Could you steal a train?

[TDK]

Folks,
This may sound a daft question but could it be possible for someone to steal a loco. Before anyone dials 999 the Lawman in not about to hot wire a train


l was wondering, say for instance a freight loco is parked within its yard, and is not blocked by any other unit, could a "Bad boy", or a disgruntled employee just hop in and take it away?

No, it's not possible unless you know how to drive one, and the train sims won't help. Why would anyone want to steal a loco anyway unless they had poor intentions on what they were going to do?

 

[silvermachine]

There was an incident at Tinsley ( I think 1981 ?) where an someone got into an 08 on a sunday and drove it up and down a siding.

I remember another incident in (I think) 1984 where some youths got into and started a 47 stabled ina siding on a freight line in south yorks and drove it for several miles before abandoning it.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

There was an incident in Australia where a teen nicked a tram. He drove it so well, picking up passengers etc that the company offered him a job! I'll see if I can find the news story, but it was a while back.

 

[steamybrian]

Maybe driving a low loader lorry into a depot ,winching a loco up onto the trailer and taking the loco out on the low-loader by road.

 

[GB]

It takes a fair amount of prior planning to put a loco onto a low loader and drive it away and also usually attracts alot of interest, even at night. So its doubtful it can be done without being noticed if at all.

 

[ilkestonian]

I'm not sure if it's railway enthusiast folklore or actually happened, but I heard that a loco was driven away south from Stafford a few decades ago (I have the 1970's in mind).

I can't remember the full details but believe whoever took it went a fair distance and somehow managed to stable it somewhere and the unauthorised movement wasn't picked up for a while.

Anyone else remember this?

 

[Kareem]

There was an incident in Australia where a teen nicked a tram. He drove it so well, picking up passengers etc that the company offered him a job! I'll see if I can find the news story, but it was a while back.

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Teen_tram_thief_may_yet_work_as_tram_drive
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Melbourne's_tram-driving_teen_faces_more_chargesr

 

[MCR247]

They were useful links

 

[TomJ93]

In even bigger news.

 

[RichA]

The Loco was a pannier tank and was taken from Wolverhampton Stafford road shed by a ex fireman and freind in abount 1962/3, it took water and coal at Stourbridge and was abandoned at Droitwich spa when it was looped for a parcels train to pass, it was early hours of the morning. I worked with the signalman who was on duty at droitwich that night and someone who was in the control office at worcester also. The offenders were caught walking out of droitwich and the court case made a sizable piece in the daily mirror at that time.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

They were useful links

Yeah.

Much more useful than these:

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Teen_tram_thief_may_yet_work_as_tram_driver

and

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Melbourne%27s_tram-driving_teen_faces_more_charges

 

[strange6]

I think you would have to get it onto a ship at the Docks somewhere. Of course, that would mean holding each signalbox and signalling centre along the route hostage so that the route would be set. Then you would need a big dockside crain to lift it up and put it on the ship

 

[class156]

I think you would have to get it onto a ship at the Docks somewhere. Of course, that would mean holding each signalbox and signalling centre along the route hostage so that the route would be set. Then you would need a big dockside crain to lift it up and put it on the ship

As long as if you make sure it isn't the same one that attempted to lift 70012 out of it's ship

 

[Welshman]

Even if you managed to get it off railway property and into your garden shed/back yard, you'd still have fun fuelling it at Sainsbury's. Still, though, think of the Nectar points!

On the other hand, wasn't there a driving car of a Class 101 parked down someone's drive just past Calveley on the A51 to Nantwich a while ago?

I assume it had got there legitimately, although the Crewe-Chester line backs on to the property!!

 

[paulravuslante]

There was an incident in Australia where a teen nicked a tram. He drove it so well, picking up passengers etc that the company offered him a job! I'll see if I can find the news story, but it was a while back.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Teenager-charged-over-tram-theft/2005/04/18/1113676677052.html

No mention in this article of his being offered a job but another article says he was also charged with several other transport related offences including stealing a bus and attempting to steal a train.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Tram-boy-accused-of-stealing-bus/2005/04/20/1113854255062.html

 

[E&W Lucas]

No, it's not possible unless you know how to drive one, and the train sims won't help. Why would anyone want to steal a loco anyway unless they had poor intentions on what they were going to do?

Exactly. Not really a very sensible subject for "conversation"

The nearest thing I can think of, is the two 31's that ended up on the North Circular. That was malicious vandalism, and involved an ex - secondman.

 

[Greeny]

As has been stated by a few members, it is possible with the appropriate knowledge, and a Controller key (or a jemmying key) to start and drive a loco. I recall in the early 80’s (I think it was Coleville) an incident where a couple of youths managed to start and drive a brand new Class 56 up and down a line closed for a weekend.

When I was at Garston Junction I’ve had local youths start up diesel and electric locomotives and drive them up and down the Holding Sidings, even to the point of releasing a Class 56 and 87’s parking brakes - and you don't learn how to do that on play school. In the case of the 87, my colleague derailed it deliberately when it ran away – that was out normal response at Garston Junction of a weekend as Church Road Box was closed and any runaway would be doing 40mph (gradients) when it got to Church Road.

Though I have never encountered anybody managing to get off a sidings, and onto a running line with a loco.

G.

 

[TGV]

...all these suggestions are assuming there's enough left in the batteries to start anything up in the first place!

 

[12CSVT]

There are probably hundreds if not thousands of bodies of BR 12 ton box vans lying in farmers fields up and down the country, usually at locations where the farm is close to a railway. Were they sold to the farms by British Rail or were they stolen once they were withdrawn from service ?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Its odd that when we (on this forum) discuss cable theft from the railways, we unanimously condemn the thieves and use a lot of personal insults to describe them. But when discussing theft of rolling stock there seems to be some enjoyment.

Are we being consistent?

I also realise that the theft of cable etc is (presumably, always) in order to convert it into cash from a metal re-processor who doesn't ask for much confirmation of what is being offered, and the culprits are seeking to make some sort of living from their crime. Surely the same motive is the most likely reason to 'steal a train'; with a gang equipped with angle grinders and arc cutters, a reasonable amount of sellable scrap could be generated quite quickly.
I find it odd that posters have assumed quite different motives for the theft of cable and the theft of rolling stock. Its all theft, its all needed for the operation of the network and its all metal.

 

[deltic1989]

Its odd that when we (on this forum) discuss cable theft from the railways, we unanimously condemn the thieves and use a lot of personal insults to describe them. But when discussing theft of rolling stock there seems to be some enjoyment.

Are we being consistent?

I also realise that the theft of cable etc is (presumably, always) in order to convert it into cash from a metal re-processor who doesn't ask for much confirmation of what is being offered, and the culprits are seeking to make some sort of living from their crime. Surely the same motive is the most likely reason to 'steal a train'; with a gang equipped with angle grinders and arc cutters, a reasonable amount of sellable scrap could be generated quite quickly.
I find it odd that posters have assumed quite different motives for the theft of cable and the theft of rolling stock. Its all theft, its all needed for the operation of the network and its all metal.

yes but i think even the most unscrupulus scrap merchant would sense somthing is amiss when a group of local chavs turn up at his yard with a pacer demanding cash for it.

 

[strange6]

That's the way to nick a train

http://www.thedps.co.uk/gallery/GCR2009/DSC00054copy_001

 

[Broken Viking]

I don't have the time to search and trawl through posts...But didn't someone here once report being delayed at Doncaster due to a stolen 66 being let through in front of his EC service, with a youth at the controls giving everyone "the finger" as he passed through Donny?

I seem to recall the poster saying that he later saw the same loco sat in one of the platforms at Kings Cross. Presumably someone who got really annoyed with fare increases?

 

[jon0844]

You wouldn't get it very far, you'd either be stopped at signals or derailed.

Or BTP would arrive. Oh, hang on a minute, that might allow you enough time to get through the tunnel and take the train to China...

yes but i think even the most unscrupulus scrap merchant would sense somthing is amiss when a group of local chavs turn up at his yard with a pacer demanding cash for it.

Said chavs would be gutted to find out how much money they'd have to pay to the scrap merchant. Mind you, I reckon Top Gear might pay something to get one to blow up.

 

[scotsman]

I don't have the time to search and trawl through posts...But didn't someone here once report being delayed at Doncaster due to a stolen 66 being let through in front of his EC service, with a youth at the controls giving everyone "the finger" as he passed through Donny?

I seem to recall the poster saying that he later saw the same loco sat in one of the platforms at Kings Cross. Presumably someone who got really annoyed with fare increases?

Doubt chavs know to work a DSD

 

[pappleby]

yes,and it was a couple of young lads,on a 08 shunter i believe!

 

[silvermachine]

There are probably hundreds if not thousands of bodies of BR 12 ton box vans lying in farmers fields up and down the country, usually at locations where the farm is close to a railway. Were they sold to the farms by British Rail or were they stolen once they were withdrawn from service ?

They were sold.

Adverts for van bodies were common in the 60s and 70s in farming and engineering plant magazines.


And
more on topic, the Rev Awdry did a great little book about locos being taken away and recued :

 

[deltic1989]

Oliver the greats western engine and toad wasn't it?