Corvallis, Oregon Thunderbolt Hijacked by Prankster

[CDV777-1]

It's a dual tone.

I talked to the EM guy with Clastrop county today and he said they
are planning on getting the siren. I told him about the stuff
they need to do to it before it gets put back into service.
Chopper bearings, collector ring wires, gearbox reseal and
good chopper tube greasing etc....
I think it's going to be put up in Astoria.
It's going to be tricky getting it off of that roof. He said that the
building is 3 or 4 stories tall. I don't know how they are going
to do it without risking damage to the roof.

[Daniel]

A town like Astoria would benefit from several of them. The town surrounds three sides of a steep hill above the Columbia River to the north and Youngs Bay to the west, so there are about four miles of sea-level development wrapping around Coxcomb Hill. Since the upper neighborhoods are out of reach for a tsunami, it would be more effective to have sirens placed along the lower level of town, which in my estimation would require at least three or four Thunderbolt-size sirens. Perhaps the Clatsop County EM manager might also contact Trojan for more Thunderbolts, like those that are rotting away on their poles in Longview and Kalama, Washington. They would probably get them for next to nothing.

[CABLEVision]

It seems like setting off air-raid sirens is the new thing to do! Glad to see it still works! ( Brea's Thunderbolt 1000 sat for 20+ years and worked )

[Mrs. Thunderbolt]

How did the siren quit by itself after 10 minutes of running?

[holler]

How did the siren quit by itself after 10 minutes of running?

It was on a timer probably.

[Justin]

Brea's Thunderbolt 1000 sat for 20+ years and worked

They don't build 'em like they used to...

[Blasty]

I stayed at the OSU campus for a week in 2003 and never saw it. But then, I wasn't looking for it.

I'm glad they're going to put it back in service anyway.

[Robert Gift]

"...The electro-mechanical mustard-yellow siren stands about 25 feet tall. It relies on blower, chopper and rotator motors to create a roar that projects in all directions."

Surprisingly accurate and detailed writing!

I would have said "a roar which is projected in all directions."

I would also have set that siren off.
First I would clear the blower intake of any foreign matter and check all lubrication.
Then set it off only at precisely midnight New Year's Eve or July 4th.

Several years ago, after a red lights and siren blood delivery to a Colorado Springs hospital for a trauma patient in surgery, on return I discovered a railroad crossing on Nevada Ave.

The tracks are paved over but the crossing signals were still present.

The next time I am in the area I'd like to activate the signals. (No gates)

Around midnight, Near Year's Eve 2002, in Santa Fe Springs, CA, I discovered a RXR crossing from nowhere!
The tracks, completely covered by soil, emerged from under the dirt
to cross a four lane road. Then the track abruptly ended at the outside edge of the concrete sidewalk, where a chain link fence enclosed a huge construction site.
I waited until no traffic was in sight and pulled the chain link fence several inches out against the ends of the cut-off rails.
THE CROSSING SIGNALS ACTIVATED!!!
Later I called the 800 number on the crossing relay box and learned that a railroad is required to keep a signal activated until granted permission to deactivate it.

[StonedChipmunk]

Yeah, I wouldn't just leave it on... would be too dangerous. Not to say that leaving it on for 10 full minutes is safe...

[Robert Gift]

Yeah, I wouldn't just leave it on... would be too dangerous. Not to say that leaving it on for 10 full minutes is safe...

I believe all sirens have a 15 minute duty cycle. 15 0n / 45 Off
But I'd only do two minutes.
Gets the point across but does not cause anyone to make a needless trip.