(The following story appeared on the Galesburg Register-Mail website on September 1.)
GALESBURG, Ill. — Christopher R. Tompkins did not make it back to Colorado Tuesday night.
The 40-year-old LaFayette, Colo., man was arrested at 10:26 p.m. Tuesday after police received reports of a man trying to jump on the engine of a moving train. He was released from the Knox County jail this morning.
Police were called to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe yard near South Broad and Fourth streets. On arrival, police spoke with the engineer, who said he was operating a train southbound on the tracks at the train depot, 225 S. Seminary St., when a subject, later identified as Tompkins, jumped on his engine. Searching the engine, police found Tompkins seated on the outside of the cab. He was arrested for criminal trespass to railroad property.
While speaking with the intoxicated Tompkins, police say he said he was on the Amtrak going to Colorado. When the train stopped in Galesburg, he got off for a cigarette. The train left him at the depot. He told police he saw the freight train going in the same direction as the Amtrak so he jumped on it, hoping to make it to Colorado.