Unstoppable

On May 15th 2001, the CSX train number 8888 went on a 66 mile trip through Ohio with no one on board. Over 9 years later the events of that day were finally made into the movie "Unstoppable", starring Denzel Washington...

..or "George Washington" as Xiong likes to call him.

Anyway, history time.

During a routine train movement, an unnamed train engineer (the film calls him "Dewey") climbed out of an otherwise unmanned moving train to hit a switch on a track side in the belief that he had set the train to a safe setting.

They say you learn something new everyday. On May 15th 2001, Dewey learnt leaving a moving train unmanned was not the best of ideas. Particularly when you accidently leave it in full forward throttle and the safety brakes have been disabled.

In reality, the 8888 then started its 2 hour, 66 - mile run for freedom reaching speeds of up to 47 miles per hour carrying thousands of gallons of molten phenol, a toxic ingredient of paints and dyes that is harmful when it is inhaled, ingested, or comes into contact with the skin. After attempts to derail the train failed miserably, a locomotive, with a crew of two, an engineer with 31 years of service and a conductor with one year's experience chased the runaway train in reverse and was able to couple onto its rear and apply its dynamic brakes. Once the runaway was slowed down to a speed of 11 miles per hour, a CSX employee, trainmaster Jon Hosfeld, ran alongside the train, climbed aboard 8888 and shut down the engine.

The only injury during the whole event was to Dewey, who received minor injuries when he originally attemped to get back on the train immediately after getting off.

The film succeeds in telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth...

... or at least, the Hollywood version of the truth.

Despite several obvious cheesy Hollywood moments thrown in to "add to the excitement", the overall movie is enjoyable and entertaining and worth a watch...

...particularly if your next best option is Harry Potter...