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[UnendingMadness]

I think the "i" is very clear.
The next part is either: 21+ .... OR ... 214
The next number is definitely a 7
The next number is almost definitely a 0
Then there's most likely a period/decimal right after the 0
The next number is quite blurry but I can see the swoop of the 6, it doesn't look like any other number to me
And finally the last number is definitely a 4.

Now, the bit with the "21+ or 214"... Because there's a 4 at the end that definitely looks like a 4 we can assume that the person that wrote the numbers would use the same style of writing for his/her fours. I mention this because if the plus-sign/4 was indeed a 4 it would be written in a different style of writing the number 4 when compared to the last number in the sequence, which is highly unlikely.

So, I'm suggesting that it's most definitely:

i21+70.64

...with only a little bit of haziness on the "6".

[Edit]Attached image - MikeyJ

[vapor]

Yeah I agree that it looks a lot like an "i" but I guess I'm the only one that sees curves or bulges. It's definitely not a straight vertical line as seen in the "1" in "21". I guess it could just be the person spray painting the pole went up and then back down with an unsteady hand and so we ended up with a bulging "i". Just doesn't jive with the rest of the detail given in other Bad Robot ARGs.

I smell a dead end for now. There are just too many variables to figure this one out right now. Maybe we'll get more clues further along in the game and we'll say all say "A HA!"

[rempas]

I'm sorry if it's nothing, but I thought I'd post it anyway.
It got to me we were searching for a train derailment. But such a derailment (a secret transport from area 51) would most
likely not be reported. So I searched for evacuations in Ohio in 1979.
In my searches I found this site http://www.coares.org/heritage/heritage_home.html
half way through the page is a reference to a disaster drill... Of a train derailment.

Most likely nothing. But I thought I'd mention it.

[RawPowah]

In regards to the image post, this one is from the super8 wiki, a screen cap someone already snagged for us. I'll try to go higher def and make one of my own if possible soon.

http://super8.wikibruce.com/images/9/9e/Teaserframe-1474.jpg



Edit: changed it to URL because picture was WAY too large for a forum post. (and looks like Unending managed to comment before I could edit it, haha )

[UnendingMadness]

Aside from that picture being way too large, it does give us a better view of the numbers and I still say it's i21+70.64

[RasGold]

Central Location ... Could be a Clue?

[vapor]

*facepalms*

Super 8 motel?

[Melodyman]

Why Arizona? Area 51 is in central Nevada!

[RasGold]

[RasGold]

[ketos234]

Found a very close match.

CSX generally use the first letter of the prefix to indicate the railroad they bought the track from, and leave the other letters alone. Looking at their prefixes where the second letter is I (and are in a plausible part of the country), the majority of first letters are Q, indicating a purchase from Conrail, where previously the track had been I and numbers. Conrail existed in 1980, and owned lots of track in Ohio from Penn Central. (It was also government subsidized, for conspiracy theory joy...)

http://www.multimodalways.org/archives/rrs/CR/CR%20Track%20Charts/CR%20Track%20Charts.html

Has Conrail track charts from 1979-99. Using their charts, and looking for a milepost 70-71, yields a few candidates (3 or so). Needing to be on a plausible route from Chicago or a route from the south narrows it down to 1.

On the Columbus track chart, the main east west line (it eventually ends up in Chicago on nothing but Conrail track) runs from Urbana to Marion, and has mile 70/71 outside Piqua (The tracks were torn up in 85, but they're very easy to follow on Google Earth when you have the track chart)

At mile 70.53/70.54 (depending on chart) the track intersects Troy-Sidney road (40 08'33.40''N, 84 11'49.08W), a grade crossing.

In a few hours of looking this has been the only grade intersection at mile 70.54 anywhere. It even roughly fits the trailer (close enough to a town that you'd see the lights)...

[Melodyman]

Looking at those numbers it seems that this isnt something that would be painted there by the rail company itself as its too sloppy and any engineer who would be travelling at 60mpg or so would not be able to read this as written. They would use some stencils or sumsuch.. It looks more like it was painted by hand or some old pre-gang graffitti artist..and it dosent seem to be railroad related to me..

[UnendingMadness]

Aside from my personal assumption that it's "70.64", great work ketos. You might be on to something.

[hiawassee]

Just wanted to stick a HD capture of the numbers here for anyone to use for reading/research.

[Headman]

I was born and raised at Wright Patterson AFB so let me attempt to give you some insight to the location. WP is split into two parts Area B then Area A & C. They are split by State Rt 444 as well as a train track (railway) that follows 444. Now there were many train tracks on base (as with most military bases) but WP always stood out as having more than any other military base that I had been to. A lot of the tracks seemed erratic or without out purpose. Back in the day many of these tracks must have ran along side or into buildings, in fact when I was a kid there were a few tracks that still ran into buildings. I will see if I can get some maps and mark the tracks.

I am sure that most of you know the story of Hanger 18 at WPAFB, a rumored holding location of a crashed UFO. There were also rumors that Aliens had been transported to WP at some point after the alleged Roswell crash. It was said that the Aliens were taken to an underground bunker in Area B. Most of the buildings in Area B are built on a large hill and have vents and tubing connecting to one another. Area B also houses the Air Force Museum (highly recommended if your ever in Ohio) and some locals say they built it to hide the obvious, Aliens. Area B also has a cool looking runway that go's uphill at the end. I will see if I can dig up some pic's to give you all an idea of what I am talking about.

Ok, the line in red is the active rail line, the black is where I know a line was and the yellow is an approximate location from what I recall.

[Edit]Attached stretchy images - please attach yourself Headman! Thanks - MikeyJ