HUNTINGDON COUNTY, Pa. -- Police have been dealing with more copper and scrap metal thefts lately in the Alleghenies, but in Huntingdon County thieves have gone as far as lifting a quarter-mile stretch of railroad tracks right off the ground.

It's not something thieves could steal discretely. Officials at the East Broad Top Railroad said the thieves had it all planned out, right down to the bogus letter that said they had the rights to pick up the track.

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The general manager of the railroad said he was on vacation for two weeks when the thieves stole the track. They showed a fake contract to some neighbors who stopped by to ask what they were doing. It even had the manager's signature on it.

The missing piece is worth about $25,000.

Some people who live along the railroad between Cooks and Robertsdale said they assumed the contract was legitimate. Others said they heard some banging and thought maybe the three men were just building a road. However, they were shocked to learn that the tracks were stolen.

State police said they do have suspects, but their investigation is ongoing.

The railroad wasn't in service. However, it is part of a national historic landmark. Officials said that means the thieves may have committed a federal offense.