Bomb Scare Shuts Down Train Tracks

Los Angeles Metrolink Web Site ^ | June 13, 2003 | Metroling Bulitin

[An Old Man]

Bomb Scare Shuts Down Train Tracks

POSTED: 5:54 p.m. PDT June 13, 2003 UPDATED: 6:10 p.m. PDT June 13, 2003

BURBANK, Calif. -- A bomb scare along the Metrolink tracks in Burbank forced the closure of the tracks on Friday afternoon.

Police believe someone may have placed dynamite sticks near the tracks.

Train service into and from Burbank has been shutdown.

The device, described as possible dynamite sticks wrapped together with wires, was reportedly found at approximately 3:30 Friday afternoon. The device was found about 75 feet south of the tracks near the intersection of Vanowen and Buena Vista.

The Los Angeles Sheriff's Bomb Squad is responding to the scene. An area of 500 feet around the object has been evacuated.

Authorities plan to take the device apart piece by piece, according to NBC4's Chip Page.

The device was discovered in a residential area and residences within the 500 feet evacuation perimeter were evacuated.

Trains going to Ventura County have been shut down, but service heading out to Santa Clarita Valley has not been shut down.

NBC4 crews are headed to the scene. Please check back for updates.

www.metrolinktrains.com

[photogirl]

Bump

[An Old Man]

I heard about this on TV a few minutes ago. Will followup later when I learn more about it.

[blam]

Motivation?

[An Old Man]

Motivation?

Not enough info at this time to determine the motive.

[blam]

"Not enough info at this time to determine the motive."

Thanks. Keep the reports coming. My son lives near-by in Glendora.

[steveegg]

Motivation?

I'll guess derailment.

[DoughtyOne]

I'm not sure what's going on in that area, but this is the third or fourth incident with that railroad location in the last few months. Within about two to three miles of there we have also had two shooters within the last three months or so. Altogether we're talking about some pretty heavy activity for a very narrow area around Burbank.

[Attman]

But it was 75 feet from the tracks?

[An Old Man]

I'm forming an opinion that this is the work of our friends over at the TV station who are attempting to make up a reason for you to watch the news at 10PM this evening.

A quick search for more info on Google produced 127 hits when I entered the search string "Bomb Scare Burbank". Most were reports of bombs in and around burbank. It is very interesting to note that most of the reports were about events near the major TV stations. Statistically the distribution is really skewed. I wonder if The TV news people are just making this stuff up to get market share.

My wife also said, that while I was posting the reference to the scare, someone came on TV and reported the the "Bomb" was harmless.

Semper Fi

[blam]

"My wife also said, that while I was posting the reference to the scare, someone came on TV and reported the the "Bomb" was harmless. "

Thanks. I've seen other reports from this area also.

[Tunehead54]

I heard a radio report on this a while back so googled ... still worrisome - why steal something that really can only be used to derail a train?

	Saturday, June 14, 2003

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Train derailing device thefts prompt warning At least nine stolen in Texas; authorities issue bulletin Don Walker / Staff Writer Posted on April 3, 2003 Submitted Photo The missing derailing devices are portable hinged-type blocks used to prevent equipment from rolling onto a main rail route from a secondary track. The theft of nine devices used to derail railroad cars prompted federal authorities Wednesday to issue a virtual all-points-bulletin to area law enforcement agencies. The device "seems to have a solitary usage - to derail trains," said Mike Moriarty, chief deputy U.S. marshal in Shreveport. "Since there are so many of them missing and we have such a high amount of railroad traffic through this area, it bears our notice." Since January, seven of the derailing devices were taken from the Greenville, Texas, area, one from near Lake Hubbard just east of Dallas and one from a Kansas City Southern rail yard in Winnsboro, Texas. There have been no reported thefts of the derailing equipment in Louisiana, Moriarty said. The bulletin fell on the heels of a report earlier in the day from the Caddo-Bossier Office of Emergency Preparedness that locally the risk of an act of terrorism is considered "elevated" but not as high as the homeland security threat level nationally. The Homeland Security Advisory System is at "Orange," which means there's a high risk of terrorist attacks. The derailing devices, portable hinged-type blocks, are used to prevent equipment from accidentally rolling onto the main rail route from a secondary track. Kansas City Southern officials declined comment on the stolen derailing devices Wednesday and referred questions to the Association of American Railroads in Washington, D.C. Company officials did not return telephone calls from The Times. "The railroad industry is aware of this. They shared this information immediately. And we're trying to make sure law enforcement is aware of it as well," Moriarty said. "And since these devices are so identifiable, we feel the public should know." Moriarty called it a "pretty serious" homeland security threat. "The devices are quite small and can be deployed by one individual and could create havoc with any train." Small, and yet the devices can derail a loaded rail car. "I'm afraid so," Moriarty said. • Mayor calls letter 'inexcusable' • Horse owners fight racetracks • New privacy law hinders clergy visting in hospital • Police seek clues in beating • Program offers respite to caregivers of elderly, disabled • District attorney focuses on right to public safety • Historic hotel hits auction block • TIM GREENING: Returning to concert life as a civilian and an old guy • Metro briefs • Region Briefs • Police Briefs • Births • Deaths • Two candidates withdraw from state treasurer race • Police arrest Deja Vu dancers • Amendment would dedicate lottery money to education • La. Senate making it hard for House to avoid vote on open containers • Governor calls for Tuesday to be prayer day for serial killer victims • Corrections Today | Yesterday | Last Fourteen Days

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[Tunehead54]

Oops! Meant to include the source:

Train derailing device thefts prompt warning

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[Tunehead54]

For those wondering what they look like or why there's a big 'ol $*&@@!!!!! blank space in the article above ...

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[babygene]

Several sticks of dynamite 75 feet from a train would do exactly nothing. It wouldn't even break a safty glass window, unless it happened to propel a rock.

Heck, 5 feet from the train, it wouldn't do serious dammage.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Several sticks of dynamite 75 feet from a train would do exactly nothing. It wouldn't even break a safty glass window, unless it happened to propel a rock.

But if it happens to kill a snail darter or scare a spotted owl my goodness what aurthorities? would go to what lengths to find the culprit? /Sarcasm/