[Stolen] Thieves target 'world's oldest railway'

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/thieves-target-worlds-oldest-railway-18232012

Thieves target 'world's oldest railway' in Gateshead and put restoration at risk

 

And here's the link on the BBC's website:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-...b93c43e12878066381350c&pinned_post_type=share

 

Some right scum about..........

 

This incident reminds me of one back in the eighties. At the time I was involved with the Bowes Railway and they had one of multiple ongoing visits by the itinerant scrap-men/vandals. This particular incident at the Black Fell end of the line the "scrap-men were caught red handed lifting rail. Needless to say they were invited to the local Police station and onto Court. At Court their legal representative blamed the Railway, as there were none of the usual Trespasser sign giving warning not to. Apparently it didn't matter that A] the metal ones had been stolen by the scrap-men [and weighed in], B] the wooden ones had been chopped up and burnt and finally C] One of the scrap-men "apparently" couldn't read to save his life..............

 

After doing Jury Service, my mother wondered why the barristers didnt get sent to prison as well

But the scrap metal legislation has several loopholes and the licensing of scrap dealers leaves a deal to be desired

 

That's the biggest problem. Whilst the scrap metal legislation has been tightened up. There are still ways of getting round the new rules. Be it due to unscrupulousness dealers out there or others with their own scales weighing the ill gotten gains and adding it to their scrap and then dividing the pay out, from unsuspecting metal recyclers........