Vandals Damage UP Railroad Track And Construction Equipment Over Weekend ST. JAMES, MN -- A Union Pacific Railroad freight train approaching St. James, MN from Butterfield Saturday afternoon had to apply the emergency brakes when the engineer noticed a stretch of track about 500 feet long that was misaligned to the side by a few feet. Union Pacific Spokesperson, Mark Davis, said the train that was en route from North Platt, NE to St. Paul, MN had two locomotives actually go onto the misaligned track but the engineer was able to back the train up without derailing. Sometime between 22:00 Friday and when a train tried to come through St. James Saturday afternoon, Watonwan County Sheriff Gary Menssen said one or a group of vandals damaged the railroad tracks on the west side of 680th Avenue by construction equipment. He said earth movers were driven over the tracks and got hooked on a track section, moving it over a few feet to the side. According to a report written by deputy Blair Haler, not only was the construction equipment driven over the railroad tracks but it was also driven over the road and over a soybean field causing some damage to the field and a road ditch. The construction equipment has been parked near the tracks since Rilley Construction started installing siding, which is a side line of railroad track, along 680th to 700th Avenue. Damage was also done to the construction units, including a broken window to one of the units. Davis said the track was repaired by 20:00 Saturday. A Reilly construction worker, who's been working on the siding construction project, said he came to work Monday and two of the construction units were misplaced. He found one on 680th Avenue and one near the tracks. Because much of the construction equipment was damaged, he said he couldn't do much work that day. Davis said the Vandals probably ran over the track several times. The Union Pacific Railroad Police and Watonwan County Sheriff's Department are investigating this case. - Kristen Prichard, The St. James Plaindealer
Drunken "adults"? Stupid kids? Ought to make them pay for every penny of the damage. On top of jail time. That would teach a hard lesson! Which is needed. :thumbs_down: :angry: Boxcab E50
About 40 years ago there was some heavy construction on our dead-end street. Friday evening the Super asked if they could park their get-serious backhoe/scoop in front of our house, and I said "sure." That evening my wife was walking by the unit and noticed the keys in the ignition. Since there were 17 kids living on our street ranging in age from 5 - 17, she removed them and brought them inside. The kids on our street were all "good" kids, but kids none the less...why tempt them? When my wife saw the Super looking all over hellangone for his keys on Monday morning, she gave them to him with the explanation. He turned white as ghost and took the keys with him every evening after that. That may not have been the case in this instance, but a big machine that is left unattended and operable is awfully tempting, even for "good" kids.
I recall a story from a few years ago (I don't 5 or 10 years ago I think). Anywho, someone moved a payloader and parked on the main (BN/BNSF) east of Alliance. I do not recall all the details, but I belive a train found the payloader. Some people, huh. Adam
Leaving the keys in construction equipment is a matter of routine and is an appalling practice. I believe the construction company ought to be held responsible for damages as well as the punks that committed the actual crimes.
I certainly agree. With as many times as we've all heard about misappropriation of such equipment, not to mention it's outright theft, leaving keys in these days is sheer stupidity. :sad: Boxcab E50
I dont think that would teach them a lesson boxcab. I think they are operating under the impression that capitalisim is bad, and any destruction to captilism tools, trains/const equipment, is a good thing. That is the lesson they have learned.
Keys in equipment is like a construction site with no fence: an attractive nuisance. This means the insurance company won't pay, and the construction company is totally liable for damages, which it probably can't afford to pay. To be honest, it's not hard to hotwire most earthmoving equipment, but there should have been some attempt at securing the site and equipment.
Well, I was looking at this more from the aspect these acts were sheer stupidity. Not thinking of modern day Luddites. Which would be deliberate, (malicious), acts. Meaning preconceived. (Yes. Also stupidity. But looked at in a different light.) And should then carry even harsher penalties. :sad: Boxcab E50
With the legislation that has been passed since 911, it seems to me that even if this is "just kids" they have committed an act of terrorism against the transportation network of this country and should be tried under such pretense. I have zero tollerence for this sort of !##$. Not only did they damage property but they put lives in danger. I hope they catch em quick. John
