Much of the regular hirail inspections on these embargoed lines is to inventory what was stolen by the scrap thieves, etc. since the last inspection and, to be true to the season, "making a list and checking it twice" in order to put the line back in service once it is needed.

Common thefts are anything aluminum, signal bond wires, switch stands, crossbucks....you would be surprised at the ingenuity of the meth heads up in this area. They even are stealing the copper ground wire from the signal bungalows where they go out to the ground rods for the AC electric service!!!

Shortline Sammie