Minneapolis Thunderbolts said to be replaced within a year.
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:30 pm
Hello everyone,
I called Minneapolis 311 (the number you call if anything in the city needs attention) to report a 2001 with a slipping rotator belt. I ended up getting connected to the guy who is in charge of the sirens in the city! I've been wondering if such a person existed, as I couldn't find anything on a specific EM for my city. Anyhow, we talked for about 10 minutes and I asked him about the rumor I've heard--the Minneapolis Thunderbolts being replaced soon. He confirmed that atleast half of them will be within the next year. Definitely sad hearing that, because the Minneapolis siren ambiance is awesome with the mixture of 1000T 4/5s. They are certainly audible over a 2001 that's only a few hundred feet away. Battery backup is the biggest concern though, which I can understand, and the weather has been so crazy the last couple of years that it is probably smart to have sirens with BB.
The official public announcement will be made soon he said, so I will keep my eyes/ears popped and update you all. As far as the fate of the Thunderbolts that are coming down, he said that some will most likely be shared with other cities, and some kept for parts, but there is no solid plan yet. There is one Thunderbolt in particular that I would love to have, so I might be semi-aggressive to get in there and try and buy the thing. (it's the first siren I ever heard, and grew up hearing from my parents house--this one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X35JJrVX_lg)
-Rick
I called Minneapolis 311 (the number you call if anything in the city needs attention) to report a 2001 with a slipping rotator belt. I ended up getting connected to the guy who is in charge of the sirens in the city! I've been wondering if such a person existed, as I couldn't find anything on a specific EM for my city. Anyhow, we talked for about 10 minutes and I asked him about the rumor I've heard--the Minneapolis Thunderbolts being replaced soon. He confirmed that atleast half of them will be within the next year. Definitely sad hearing that, because the Minneapolis siren ambiance is awesome with the mixture of 1000T 4/5s. They are certainly audible over a 2001 that's only a few hundred feet away. Battery backup is the biggest concern though, which I can understand, and the weather has been so crazy the last couple of years that it is probably smart to have sirens with BB.
The official public announcement will be made soon he said, so I will keep my eyes/ears popped and update you all. As far as the fate of the Thunderbolts that are coming down, he said that some will most likely be shared with other cities, and some kept for parts, but there is no solid plan yet. There is one Thunderbolt in particular that I would love to have, so I might be semi-aggressive to get in there and try and buy the thing. (it's the first siren I ever heard, and grew up hearing from my parents house--this one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X35JJrVX_lg)
-Rick
