NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Transit had a hurricane plan to move its trains to higher ground before Hurricane Sandy hit.

But it’s not clear why the agency instead moved locomotives and rail cars to low-lying rail yards in Kearny and Hoboken. A third of the agency’s fleet – 70 locomotives and 273 rail cars – were damaged by flooding from the storm.

The Record newspaper obtained a copy of the 3 1/2-page plan that was prepared four months before Sandy after filing a public-records suit.

The plan calls for moving railcars and locomotives “from flood-prone areas to higher ground” and lists more than a half-dozen locations.

Kearny Yard and Hoboken were not listed.

An NJ Transit spokesman declined to answer questions about why the equipment was moved to those locations.