I have watched the movie Unstoppable numerous times as I find it entertaining. I know Hollywood uses artistic license freely, but something in this movie that gets to me is Frank stating that his SD40-2 has 5000 HP. Am I missing something? Was there ever a SD40-2 made with more than 3000 HP?
Assuming there wasn't, why would they exaggerate that much? I suspect most of the viewing public wouldn't know the difference anyway.
Rick
hbgatsf,
To the best of my knowledge all of the EMD 40 series diesel locomotives powered by the 645 V-16 engine--F, GP, SD, SDP, -2, T2,--all of them were 3000 traction horsepower. Remember, to get an additional 600 horses, EMD had to stretch the 645 to 20 cylinders in the SD-45.
The 5000 horsepower was just Hollywood BS. Enjoy the photography, ignore the dialogue.
Given the choice: 5,000 always sounds better than 3,000. It's what our media (& The Weather Channel) thrives on...
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I think the movie facts compared to the actual facts are even a little more loose . . . The runaway was an SD40-2, but I think the loco that chased it was an SD60. I've seen photos of the real-life conductor and engineer. They look kinda like Sam Sheppard and Vincent D'Onofrio and not Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Hollywood: based on a true story.
LINK to SNSR Blog
hbgatsfAssuming there wasn't, why would they exaggerate that much? I suspect most of the viewing public wouldn't know the difference anyway.
I would suppose that if they said 3,000 horsepower, most of the viewing public would not believe it. I mean, that is only 10 Ford Mustangs... a locomotive must be more powerful than 10 Ford Mustangs.
A lot of what gets said in movies is there to bring the audience into the picture, and even if the truth is accurate, but seems unrealistic, it might be an obstacle.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I wonder if, instead of a movie, this story appeared in book format, would the same misrepresentation have been made. Not to worry, H-wood lost me 40 years ago, and has continued to decline.
The thing that bugged me the most about that movie was when the diesels went up on the wheels of one side around a corner. I really had to throw my brain out the window for that scene.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761The thing that bugged me the most about that movie was when the diesels went up on the wheels of one side around a corner.
Now I need to make sure I never see that movie!
For me, the biggest groaner in a train movies was in Dark Territory where the engine hood door were bullet-proof! However, I almost purposely avoid any train movies because the fantasy will be lost for me.
I have since seen that in several movies, where any stamped-steel door is impervious to projectiles.
I should also avoid crane movies. I cannot stand in when someone just jumps into a crane and starts operating it with no prior experience.
There comes a time when you just have to watch a movie to enjoy a movie.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmannThere comes a time when you just have to watch a movie to enjoy a movie.
Doctor Who, as well as The Martian (enjoy the comedy)
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
After 40 years as an aircraft mechanic, a railfan, a western history of the American west and, World War II student, H-wood has no place at my table. If I feel the need to experience the truly ridiculous, there's always the Cartoon Network.
NHTX If I feel the need to experience the truly ridiculous, there's always the Cartoon Network.
There's been some good stuff on CN over the years. Not so much lately - but ebb and flow.
I'm always curious though - if someone doesn't watch anything hollywood, how do they know its quality continues to decline?
zugmannThere's been some good stuff on CN over the years. Not so much lately
Umm... Teen Titans Go?
The funniest show ever!
What about The Amazing World Of Gumball? Also very funny.
We Bare Bears is always worthwhile.
I could never get into Teen Titans Go.
Regular Show was my jam (until the last season or so). Gumball had its moments.
Edit: almost forgot Sonic Boom. That was the best.
Disney had some good ones, too.
Gravity Falls, Star v. FOE, Phineas and Ferb, Milo Murphy, etc.
Zugmann,
If the Hollywood types have become the national conscience figuring THEY know best how WE should live OUR lives, what kind of movies do you presume they are making? Now, these people who make their livelihoods pretending to be someone/thing they really are NOT, are getting into politics??? No thanks. They have nothing to say I want to hear, and my dollars are too precious to donate to them. I will leave this discussion at this point in order not to bring the wrath of the forum overseers down upon myself.
Ok then. You do you.
SeeYou190 hbgatsf Assuming there wasn't, why would they exaggerate that much? I suspect most of the viewing public wouldn't know the difference anyway. I would suppose that if they said 3,000 horsepower, most of the viewing public would not believe it. I mean, that is only 10 Ford Mustangs... a locomotive must be more powerful than 10 Ford Mustangs. A lot of what gets said in movies is there to bring the audience into the picture, and even if the truth is accurate, but seems unrealistic, it might be an obstacle. -Kevin
hbgatsf Assuming there wasn't, why would they exaggerate that much? I suspect most of the viewing public wouldn't know the difference anyway.
Mustang?
Here's MY car:
https://carbuzz.com/news/listen-to-the-3000-hp-twin-turbo-dodge-viper-from-hell
And your giant locomotive better have more HP than my car! Dude!
Ed
7j43kMustang? Here's MY car:
I had two V6 Mustangs, a 2011 and a 2019. Both were advertised as 305 horsepower, so that is why I used them as my example.
No need to exceed 80 MPH, so a larger engine would be a waste.
I'll take a slinky fit beauty over brawny muscle every time.
The fact dodge never made a factory Viper Defender disappointed 10 year old me.
SeeYou190SeeYou190 wrote the following post 3 hours ago: riogrande5761The thing that bugged me the most about that movie was when the diesels went up on the wheels of one side around a corner. Now I need to make sure I never see that movie!
It's still a good movie and all things considered the railroad scenes are pretty accurate.That scene going around the curve is silly, but most (all?) Hollywood movies are exaggerations of reality anyway.
Let's face it, we all have expertise in something or many things in our lives and there is probably not a movie that has been made that can not be ripped apart in some fashion. We can be railroad snobs about inaccuracies in movies about trains, but how much flies over our heads when movies contain ridiculous things we know nothing about and don't pick up.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
ROBERT PETRICKI think the movie facts compared to the actual facts are even a little more loose . . .
The movie was not "based on" real events, but "inspired by" real events, which gives a lot more leaway in the facts.
SeeYou190No need to exceed 80 MPH, so a larger engine would be a waste.
That bigger engine will get you to 80 a lot quicker
My biggest pet peeve is actor pilots in the cockpit of an airplane just pushing and pulling buttons and levers trying to look like they are flying the plane. They have no idea what buttons or levers they are pushing or pulling and it is ridiculous to those of us that know what ones they should be pushing. Not to mention the cockpit never matches the exterior shots of the plane or the passenger cabin for that matter.
BATMAN My biggest pet peeve is actor pilots in the cockpit of an airplane just pushing and pulling buttons and levers trying to look like they are flying the plane. They have no idea what buttons or levers they are pushing or pulling and it is ridiculous to those of us that know what ones they should be pushing. Not to mention the cockpit never matches the exterior shots of the plane or the passenger cabin for that matter.
Just don't call me Shirley.
BATMANThey have no idea what buttons or levers they are pushing or pulling and it is ridiculous to those of us that know what ones they should be pushing.
Have you seen the scene in "Sharknado 3, Oh Hell No!" where Mohawk Guy (Bobak Ferdowsi) teaches David Hasselhoff how to fly the Space Shuttle so he can go battle the sharks in space?
Best nerd cameo ever!
And because I can tell the difference, I laugh when the movie set in 1964 has a Checker Motors cab from 1978.
Yes, Checker did not change the basic body from 1959 to 1982, and even that car was the same platform and very similar to the 1956-1958 cars, but there are differences.
Some of them VERY obvious, like the battering ram bumpers after 1973, or the larger windshield from mid 1968 on.......
Sheldon
7j43k SeeYou190 hbgatsf Assuming there wasn't, why would they exaggerate that much? I suspect most of the viewing public wouldn't know the difference anyway. I would suppose that if they said 3,000 horsepower, most of the viewing public would not believe it. I mean, that is only 10 Ford Mustangs... a locomotive must be more powerful than 10 Ford Mustangs. A lot of what gets said in movies is there to bring the audience into the picture, and even if the truth is accurate, but seems unrealistic, it might be an obstacle. -Kevin Mustang? Here's MY car: https://carbuzz.com/news/listen-to-the-3000-hp-twin-turbo-dodge-viper-from-hell And your giant locomotive better have more HP than my car! Dude! Ed
Good luck getting that thing to hook up when the boost comes on. My Gen 3 with mild mods struggels to keep it planted in 1st or 2nd gear.
An "expensive model collector"