MONTREAL — Quebec provincial police say they’ve taken steps to prevent the U.S. auction of the locomotive from the runaway oil train that derailed and exploded in the town of Lac-Megantic, killing 47 people.

A police spokeswoman says investigators have initiated measures to block the auction house from selling the locomotive until the conclusion of their investigation into the July 2013 disaster.

Sgt. Christine Coulombe said Wednesday she could not provide further details.

The move comes after a report said that locomotive MMA 5017 was due to go to auction with other MMA locomotives in Maine on Aug. 5.

Auctioneer Adam Jokisch says he has yet to hear from authorities that the locomotive will be pulled and will proceed with his plans to sell it until an official tells him otherwise.