Hopping trains and stealing drivetrain parts

I don't take these stories as bragging . . .I view them as historical data. . stories from back in the day. I am sure that we all have done things we aren't proud of. If I remember, someone was asking if those stories about stealing parts off cars on a train and many have confirmed the stories. Stealing is stealing but I don't view these stories as bragging.

 

Since my Dad worked for the B&O RR and I worked GM ***embly Broening Hwy. 1969(those SS396's sounded great the first time they were started!) a lot of things would fall off on an outside curve. The momentum would carry heavy "things" away from the train; even barrels of whiskey from Calvert Distillery!

 

Yep it still happens. The GM dealer I work for is near a large storage and distribution facility for cars coming off trains. On numerous occ***ions we have had to send a tech over there to put spare tires/wheels on cars that have had theirs ripped off. For some reason Blazer rims/tires were poplular a couple of years ago. The trucks would be laying on their frames in the railcar! Nice $3500 repair for us! Also we've had to clean out vehicles built in Mexico from illigals living in them! I'll say no more...
Todd

 

A lot of guys my dad knew in the Nor-cal drag racing scene circa mid-60s did this. He claims he never went along though.

 

Lamar Walden took possession of one of the original '69 ZL-1 Camaros for Super Stock racing. Vince Piggins set the whole deal up with him, and it was shipped to Lamar via rail car. Piggins told Lamar he was shipping to a different city, and he would call Lamar so he could meet it coming off the rail car. Piggins wouldn't ship it into Atlanta because it would be stripped or stolen off the train.
Incidentally, this is the car now owned by Reggie Jackson.
-Brad

 

Biggest 'heist' like this I ever heard of was in Australia in 1969. GMH (Holden) had just introduced the 2 door Monaro to the market, and it was the first Aussie car available with an optional Limited Slip Diff. The LSD unit was a bolt in swap for the normal sun gear cluster, and it would fit any earlier Holden diff, right back to the 50's.

A semi trailer, loaded with about 20,000 brand new LSD diff centres 'vanished' one night from a truckstop while on its way to the factory. Within days you could pick up a centre for $20 in any major city or town in Australia!

Cheers, Glen.

 

Right here in Charleston, WV guys are rolling under cars and cutting the cat converters out to sale them. Keep an eye on your older Jeeps as that is the ones they want.