Aging 'Railroad Torpedoes' Found in Ohio Garage Cleanup

Authorities safely removed the vintage explosives used as train warning signals decades ago.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:09pm

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An extreme close-up of a heavily weathered, rusted railroad torpedo shell, capturing the gritty, stark texture and dramatic lighting to conceptually represent the hazardous nature of the vintage explosive device.The discovery of aging railroad torpedoes in an Ohio garage highlights the potential dangers lurking in old storage spaces.Springfield Today

The Clark County Sheriff's Office in Ohio reported that a homeowner discovered around 30 'railroad torpedoes' while cleaning out a garage in the 4700 block of Old Mill Road near Springfield. These vintage explosives, once used by the railroad industry as loud signaling devices for train operators, were safely removed from the property by the Hustead Fire Department and Dayton Bomb Squad.

Why it matters

The discovery of these aging railroad torpedoes, which can still contain potent explosive materials, highlights the potential dangers that can lurk in old garages, basements, and storage spaces. Proper handling and disposal of such vintage ordnance is crucial to public safety.

The details

The railroad torpedoes found in the Ohio garage were devices that had been used for many years in multiple countries. They would be placed on train tracks to create a loud signal when trains rolled over them, alerting operators. The explosives inside these torpedoes, like potassium perchlorate, can still be highly volatile even after decades.

  • The discovery was made on Monday, March 30, 2026 while the homeowner was cleaning out the garage.

The players

Clark County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that responded to the report of the discovered railroad torpedoes.

Hustead Fire Department

The fire department that assisted in the safe removal of the vintage explosives.

Dayton Bomb Squad

The specialized bomb disposal unit that helped remove the railroad torpedoes from the property.

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What’s next

The railroad torpedoes will be properly disposed of by the Dayton Bomb Squad to eliminate any potential public safety risks.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder for homeowners to be cautious when cleaning out old storage spaces, as dangerous and forgotten items like these vintage explosives can still pose a serious threat if not handled properly.