Unstoppable

[TGV]

Not sure if this has been discussed elsewhere - but anyone else seen the latest Tony Scott/Denzel movie - Unstoppable? Based on the events of the CSX 8888 incident in Ohio 2001.

I was prepared to be entertained by a poor movie if you know what I mean, but it was actually very well put together. Of course, a few minor details incorrect, but for a Hollywood production it was great. They resisted the temptation to use much CGI, so it had a very gritty realism to it.

Having read up on the real incident on which it is based after I saw the movie, I am amazed at how many scenes from the film actually happened in reality.

I'd recommend it. Of course, it'd be pretty boring if it was set in the UK...

First AWS magnet... movie ends.

 

[mumrar]

I saw an advert for this in the paper today, and one thing that stuck out was that they said it was 1,000,000 tonnes, and working on an average of 100 per vehicle, that's 10000 vehicles long. My average is based on UK loading gauge, so if I'm generous and say 130 per vehicle, it still comes out at 7900 vehicles long. Assuming those 7900 vehicles are around 65ft long, then it's a 97 mile train then!!

 

[TGV]

I saw an advert for this in the paper today, and one thing that stuck out was that they said it was 1,000,000 tonnes, and working on an average of 100 per vehicle, that's 10000 vehicles long. My average is based on UK loading gauge, so if I'm generous and say 130 per vehicle, it still comes out at 7900 vehicles long. Assuming those 7900 vehicles are around 65ft long, then it's a 97 mile train then!!

That same advert showed radiation signs on the train... wasn't in the movie!

Yeah I think the people that did the advert didn't know much about the movie itself! That doesn't do the movie justice to be honest. I mean, it's not Saving Private Ryan in terms of realism, but it's the best railway flick I've seen.

 

[YesToHS2]

but it's the best railway flick I've seen.

Are you sure? What about under siege 2?

 

[jonb]

Went and saw this last Sunday, and thought it was good to be fair. The only thing I found a bit 'far fetched' was where the throttle magically went into the power position when the shunter was on the line itself...

 

[sprinterguy]

I saw an advert for this in the paper today, and one thing that stuck out was that they said it was 1,000,000 tonnes, and working on an average of 100 per vehicle, that's 10000 vehicles long. My average is based on UK loading gauge, so if I'm generous and say 130 per vehicle, it still comes out at 7900 vehicles long. Assuming those 7900 vehicles are around 65ft long, then it's a 97 mile train then!!

Yeah I was somewhat put off seeing the film when I saw the figure of "1,000,000 Tonnes" and did some similar maths to come to a similarly absurd answer for the train length of such a working: I'd expect it to be the typical cringeworthily inaccurate runaway train action thriller, with more unnecessary explosions and suchlike than would ever be plausible. But if TGV says it's good I may have to give it a cursory glance at some point. I wasn't aware it was based on a real event.

 

[Nevasleep]

I felt it was great, and kind of 'fresh' like Speed 1.
Think it highlights some of the differences between the US and Europe's railways.

 

[bangor-toad]

I saw it last night and tremendously enjoyed the movie.

As mentioned earlier it doesn't rely on CGI and instead the movie tells a story. If you know US railroad operations then there must be LOADS of errors and mistakes. However, where this stands out from other movies is that is seems to have at least considered the laws of physics!

I'd recommend it to anyone with an interest in trains.
Enjoy!
Jason

 

[Sun Chariot]

Isn't there a sequel planned, "Unstartable" featuring SouthEastern EMUs in the Kent snow...?

 

[Vulcan]

I won't be watching it, since I know I'll be picking up on all the flaws in it. But one major thing I can think of from the plot, surely even in the USA they have trap points or a siding they can direct a runaway into to derail it?
Also the advert shows someone jumping through a windscreen of one of the locos. How does anybody jump through laminated glass?

 

[TGV]

I won't be watching it, since I know I'll be picking up on all the flaws in it. But one major thing I can think of from the plot, surely even in the USA they have trap points or a siding they can direct a runaway into to derail it?
Also the advert shows someone jumping through a windscreen of one of the locos. How does anybody jump through laminated glass?

You won't be watching it because you'll be picking out the flaws?! Then I suggest you never ever watch any movie ever again - they're all full of flaws. I just watched "wanted" for the first time - so full of crap from start to finish, but hey....

Anyway - trap points etc... they probably do, but again, researching the real event on which this was based (google CSX 8888), you'd be amazed how much they used in the movie - even the cops shooting the fuel tank (which I thought was a Hollywoodism) actually happened in the real event. The real event also never had the option of diverting it to traps.

Seriously - if you're a rail fan of any kind, it's worth watching.

 

[Vulcan]

Yeah right. Still won't be watching.

 

[ushawk]

Isn't there a sequel planned, "Unstartable" featuring SouthEastern EMUs in the Kent snow...?

That made me laugh

 

[Royston Vasey]

This couldn't happen in the UK with TPWS and AWS... could it?

 

[kentuckytony]

I haven't seen it yet. I always wait for NetFlix.

However I would have wanted a scene ala Slim Pickens in "Dr. Strangelove" riding the "beast" to fiery oblivion!

BTW - Slip points, slip points? We don' need no steekin' slip points!

 

[LexyBoy]

Isn't there a sequel planned, "Unstartable" featuring SouthEastern EMUs in the Kent snow...?

Apparently it's coming out just after "Leaves on a Rail"... "Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherf***ing leaves on this motherf***ing line!"

 

[GB]

This couldn't happen in the UK with TPWS and AWS... could it?

Not to the same extent. There was an incident a couple of years ago where a DBS loco was not properly stabled inside a possession. The result was the loco ran away wrong road down an incline for about 7 or 8 miles before derailing on trap points. There are other instances of runaways too but relativly short distances.

Not sure what the longest runaway we have had in the UK.