Just read this on the Web TAOS, N.M. - A New Mexico father is outraged after an Amtrak conductor removed his two sons and two of their friends from a train at 2 a.m. Peter Sharfin of Taos says the three boys and one girl, ages 12 to 15, had been 600 miles from home Saturday when they were forced off the train. He says the conductor had accused two of the kids of stealing an iPod, called police in Kingman and left the four kids with an officer. The iPod later was found, and no charges were filed against the kids. An Amtrak spokeswoman says the conductor removed the kids because of disorderly conduct. Sharfin says the kids had traveled to Fresno, California, to visit a mother of one of the children. He says he is considering filing a lawsuit against Amtrak.
I would guess that there was more to it than a missing iPod. This story is so incomplete as to be almost useless. If four 12-15 year olds were put on a train and expected to be little angels with no adult supervision I would guess that more was going on than a missing iPod for a conductor to have kicked them off the train.
Kids The facts haven't been presented but there is more than we know. A conductor would not put someone off the train unless they are creating a problem. I tend to believe the kids were being a problem for the passengers on the train.
I tend to agree with all of you, just saw it and thought it was interesting Just sitting here thinking about how I was at that age, would prolly be trying to figure out how to score a cab ride mg:
If you find any more information on this please post it... :lightbulb: :lightbulb: :lightbulb: :lightbulb:
There is a whole different account of this over at Altamont Press. Sounds like the "little tykes" were real punks, stealing from and fondling girl scouts on the train.
There is more info posted on trainorders.com. I question the wisdom of parents in allowing four kids to travel like this -on their own. And how Amtrak would allow them on the train with no adult supervision. They had already been to Fresno and were returning home when this happened so they had already gone about 1,200 miles.
Kids like this give the overwhelming number of kids a bad name. A friend of mine and I, when we were about 13 or 14, took a train trip from Portland to Seattle, stayed in a hostel a couple of nights, and then came back on the train. Both of us were, I think, too scared to do anything BAD to have misbehaved. Most would probably have classified us in the nerd/geek category, too, but sheesh... it was hard to get a place to stay in Seattle because of our age.
Here's a more factual account of what really happened: http://www.altamontpress.com/discussion/read.php?1,5752,5752#msg-5752 Just like the last "incident" nothing factual reported. So don't beleive anything you read in them & certainly don't comment on them like ANYTHING was factual.
It happens with a high frequency. From that 18 year old gal who disappeared in the Caribbean, to teenaged girls who disappear off cruise ships, and so on. Teenagers who go on those stupid "Spring Break" trips. (Sanctioned, under age disgraceful behavior.) I see neighbors leaving 5-6 year old kids unattended at home all the time. Even though it's illegal. Too many "parents" today spend more effort on getting the kids out of their sight, than actually raising them. Thus, we potentially have incidents such as this one. And if true, what should we bet, the problem kids will sue AMTRAK? :thumbs_down: :sad: Boxcab E50
Cajon, thanks for the link, kinda figured there was more to the story, just had not had the time or the means to find out
The ipod was recovered in the posession of the youth. He, "found it and was going to turn it in." Of course he found it in an area that is off limits to the public. I saw the tv interview with the perp and the dad on the local tv. The youth is lucky that he is not going to trial. I would volunteer to serve on that jury. The father should be ashamed and embarrassed but instead was threatening.