Don't know if many people here but a movie is coming out in 2010 about the below story. I suppose Hollywood will make the movie "based" on a real event. I still have the Reader's Digest magazine with the story of how a locomotive chased and coupled to the last car of the freight and slowed it until about 10 mph. Runaway CSX train stopped after 2 hour uncontrolled trip! - TrainBoard.com lex
I read the story about the crew that caught the runaway in Reader's Digest many years ago. I kept the magazine but eventually lost the issue. What type of loco was used? I remember the article said the loco was limited in speed when not pulling any cars but do not remember the number. I remember they went quite a lot over that speed. I read the account after the fact in this forum and posted it in another forum. One guy said, CSX was trying out a remote control loco and it got away from them. An engineer took the fall for CSX so CSX would not get in trouble. Talk about conspiracy theories. lex
Single light locomotives are restricted to 30 MPH. 2 or more coupled together can run track speed for freight trains. This occurred before remotes were used in Stanley Yard. That engineer is now retired, and I believe he still lives about a mile from me.
We've had film crews in our area, supposedly working with WNYP. Other than the fact that the limo driver for Denzel got his photo on the local newspaper, it's been pretty quiet. I've heard two theories, one that it is based on the CSX runaway, the other that it is based on the NS runaway on Keating Summit that dumped the train at over 70mph. WNYP now operates Keating Summit, but that may or may not have anything to do with it. Engineer charged in fish kill derailment Both are pretty dramatic stories. I'm not expecting a documentary, but it would be nice if they got the facts straight on a technical side. LOCAL FILMING FOR RUNAWAY TRAIN MOVIE BACK ON TRACK | www.endeavornews.com | Endeavor News
I feel luckier than you - Jennifer Connelly (and Ed Harris) were just a mile or so up the road from me filming here in Holland last week! Fun to drive by and see them working on setting up cameras, lights, and stuff. :tb-biggrin:
Saw this story posted on the UTU bulletin board. I'm not too sure that a movie about the CSX event will be very exciting to watch, but we'll see...
No, there have been others. Just to name a few. The Train 1964 Von Ryan's Express 1965 Murder on the Orient Express 1974 Runaway Train 1985 Murder on the Orient Express 2001 Murder on the Orient Express 2010 (in the filming stage) Not a clue why two remakes within 9 years. Gary
Looks like it'll be fun for rail fans, and a money maker with the Blood-n-Gore crowd. But it certainly won't help the image of railroads as your safe friendly neighbor through towns, villages, and neighborhoods.
It states being based upon a real event. Looks to me like a combination of numerous happenings. Appears to be a rehashed to death old topic. If as it seems, as with too many movies these days, very thin on any plot and completely overblown on the action. Believe I'll wait for the DVD rental to even bother seeing this one, if at all. Boxcab E50
Ken, it's based (very loosely) on the CSX runaway in Kenton, Ohio back in '01. http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/05/15/runaway.train.05/ My cynical self visualizes a meeting of Hollywood producers brain-storming...Gee, that looks like a neat concept, let's make a movie around it. Of course the end result won't bear any resemblance to the facts, but maybe nobody will notice or care, because we don't, just as long as it's good theater and profitable.
Hank- Yes. I had guessed that was a part of the plot. Embellish with bits and pieces from other events and presto- Using different people, same old stuff. Boxcab E50
''Unstoppable'' Denzel Washington movie trailer check it out...... http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/at-the-movies/a257575/trailer-denzel-washingtons-unstoppable.html
LOL! Very cool trailer, and I'm looking forward to the movie... two observations, though... 1) What are the odds that folks would be stuck at multiple grade crossings on the same track at the same time this train would be going through?? Only in a movie... 2) Why'd the commenter on the page have to be a buzzkill and point out that modern locos have failsafes to prevent this sort of accident... IT'S A MOVIE. There's this thing called "suspension of disbelief" ... Now, I fear that I'll get there and the movie will be ruined by blatant technical errors... but if I can overlook and laugh at Abby & McGee's technobabble on NCIS, I'll probably be OK with this one...
PS: The trailer mentions it's based on a true story... anybody know anything about the true story? Or is it "based on a true story" in the sense that yes, trains exist and they have engineers and haul hazardous cargo... but that's about where the "based on" ends...
