Three men who allegedly took a locomotive for a joyride are scheduled to make their first appearance in Manitoba provincial court Sept. 20.
The suspects, who were employed at the AgPro grain terminal near Boissevain, Man., are accused of theft and mischief. The charges stem from an incident in late July.
Boissevain RCMP const. Mike Kisters said that on the evening of July 26, three men climbed aboard a CP Rail locomotive parked at the AgPro terminal.
The men managed to “hot-wire” the engine and began shuttling it back and forth along a spur line that runs past the terminal.
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They continued their antics for at least an hour, getting bolder as they became more adept at driving the engine, Kisters said.
But their daring attitude became their undoing.
They underestimated the momentum of the train engine, which weighs 100,000 kilograms and slammed into a shuttle wagon owned by AgPro. The wagon was pushed more than 30 metres down the track.
The damages totaled close to $120,000, Kisters said.
The only injury was a bruised leg suffered by one of the joyriders.
Alcohol was not considered a factor in triggering the trio’s itch for adventure.
Charged with theft over $5,000 and mischief over $5,000 are Murray Lone, 47, Kevin Shirtliffe, 31, and Christopher Louttit, 24.
Shirtliffe also is charged with dangerous operation of rail equipment, obstructing justice and public mischief.
CP Rail had made the engine available to AgPro, which was preparing to host the grand opening of its Boissevain terminal on July 28. AgPro is a division of Saskatchewan Wheat Pool.
Kisters remained tightlipped about how the men managed to start the locomotive.
“If you put that in the paper, every dog in town will be running one.”
Sask Pool would not say whether the three accused are still employed by AgPro.
An area resident said she was watering her outdoor flowers on the evening of the escapade at the AgPro terminal. She heard the blare of the locomotive’s whistle, but gave it only a passing thought.
“I thought they were just shuttling cars back and forth.”
