Theft at National Historic Site (AP) One black mark at the ECLSTS

Theft at National Historic Site (AP)
One black mark at the ECLSTS was the theft of the Blue Moose Statue from the BLUE
MOOSE PARK a National Historic Site on the right-of-way of SULESKI
TRANSPORTATION. The Statue was reported stolen by the park ranger Lois Wallace.
The dispatcher sent out a call to Scott Suleski who was on his way to a rescue call for an
Aristo Craft employee who was injured at the show.
Scott told them to send Railway Police Officer Sawyer over with K-9 Alex and to assign
Trooper Hillhouse from the NH state police. Trooper Hillhouse had come down to York
on his police Harley to help with security. It was hoped that these trained investigators
could solve the case before the FBI was called in. This did occur at a National Historic
Site so it was under their jurisdiction.
Ranger Lois is seen here consoling a young boy who came a long way to visit the Park
and see both the real moose family and the famous park statue. Office Sawyer and K-9
Alex are also seen searching for clues.
To give you some historic background on the BLUE MOOSE PARK we would have to
go back to a story that took place on Suleski Transportation’s right-of-way. It happened
when trains sounding their horns before entering the tunnel echoed through the woods
causing a wayward young moose in rut to wander down and become stuck between the
main lines. Instead of shooting him as the Newton, MA police did to a moose in their
downtown a few years earlier, Suleski Transportation Railway Police called in a vet and
tranquilized the moose and then realizing he was too heavy to move without help called
in the Maintenance of way crews and used the 25 ton crane to lift the moose and take him
away. The moose was then kept in a park near the mainline. He was sent a mate from
John at Track N’Trains in NJ and has since added to his family with twin calves. The
Park became know as Blue Moose Park when members of the New England Cartel of
Short lines met for the first time in Manchester, NH. The other members dubbed Suleski
Transportation the “Route of the Blue Moose”. I really think they were jealous of all the
great publicity the railroad received from this. Suleski Transportation was presented with
a blue moose statue that was meant as a joke, but it has since become an icon when the
park received National Historic Status. Just like Horseshoe curve, Blue Moose Park has
become a New England Mecca for rail fans.
Any way enough history, lets get back to our story. Two years ago the members of the
CCTGG modular group stole the Blue Moose at the ECLSTS. It was seen riding around
their right-of-way changed to a depressed center flat car.
Naturally when the statue was stolen this year the first place that railway police officer
Sawyer, K-9 Alex and Trooper Hillhouse headed was the CCTGG layout.
Taking the Railway Police DARE car and the Police Motorcycle they headed to question
members of the CCTGG club.
Upon reaching the layout the investigators began to question likely suspects.
Heading to the Stoney Creek Switch control tower they questioned Ray Jakabcin and
Chuck Karpinski.
Next they went to the Lumber Mill and questioned Bill Colwell and Bruce Swaybill.
Next they questioned loading dock freight workers John Ramsden and Kenny Frigo.
This process was long and time consuming so the investigators decided to split up to
cover the layout quicker.
At the Motorcycle shop Officer Sawyer questioned Larry Otis and Bob MacGregor.
Trooper Hillhouse questions Bob Gentile and Tom Hite at the Stoney Creek Pay Masters
office.
Being as through as ever Office Sawyer left no stone unturned, no door unopened. Here
he is seen questioning CCTGG Club co-founder Dave Snow in his office.
Officer Sawyer even ran into Ron Wenger the show coordinator during one of his few
lunch breaks
Well after all the usual and unusual suspects were questioned, Suleski Transportation
Railway police went to their computer files and checked on local known railroad
hooligans and vandals. It was curious to note that many were known to be in the York
area at the same time as the disappearance of the Blue Moose Statue.
Two very well known unsavory characters that are on the watch list of many a railroad
are Tom O’Neil and Bryan Dekeles. Tom is featured on a wanted poster for sheep
abduction and Bryan is still doing community service after getting caught tagging a
boxcar at last years show.
However both had concrete alibis that kept them off the suspect list.
This photo, although blurry from being blown up from a security camera, shows two
other well-known people on the Suleski Transportation watch list.
They are European rail fans that belong to the “LGB GANG”. They were not available
to be questioned as their lawyer, well-known expensive mouthpiece for LGB gang
members, Fred Malouf stalled investigators at the bridge to allow his clients to get away.
These LGB gang members are so jealous of the fame that Suleski Transportation has over
their European counterparts that they are suspected of any foul play around the railroad.
Security camera also caught this group of railroad fanatics meeting for the first time.
These people are all having folders made on them for railway police. Many are known
trespassers.
Of course this well-known hooligan was see hanging around the park. We haven’t
identified the nice woman seen with him, nor have we figured out why she would
associate with this person. He is known for repainting railroad equipment to hide its
origins.
The case was solved when an anonymous tip was called in that lead to the return of the
Blue Moose. Suleski Transportation dispatched its new crane to reset the Statue back on
its base.
Everyone was happy even the Original Blue Moose and his family.
He’s just hoping that everything will get back to normal now and people will get back to
feeding him and taking his picture.
Officer Sawyer and Trooper Hillhouse are still searching for the culprit. You know who
you are and just because the Statue is returned doesn’t mean they will give up searching
for you – where ever you are and whom ever you are…