Technical Problem with "Runaway Train Type Movies"

[Anonymous]

1. Why does not anyone ever think of using the Dynamic Brake?
2.Even Steam engines has some form of Dynamic Braking
3. When cars are cut loose the brakes always snap on not off as the air pistons seperate the brakes

[heavyd]

...and why didn't Manny just uncouple the last engine from the rest of the engines and ride to a nice safe stop...

They are just movies, most directors/producers and on top of that, audience know nothing about trains anyway! I am sure airplane buffs must shake their heads at plane/jet movies aswell.

[vsmith]

Answers:

1. its a movie.

2. its a movie.

3 its a movie

[spankybird]

And did you think, Maybe it's just a Movie [?]


tom

[rrnut282]

What I like is how they ignore the fact of the "deadman control" when the engineer is "incapacitated", or better yet, the engineer goes on when communication is lost, etc...

[Anonymous]

Because if they everything worked like it was supposed to, then it really woun't be that exciting of a movie. Unfortunatly the general popcorn eating movie watcher would much rather see a runaway train (probably with some kind of nuclear waste [swg]) then a train come to a safe stop without hurting anyone...

[vsmith]

Trainfinder22

If you found "Runaway Train" unbeleivable and full of logical holes [:O], then dont ever, ever, rent "Under Siege 2 Dark Territory" [*^_^*] or "Atomic Train" [xx(].

The logic gaps and story implausablities in those will cause your head to explode![(-D]

[Anonymous]

I always sort of liked the Gene Wilder/Richard Pryor comedy, "Silver Streak," shot with VIA equipment. The interior of the train looked like everything an Amtrak train should but doesn't, and when it comes to the inevitable runaway scene, there IS a deadman's pedal (a heavy tool box holds it down) and the brakes on the passenger cars DO set when the coupling is broken.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

Trainfinder22

If you found "Runaway Train" unbeleivable and full of logical holes [:O], then dont ever, ever, rent "Under Siege 2 Dark Territory" [*^_^*] or "Atomic Train" [xx(].

The logic gaps and story implausablities in those will cause your head to explode![(-D]

Vic, I laways liked the scene where Steven Segal slides open a window on a Superliner car.

Let's face it gang, in the world of Hollywood big thrill action flicks, hiring a railroad techinical consultant would make it no fun.[swg]

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lfish


I always sort of liked the Gene Wilder/Richard Pryor comedy, "Silver Streak," shot with VIA equipment. The interior of the train looked like everything an Amtrak train should but doesn't, and when it comes to the inevitable runaway scene, there IS a deadman's pedal (a heavy tool box holds it down) and the brakes on the passenger cars DO set when the coupling is broken.

I just watched that the other day. We had had a discussion here on a different topic about the controls on that locomotive and how they were on the left instead of the right. Throughout the movie you only ever see the right side of the train.

The brakes on the cutoff section set, but shouldn't the brakes on the remaining cars have set as well owing to an open line? The engine brakes could remain unset.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainfinder22

1. Why does not anyone ever think of using the Dynamic Brake?

You can't fully stop a train using dynamic brakes but they will get you down to about 10-12 Mph which, then, you could probably jump off safely.

But hey, afterall its just a movie.[:)]

[Anonymous]

I just watched Silver Streak (again) on AMC, (America's Most Commercials.) It's not bad as far as run-away train flicks go. Yep. The train should have gone into emergency and stopped quicker, but then there'd be no crash scene. And the train is coming east on the Rock Island (stopped at Rockdale, outside of Joliet) and the train is shown entering CNW's Madison Street Depot in Chicago. But the shot outside the train director's office shows the south leads to CUS, and the conductor's uniform was almost dead-on save for the silly watch chain worn on the coat instead of the vest. The dining car waiter was convincing. I thought the part of the Porter, played by Scat man Caruthers, was OK, but at the end, when he takes a swig and says, "Hello Chicago!" I felt was insulting to the craft. But hey, it's a movie. A comedy at that. I believe Amtrak was approached for filming, but declined, hence Canada.
Mitch

[Anonymous]

Actualy I thought that many scenes in "Runaway Train" were very realistic. I believe that South Buffalo Railroad is in the the Credits. Fron the Dispatching to shoots of the freight trains it was not half bad.

[CliqueofOne]

A real Runaway. http://www.cwrr.com/Lounge/Feature/runaway/index.html

[zardoz]

Anyone know how they did the scene in "Runaway Train" where the units crashed through the caboose? It sure looked real.



On a side note, as rail enthusiasts, we see the logical and factual flaws in railroad movies. I would be willing to bet that a movie about most any other job, equipment, or scenario that we see are just as riddled with errors (i.e. airline disasters, police, military operations, etc).

[Train Guy 3]

It's a movie..... they are too lazy to get all the facts straight. It would cost them too much to. Besides, if train movies didn't have plot holes and errors we couldn't have fun sitting around picking them out.[:)]

[Randy Stahl]

If there are so many technical problems with a runaway train how come the CSX had one not so long ago. I remember another locomotive chasing the runaway to grab it and slow it down and I remember something about the police shooting guns at the EFCOs trying to shut it down (yea right). I also remember the engine # was 8888
Randy

[Anonymous]

If I remember correctly, this happened a couple of years ago and the train was headed south out of Toledo, Ohio. Eventualy, somebody was able to board the train and stop it.

[Randy Stahl]

So CSX was able to overcome the technical difficultys , why can't it be done by others?
Randy

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl

So CSX was able to overcome the technical difficultys , why can't it be done by others?
Randy

Here is the Trains article about it. It looks like it must have been May 14, 2001.

http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/076ddrhw.asp

[Anonymous]

Difficulties, Smifficulties, we don't need no stinkin' difficulties!!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CliqueofOne

A real Runaway. http://www.cwrr.com/Lounge/Feature/runaway/index.html

I just have to add, I found this account absolutely chilling.

[tree68]

I thought I saw Camas Prairie mentioned in the credits, too.

Firefighters have the same type of discussions about the movie "Backdraft." For one thing, where there's fire, there's usually smoke...

[Anonymous]

We have the same problem with a movie about any subject we have intimate knowledge of. My job is an upstream oil and gas consultant and I know the ins and outs of wells, drilling, field operations, etc. When I see a movie relating to an oil field I usually turn it off because it is in no way representative of the real world. I am sure airline crews and railroaders have the same problem.

[railman]

yeah I'll use my expert opinion, and say, in the words of so many others,

it's Hollywood.

Be happy they used a train. Runaway truck movies would just be pointless.

[spankybird]

Or a runaway Bus or Boat, (like in speed [?])

[lonewoof]

Not railroad related -- but along same lines -- "CSI" last night had poor lady poisoned by drinking "glass cleaner" made of "distilled water, hydrofluoric acid" (it showed the label). Hydrofluoric acid ETCHES glass. Ever wonder how they get the "frosting" on the inside of light bulbs?
And villian used the digital clock in a car as a bomb trigger. I hate to think what it would take to accompli***hat. Easier to build you own clock (MUCH easier!)
Artistic license...

[tree68]

Ever notice that people don't usually use "Hollywood" and "realism" in the same sentence very often?

[cpbloom]

CSX 8888, the SD40-2 that could.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Mark, the movie with Danny Glover was called Switchback. Good movie, also starring R. Lee Ermey, Dennis Quaid, and Ted Levine. Ted Levine played "Buffalo Bill" in Scilence of the Lambs.[8D]