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Unstoppable Movie Trailer

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, August 13, 2010 7:58 PM

BATMAN

 Could they not have shot so many holes in the fuel tanks that all the diesel would have run out on to the ground in a few hundred metres. Maybe the EPA said no

 

                                                                     Brent

The steel used in fuel tanks is of a sufficient hardness and thickness that normal small arms fire will at best leave a dent, and most likely just leave a paint scratch.  Armor piercing ammunition would be needed and normal 'rifle' sized holes would take many, many miles of movement to empty the tank....you need a big, big hole to release several thousand gallons of fuel quickly.

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Friday, August 13, 2010 1:42 PM

Here is a link to a YouTube video of the incident... sorry for the shear lunacy of the narration, it is from one of those stupid reality news TV shows... but you can see the trooper shoot a shotgun at the gas cap (the switch is about a foot above where he was aiming).  To penetrate the gas tank would have required a much more powerful gun and armor piercing ammo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apsKBo8-zak

Here is a link to the CNN story about it.

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/05/15/runaway.train.05/

 

 

Semper Vaporo

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Posted by BATMAN on Friday, August 13, 2010 10:54 AM

 Could they not have shot so many holes in the fuel tanks that all the diesel would have run out on to the ground in a few hundred metres. Maybe the EPA said no

 

                                                                     Brent

Brent

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Posted by samfp1943 on Friday, August 13, 2010 10:24 AM

Andy Cummings

When I saw the trailer, my initial reaction was, c'mon, that's all silliness. It couldn't have gone down like that. But then I went back and read Bill Stephens' excellent 2001 TRAINS article on the subject, and truth really is stranger than fiction. There really were lineside cops shooting at the engine (as noted, it was the red fuel cutoff button that was their target). The train was bled off, as it was a switching move. Weirder yet, the engineer set the independent prior to "departure," and the alerter was programmed to shut off when the independent was applied. Otherwise, the alerter would have stopped the train before it got very far.

What I find silly about the trailer is the train full of kids. Why don't they just, um, stop the train and let the kids off? I'm sure there's some elaborate Hollywood reason they concocted so that wouldn't work, but the inclusion of a train full of cute kids strikes me as a cheap, uncreative way to get the audience more invested.

SPOT ON! Andy,  

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Posted by Andy Cummings on Friday, August 13, 2010 10:09 AM

When I saw the trailer, my initial reaction was, c'mon, that's all silliness. It couldn't have gone down like that. But then I went back and read Bill Stephens' excellent 2001 TRAINS article on the subject, and truth really is stranger than fiction. There really were lineside cops shooting at the engine (as noted, it was the red fuel cutoff button that was their target). The train was bled off, as it was a switching move. Weirder yet, the engineer set the independent prior to "departure," and the alerter was programmed to shut off when the independent was applied. Otherwise, the alerter would have stopped the train before it got very far.

What I find silly about the trailer is the train full of kids. Why don't they just, um, stop the train and let the kids off? I'm sure there's some elaborate Hollywood reason they concocted so that wouldn't work, but the inclusion of a train full of cute kids strikes me as a cheap, uncreative way to get the audience more invested.

Andy Cummings Associate Editor TRAINS Magazine Waukesha, Wis.
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Posted by zardoz on Friday, August 13, 2010 9:35 AM

oltmannd
zardoz

Would have been better off shooting at the air hoses.

Except the cars were bled...

Oh. I did not know that. I guess that would make a difference.
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Posted by samfp1943 on Thursday, August 12, 2010 10:18 PM

Was thias video not shot on an RJ Corman property? 

    Seems to me I watched a YouTube video of some RJ Corman equipment, and mixed into that group of videos was one that showed the locomotives ( painted and lettered for AVI_  displayed in this movie on their(Corman's) property and staging some run-bys for camera angles.

   I am guessing that the Corman property is pretty close to NS and Horseshoe Curve area? Anyone that can supply answers?  Thanks!

 

 


 

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Posted by oltmannd on Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:51 PM
zardoz

Would have been better off shooting at the air hoses.

Except the cars were bled...

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by zardoz on Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:38 PM

Would have been better off shooting at the air hoses.

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Posted by AgentKid on Thursday, August 12, 2010 4:39 PM

BaltACD
Thought the cop trying to shoot the wheels out of the runaway was a realistic touch

 

Don't laugh. Based on some of the "Stupid Cop Tricks Around Trains" I've read on this forum it could happen!

Bruce

 

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Thursday, August 12, 2010 4:37 PM

The Police were told there was a "red button" on the side of the engine that would shut off the fuel to the engine.  This button does exist!  It is usually embedded in a hole in the footboard along the side of the engine and could possibly be shot to cause the fuel to be shut off.

Unfortunately, when the Police were told about the button, the exact location was not conveyed to them.  Either the State Police or some Sherriff's deputies (maybe both) tried it....I remember the helicopter videos of the officers standing trackside with guns drawn as the engines went past.

When the engines were stopped it was evident that they did shoot at the engines but mistook the gas cap on the tank as the object to shoot.

It is somewhat reassuring that the bullets did not penetrate either the cap or the tank sides (when they missed the cap), but since they were shooting at the wrong "red button" it didn't work.


 

Semper Vaporo

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, August 12, 2010 4:17 PM

Thought the cop trying to shoot the wheels out of the runaway was a realistic touchSign - Oops

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Posted by coborn35 on Thursday, August 12, 2010 2:46 PM
It appears the train with the children is actually correct. Check out this picture taken not too long before the runaway started: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=211615&nseq=8

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Posted by zardoz on Thursday, August 12, 2010 2:08 PM

It looks like it has lots of wreckage....so of course I'll have to see it when it comes out on dvd.

It's nice when a movie has good writing, good acting, and a plausible scenario; however, if has none of those it must have gobs of action and destruction.

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Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, August 12, 2010 1:58 PM

I found the March 2002 Reader's Digest article on this issue. The chase loco was Q636, CSX 6462, with engineer Jess Knowlton and conductor Terry Folson. They were pulling a freight directly toward the runaway freight and were told to get off at the next siding, ASAP. They came into the siding 15mph over the speed limit for taking a siding.


After they pulled in, the freight went by. They were then told to catch the freight. Obviously the CSX could not let the freight derail at that point with a closed turnout. The freight was running at least 50 mph at times.

By the way, they were running “backwards” in this chase at speeds approaching 65 mph and the max speed for that loco unloaded is 30 mph. They wondered how they ever stayed on the track.

The point they caught the freight was climbing a hill toward Kenton, OH and a downgrade into the town is where they freight was eventually brought under control and stopped. The loco was doing about 12 mph and the worker who hopped on was 52 years old, Jon Hosfield.

The article says the freight was directed through three slow speed sidings in hope it would derail but no such luck. They tried a 50 lb portable derailing device but it was kicked aside by the loco.

The chase loco crew had quite a ride. When the chase loco was chasing the freight, the engineer was pressing so hard on the horn control that he broke off the lever.

There are a couple good photos of the chase loco and crew, plus the man who jumped on the lead loco.

You can probably find the back issue at Amazone.com if interested.

Rich

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Posted by oltmannd on Monday, August 9, 2010 6:44 AM
BT CPSO 266

 

richg1998

 Below is a link to what actually happened. Not a big deal. Only the chase loco crew had any excitement as did the crewman who jumped on the lead loco when it was running slow enough.

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=511832&nav=0Re55IAR5HXY

You can put your own spin on it if you want.

I will defiantly see it, I doubt that it will top Runaway Train 1985; great movie.Wink

By the way, what exactly is a "Camera" switch they keep referring to? Plus, I am still confused of why the train did not stop after the alerter timed out? If anyone can answer it will be greatly appreciated.

I'll guess that the "camera" switch is where they had a camera for getting the inbound consists for trains arriving the yard. The alerter probably didn't do anything because the independent brakes were already fully applied which probably "satisfied" it that the train was being controlled.

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Posted by BT CPSO 266 on Sunday, August 8, 2010 8:08 PM

 

richg1998

 Below is a link to what actually happened. Not a big deal. Only the chase loco crew had any excitement as did the crewman who jumped on the lead loco when it was running slow enough.

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=511832&nav=0Re55IAR5HXY

You can put your own spin on it if you want.

I will defiantly see it, I doubt that it will top Runaway Train 1985; great movie.Wink

By the way, what exactly is a "Camera" switch they keep referring to? Plus, I am still confused of why the train did not stop after the alerter timed out? If anyone can answer it will be greatly appreciated.

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Posted by richg1998 on Sunday, August 8, 2010 7:58 PM

 Below is a link to what actually happened. Not a big deal. Only the chase loco crew had any excitement as did the crewman who jumped on the lead loco when it was running slow enough.

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=511832&nav=0Re55IAR5HXY

You can put your own spin on it if you want.

Rich

 

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Sunday, August 8, 2010 11:47 AM

Anybody that can suspend belief in reality to watch one of the present spate of crime investigation, medical practice, or just about any TV program (including the News) will be able to do the same to enjoy this movie.

Semper Vaporo

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Sunday, August 8, 2010 10:20 AM

Most moviemakers have never let accuracy get in the way of a good story line, including Oliver Stone and Michael Moore.  Dad used to spot more than a few howlers in WW2 movies, and I've spotted more than a few myself.  Movie viewers realize that any connection between the movie and reality is probably coincidental.  Don't worry about it.

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Posted by AgentKid on Saturday, August 7, 2010 7:28 PM

Murphy Siding
why would any railroad allow a movie company access to it's property to make a movie filled full of so much nonsense as to put the whole railroad industry in a bad light?

 

As they say, any publicity is good publicity.

I think this movie will be like a Terminator, or Die Hard movie. If they get an interesting story going, you will be sucked right in and enjoy the movie. Suspension of disbelief.

Bruce

 

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Saturday, August 7, 2010 7:18 PM

     Why don't they just call in the A-Team.  That would appear to be just about as plausible as the scenes featured on the trailer.Disapprove

     Come to think of it,  why would any railroad allow a movie company access to it's property to make a movie filled full of so much nonsense as to put the whole railroad industry in a bad light?  You'd think this would have to have been run past the railroad's PR department?  Hello?? Black Eye

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Unstoppable Movie Trailer
Posted by csmincemoyer on Saturday, August 7, 2010 6:38 PM

This film was filmed throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio. In my area some scenes were filmed along the old Pennsy/Conrail Buffalo Line between Driftwood, PA and Olean, NY.

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvFwmlJD7iU 

 

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