Anger over metal stolen at Downpatrick railway

Anger over metal stolen at Downpatrick railway

16 May 2012 - by David Telford

THIEVES disguised as railway volunteers are being blamed for stealing buffers from a wagon at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway last weekend.

An engineering wagon parked a short distance away from the heritage railway’s Lower Market Street station was targeted by thieves wearing high visibility jackets last Saturday.

The thieves also failed in an attempt to take a length of steel cabling from a steam crane currently located away from the main station while a new track is being laid.

The alarm was raised when a railway volunteer, who knew none of his colleagues were working on the engineering vehicles a short distance away from the main station, spotted the thieves.

A subsequent investigation revealed that buffers which act as shock absorbers had been cut off one of the vehicles used to transport sleepers around.

The railway’s chairman, Mr. Michael Collins, said removing the buffers was “incredibly risky” as they were sprung and could be under tension.

“We suspect that the culprits thought that if they disguised themselves in high-visibility clothing, any members of the public would have assumed them to be railway volunteers,” he said.

“We immediately contacted police who have notified local scrap dealers to be aware of persons trying to sell items that are quite clearly of railway origin. There would be no doubt what these came off.”

Mr. Collins also appealed to anyone who may have spotted people acting suspiciously near the Downpatrick racecourse area at the Ballydugan Road or the actual incident itself, to contact local police or use the confidential Crimestoppers number.

Local politicians have condemned the thieves responsible for the theft and issued a call for legislation to be introduced to enable the tracking of metal.

South Down MLA Karen McKevitt described the increase in metal theft in the area as “extremely alarming” and said it spans from manhole covers to components of a railway. She said such attacks not only pose a safety risk to people, but are an attack on tourism infrastructure and local heritage.

Down councillor Cadogan Enright said he was “disgusted” at the theft. “Police have notified all local and regional waste metal processing plants to watch out for railway-related metal being handed in,” he remarked.

“The people of Downpatrick have a real affection for the volunteers restoring our railway legacy and are hugely supportive of the amazing work the railway society has done over the years.”