Here is an example of misinformation found on the internet. We received the following item via email from a posting on a Yahoo group.
Someone in Omaha stole a locomotive. http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/article_ee878a8c-048d-11df-9b9f-001cc4c002e0.html Police are confident they can track it down.
If you follow the link, you will find the article below which was posted on SiouxCityJournal.com by someone that doesn't seem to know much about locomotives.
4-ton locomotive reported missing from Omaha yard
Posted: Monday, January 18, 2010 6:00 pm
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Omaha police are trying to track down an 8,000-pound Union Pacific locomotive and those responsible for its disappearance.
The four-ton engine was recently discovered missing by employees of Rail Sciences. The consulting firm is contracted to diagnose and fix problems with Union Pacific equipment.
A police report says the General Electric locomotive traction electric engine is valued at $45,000.
It also says the engine's theft happened sometime before Christmas. The engine was last seen in the Rail Sciences yard in downtown Omaha.
Now, here is another article from the Omaha World-Herald about the same thing.
Train motor missing from business
Published Tuesday January 19, 2010
Authorities are trying to figure out how an 8,000-pound, $45,000 motor for a locomotive disappeared last month from an Omaha train repair business.
The General Electric locomotive traction electric engine is the property of Union Pacific Railroad. The motor had been out for repairs at Rail Sciences, 605 N. 13th St., when it disappeared between Dec. 16 and Dec. 23, according to Omaha police.
A Rail Sciences employee reported the loss to police on Wednesday, on behalf of Union Pacific. The motor had been outside, the police report said.
Union Pacific spokesman Tom Lange said giant machinery is used to move the massive motor. He had no idea how it could have been taken from the yard. — Susan Szalewski and AP
I would guess that the missing traction motor has been dismanteled by now, and the parts sold as scrap.