Thieves target heritage railways (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Thieves target heritage railways

9:07am Saturday 27th January 2007 in

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Historic railway watchdogs have issued a nationwide alert after more reports of theft from heritage steam lines have come to light.

The Heritage Railway Association has called on its members to review security following the theft of station signs at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and memorabilia from the Yorkshire Dales Railway at Embsay, near Skipton.

HRA's Ian Smith, a member of the Vintage Carriages Trust at Ingrow, said: "We are urging members to carry out security reviews. We suspect that these items are being stolen to order.

"It is not as if they can be sold openly on the market - some are too well known and would alert suspicion. We are calling on all the railway media to include a column in their publications where people can flag up items which have been stolen and inviting people to call the police if they know of there whereabouts."

The volunteer-run line between Keighley and Oxenhope has been targeted by thieves over the last couple of months.

They have grabbed signs from Damems, the smallest station in the country, Haworth, Keighley and Ingrow.

Most were reproduction, but one was an original British Rail "waiting room" plaque.

Stephen Walker, of the Dales Railway, which runs between Embsay and Bolton Abbey, said name plates were pulled from the back of two of the three benches at Embsay Station during the Christmas period.

"Earlier, the door on the break van was kicked in and a cast iron wood burning stove ripped out. It is probably now in someone's conservatory.

"Someone was even mean enough to steal the metal dog drinking bowl which was a reproduction piece with an advert on the side. They took it from the booking hall. We try to have these nice touches, people spoil it. I've replaced it since, it cost £40."

Mr Walker said that the railway was now considering making improvements to the CCTV system.

K&WRV volunteer Chris Bates said he had checked with the National Preservation Forum which revealed those thefts were the tip of the iceberg, Thieves had even targeted the late TV celebrity and steam engine fan Fred Dibnar's house removing some of the fittings from his beloved traction engine which featured in his last television series.

Mr Bates revealed that thieves had even struck at the National Railway Museum in York, removing a nameplate from the 1846 engine Coppernob.

Meanwhile, police in Keighley are still hunting the two men who were caught on CCTV removing signs at Damens Station and the thieves who removed items from Keighley Station, Station Bridge between Monday, December 11 and Saturday, December 16, overnight on Saturday, November 25, and Sunday, November 26, at Haworth Station and on Tuesday, October 24, at Ingrow.

Detective Constable Jackie Doherty said police appeals had led to information which is now being followed up. She called on anyone who could help to contact (01535) 617059.