[PRCo] Re: IRM Horn Thefts- Off Topic, But Please Help If You Can

[John F Bromley]

Agreed with Fred's comments on theft.  My photo collection books which
include 44 very thick 3-ring binders using Adorama archival-quality photo
pages (2 per sleeve) all have, where there is only one photo due usually to
expansion or repositioning, a yellow stick-on saying "NO PHOTO HERE" because
a well-known local author and historian once ripped me off for several
irreplaceable views.  I always preface first-time viewers browsings with the
statement "the 'no-photo-here' stickers have nothing to do with you but..."
(and I explain why).  They're also told that if I ever hear 3-ring-click
(opening or closing) they're out the door 8 seconds later.  I hate nothing
more than thieves, especially when they're (allegedly) your friends.  I now
publish names on the internet of any I come across.

A TTS meeting (local fan group) a few months ago ended with one member's
color  photos being stolen.  There's always somebody out there, so be warned
if you think no one will do it to you.  The famous seem to think they can
get away with it because "who'd ever believe you over me..."  They're often
surprised.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred W. Schneider III" <fschnei at supernet.com>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2001 2:09 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: IRM Horn Thefts- Off Topic, But Please Help If You Can


>
> Not really off topic.  I don't think attempting to recover stolen
> property is ever off topic.  I remember when the Pennsylvania State
> Police caught a man trying to cut builders plates off of PRR engines
> intended for the Strasburg Museum collection ... sad thing was this man
> was a very well known, supposedly above reproach, and an author of
> several major books.  It's kind of like working in government; you never
> seem to know who the enemies are.  I've had to reprint several photos
> for display at Arden because the originals were stolen right off the
> displays.
>
> Kenneth Josephson wrote:
> >
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I received this news (posted below) from a fellow IRM member. Please
keep
> > your eyes open if you attend swap meets or monitor eBay.
> >
> > I'd hate to see this jerk move on to East Troy, PTM, South Elgin or any
> > other museum with outdoor storage. This sort of thing hurts all of us.
> >
> > Thanks in Advance. Ken J.
> >
> > --- paulkattner at hotmail.com wrote:
> > > I.m forwarding this off of another mailing list.
> > > Paul Kattner
> > >
> > > Please see the attached concerning air horns stolen
> > > from the Illinois
> > > Railway Museum and help Ray out if possible. I make
> > > it up to Union
> > > about once a year for a visit and thoroughly enjoy
> > > myself. I hate to
> > > see some selfish idiots screwing-up things for the
> > > rest of us.
> > >
> > > Craig McGregor
> > > Peoria, IL
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Ray Weart (IlliniRail List)
> > > Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 8:39 PM
> > > Subject: [IlliniRail] Horns stolen from IRM.
> > >
> > > Over the last 1 1/2 weeks, we have had a total of
> > > FOUR air horns
> > > stolen from our locomotives at the Illinois Railway
> > > Muesum in
> > > Union,IL. They were stolen from these engines: TP&W
> > > RS11 400 (Nathan
> > > P3 horn with the #2 bell reversed, OLD CASTING horn
> > > as it was the
> > > horn the unit was BUILT WITH, medium red color),
> > > Metra F7 308 (Nathan
> > > P5R4A horn, faded red color, 4A bell reversed), the
> > > Ex LS&I ALCO
> > > Alligator engine (Nathan P3, newer horn, dirty and
> > > unpainted, #2 bell
> > > reversed) CNW RDC car (Nathan M3, round base, bell
> > > foreward, silver
> > > paint and VERY CLEAN.
> > >
> > > The idea of ANY museum is to preserve the equipment
> > > (AND their
> > > horns/whistles) for ALL to enjoy, not just one or
> > > two selfish jerks.
> > > We'd like the horns RETURNED NOW INTACT. If they get
> > > returned to
> > > either myself or the musuem, we won't ask questions
> > > nor press
> > > charges. thsi may well NOT be true if I see them at
> > > the St. Charles
> > > RR-iana show in June or any other show. Word has
> > > also been spread
> > > privately among my friends and contacts in the horn
> > > collecting
> > > circles.
> > >
> > > Understand I'm a 21 year member of IRM and I rebuilt
> > > 2-3 of these
> > > horns. I CAN IDENTIFY THEM IF SEEN AT A SHOW. My
> > > other "Eyes" can
> > > also identlfy them. If ANYBODY knows who did this OR
> > > wants to return
> > > them to us, please contact me off list or the muesum
> > > to make
> > > arrangements for their safe and SWIFT return.
> > >
> > > Ray Weart
>