Dirty rotten scoundrels! Whoever did this deserves to be drawn and quartered. Just checked eBay, no new listings there, yet. I'm guessing it's one of two types.

a) They know what they have and want it for their collection...or

b) View is as something to sell to make a buck.

In either case, I hope they get caught.

Gilly

I'd check on Craig's List as well...

In cases like these, I am for Sharia law: cut the thieves' hands off!  What a beautiful locomotive, nifty consist and incredible whistle!  For those unacquainted with this locomotive (me for example), here's some youtube footage:     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYJw3FdbkyQ

I believe this is what the bell looks like.

Definitely a shame!  Sure would be great if someone who frequents this forum--and there are thousands of you out there--comes up with a lead for finding that bell.  I would LOVE to see a happy ending to this sad tale!

Some identifying traits I notice: Air-ringer bracket on left and square-head bolt for the rope attach (instead of a casting).

Horrible. This seems to be the fate of many bells and whistles on preserved engines. What a shame.

Check around with the hospitals for someone with a recent hernia. Had to be more than two man job.

I suggest you urgently contact any metal scrapyards in your area.  A lot of brass and copper have been stolen for sale as scrap (they get a couple of bucks for their drug habits).

Sad. Very Sad.

 The efforts of individuals and work that go into preservation, damaged or stolen by selfish and uncaring people.

 I hope the bell is found and returned to it's home on the locomotive. Hopefully, if it ends up at a scrap dealer, they realize that this is not the type of item that should be coming to them.

 As for the individual(s), community service for life! (the manual labor type!)

A crazy thought: what might be the cost of reproducing the bell and hanger? Does sufficient foundry capacity exist to do the work?

Not crazy, but there are bells to be had on eBay that would almost certainly be less expensive than the foundry casting a new bell and bracket(s). The two big issues are it would not be THE bell, and whatever it costs it's TOO much.

Here's a beautiful one on eBay with a starting price of $1150.

Almost certainly would not be a direct bolt-up replacement. Assuming this is an operational engine, the owners are going to need a replacement before it goes out on the rails again.

This whole deal just draws a major vacuum. I'm on eBay daily and have "Locomotive Bell" as a saved search. If they're stupid enough to put it on eBay, it will be found.

Gilly

FROM THE WEBMASTER:

PLEASE learn how to post links. Do not just paste long URL's here. I fixed this one.

with all the hi tech security alarm systems & surveillance camera technology available today, just curious how something like this could even happen(?)

is this locomotive normally kept in an unsecured, publicly accessible area when not in use?

Of all the lame brain bone headed things.Stuff like this makes me sick turns my stomach!!I hope the bell is found and the yaknow what is caught.Its a sure bet they will try to get some fast cash.All scrapeiron dealers should be on the look out.People should also be on the look out on ebay.As I stated before I really hope they are caught.Stuff like this just makes me sick.Whats gotten into people?!!I know times are hard but good god people!!!

Here is the pic from their Facebook page:

The continuing relatively high cost of commodities, copper, brass, aluminum, etc. has a lot of people re-thinking security.  Surprisingly, Power companies are beefing up security at sub-stations, a target for copper thieves. 

Scrap dealers are a very good place to look for items like the bell pictured.  Thieves removed all the brass service markers from our local cemetery.  

Those are two different bells (Well, at least the cradles and yokes are different).

Noone here has bought Railroadiana at an Auction/Show/Ebay?  Noone has ever posted their Railroadiana Collections on the OGR Forum?  Hate to tell ya but it's all STOLEN MERCHANDISE.  When does it become YOUR legal property?  Where did it ALL come from originally?  Where did that Crossbuck and Whistle marker come from?  I doubt if these things were removed with permission of the Railroads in the light of day.  It's just one of those things that is done/condoned.  Too bad about the bell in question, but how does it differ from Bells I bid on at Maurer's?  Did these bells just jump off the engines onto the auction table?  There's no outrage at the Auction House when the gavel comes down!!!  The Auctioneer is merely a FENCE.  Dirty scoundrels?  Cut off their hands?  A bit of OVERREACTION???  More than one "inservice loco" has been stripped of its brass bell/whistle.

Seriously...? 

Rolling your eyes does not answer any of the questions asked in my post...that is, if you bothered to read the ENTIRE post.  As I said, too bad this was stolen from a group of PRESERVERS, but where did the "other " bells come from?  That was the point of my post.  Respectfully, Ron B.

That's an awesome story.

I haven't heard any updated news on the recovery of the bell other than just the bell was stolen and not the yoke.

No it isn't.

Tens of thousands of bells, number plates, trust plates, etc. have been legitimately purchased by collectors when the attached engines were scrapped. Owning such an artifact is not in the same league as ripping one off from a locomotive that is obviously NOT a candidate for the scrapper and is equally obviously OWNED by someone.

Ron, you are making a HUGE generalization here that simply is not true.

In May of 1956, The Chicago Tribune had a photo of the scrap line of C&NW Pacifics that were just retired from service. The bells were for sale at $65.00. To a 16 year old at that time it was $60.00 more than I had.

when they catch the guy, they should use

his head as the bell ringer and BANG away.