TROUBLE ON THE TRACKS: Man admits to trying to steal train in Phoenix

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - A Phoenix man was close to turning a locomotive into his own runaway train.

Police say 20-year-old Julio Rodriguez was arrested earlier this month after trying to steal a train from a railyard just south of downtown Phoenix.

Union Pacific Railyard workers say they were alarmed when they heard the train horn Nov. 8 and went to investigate.

They discovered Rodriguez, who was actually released from jail earlier that day, sitting in the engineer's seat. Employees removed him and found he had moved levers and pushed buttons.

Officials said Rodriguez he was one pedal away from actually moving the train, and since the locomotive was attached to another one, Rodriguez could have taken to trains, if he was successful.

According to court documents, Rodriguez admitted to trying to steal the train. He faces charges of theft of means of transportation and burglary.

The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report.