Hijacked train derails

It’s a crime that has railroad crews puzzled and concerned.

Police are investigating a train derailment Saturday night that happened when an unknown person climbed into an unlocked Burlington Northern Santa Fe engine near downtown Lawrence and started the engine moving. It got up to 14 miles per hour and traveled about 200 yards before hitting a derailing lock and going off the tracks.

According to an event recorder in the engine, someone began tinkering with controls inside the engine at 9:59 p.m. By 10:04 p.m., the engine was moving.

“We’re surprised somebody could figure out how to do all that and get it going,” conductor Ira Breece said.

BNSF spokesman Steve Forsberg said it’s not unusual for engines to be left idling, especially during cold weather. Engines also are left unlocked and running at times, he said, but in those cases crews normally remove a piece of equipment from the engine that will keep it from running properly.

“Had procedures been followed fully, ideally this should not have been able to happen,” he said. “That’s part of the investigation. We’ll see where that leads us.”

The railroad company is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the person responsible. Anyone with information is asked to call (800) 832-5432 and refer to complaint case No. 179.

Forsberg said about $1,000 damage was done to the engine, which was lifted back onto the tracks with a crane and taken to Topeka for repairs.