and then attach the rails afterwards. Panels of complete track are sometimes seen travelling around on wagons, but this may be old track where the rails ahve been cut into sections and each piece lifted bodily. I believe new track is sometimes laid in the same way but the rails are only short lengths so have to be replaced afterwards by long ones. Perhaps one of the PW experts on here would like to comment?

Thanks for that, useful information

Just one thing though the sleepers look new though when travelling around on wagons

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Imo it would be a good idea if any contractor collecting scrap, or railway materials display a sign on the vehicle with an authorization number.
Anyone could then tap that number on NR's site and the job details would be displayed - eg location, contractor, dates etc.
And ways of alerting NR/ authorities.

 

[alex17595]

Where disused branch lines are concerned, should they be reopened the whole track would almost certainly have to be lifted and relaid as the rails are most likely to be on wooden sleepers that have possibly rotted away over the years especially around the plates that hold the track to the sleepers

Nowadays they use concrete sleepers and they come factory fitted with rails attached perhaps cheaper to get the supplier to do this with heavy duty machinery in a factory than it is for NR to do themselves, not saying they can't or wont do this in certain circumstances but its something NR dont want to if they dont have to (I am sure someone will correct if wrong but I've seen trains moving around fully kitted ready to drop the whole lot sleepers and rails connected)

Years ago well into the mid 80s when a line closed the track was lifted soon after, I guess nowadays with sub contracters who would need paying to lift the track coupled with NR having bigger fish to fry with new signalling systems that will eventually save money in wages they aren't interested

Exactly, probably some bull head rail in there as well. Keys missing and corroded chairs. We dug up some sleepers at the nemesis rail site and the chain were defiantly not going to be used again. There sleepers weren't in to bad nick but wouldn't be used on the mainline (wood) until the guy on the digger pulled them up.

 

[tadhatter]

But just an example to the contrary is the Duffield to Wirksworth line. Growing up around that area as a lad in the 80s I can assure you that much of the track was left in place after closure. Of course it's now reopened but, iirc, there was the occasional report of rail thefts even back then.