Beware - Next Train may be a string operation

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

First time I have heard of this type of string operation. Very interesting!!!

http://www.khou.com/news/neighborhood-news/Houston-Troopers-set-up-sting-operation-to-crack-down-on-railroad-crossing-violators--137693438.html

2

This has recently been done and reported on previously in other states. I don’t recall which states they were, but it was posted on these forums when it happened beginning last summer.

3

Can somebody please translate this phrase from the article for me?

“Troopers set up a mock crossing of a Union Pacific railcar…”

4

I recall when the UP did this they ran a pair of light units back and forth along a predetermined route for a certain period of time. Police units were stationed along the route to pull over gate runners after the policemen in the cab radioed the information to them. I think what the report should have said was “Troopers rode on a Union Pacific train specifically run to predetermined locations to catch would be gate-runners along the route.”

5

From the description, I was thinking that the police had made a boxcar out of cardboard, and carried it across the road to see what drivers would do when they saw it.

6

Ahhhh - a sting. I’ve heard of this before as well.

At the Railfest in Owosso, a trooper rode the locomotive (lucky cuss!) and was in touch with a chase car. Given the diagonal route of the tracks and the grid layout of roads in that area, the chase car had it’s hands full keeping up…

7

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/13_undercover&id=8510406

Along State Highway 290, about 2 miles from my home.

Several subdivisions along the tracks, and the people out there seem to think they have the right of way.

8

Ed,

That link is about corruption at Precint 1.

9

That, my friend, is one of the most clever sting operations ever undertaken. It may look like a link about corruption, but it’s actually an undercover sting operation to catch law breakers at railroad crossings. Crazy yes…like a fox!

([:o)] (Yes- I’ve finally lost it!)

10

Yes that distinguishes a mere sting operation from a string operation.

11

Maybe Ed was just stringing you along.

12

Ed’s string theory?

13

Let’s try this one:

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8510760

14

Thanks, Larry…

I was starting to get strung out.

Besides, Abercia needs all the bad press and all the jail time the Feds can give him…he gave a real bad name to a department full of real good guys, disgraced the badge.

15

I sure am glad THAT is settled! [:-,]#### I was not sure but was beginning to believe that the aliens[alien][alien][alien] had taken Ed away, [X-)]and were going to string him up![oX)]