how likely is an ''UNSTOPPABLE '' scenario?

Question

i have several questions jumbled into one so please bear with me.......

i just watched the movie '' unstoppable '' in which an engineer leaves the cab to adjust the switch, he does not apply the brakes correctly and the train comes '' under power '' and barrels down the track at 70mph unmanned carrying hazardous materials

have any such occurrences happened?

what are the penalties for an engineer leaving the cab while the train is moving?

in the film, a ''derailer '' fails to even budge the mammoth train. if a train is very large and moving very fast would a derailer likely fail?

bottom line, how likely is such a scenario??

Answer 1

A scenario such as the one depicted in Denzel's movie is HIGHLY unlikely, but it sure was a good movie, wasn't it?



It would take a series of prohibited actions to be taken by railroad personnel combined with deliberate overriding of systems put into place to prevent such a thing. You must remember that for every system that is put in place to make something "impossible" to do, there are people out there who have managed to defeat them.



Railroad locomotives have what are called "deadman" switches in them. They take the form of pedals on the floor that the engneer holds down with his foot, or they are in the seat and close a circuit only when someone is sitting in that seat. They must be held down for the train to move forward at anything above an idle.



Railroad locomotives are NEVER supposed to be left unattended in the manner shown in the movie. Any engineer who left a locomotive improperly secured and locked down would be fired, no question. No second chances, no demotion, no break. If he hurt or killed someone or damaged property, there would not be a sling big enough to hold his backside. Remember the dope-smoking crew that pulled a freight train through a red switch onto the main line and were hit by the Amtrak train in the Baltimore, MD area some 20 years ago? Those guys went to Federal Prison.



Current railroad operations are so computerized that a locomotive can literally be controlled remotely by a computer operator. They control switches, train speed, routes and almost everything else. Were it me, I would not worry about trains running up and down the nation's tracks, unmanned, loaded with toxic materials. You stand a better chance of being killed by a stampeding bull or a bolt of lightning.



I do know how they could have stopped Denzel's train without doing any real damage. Instead of having the snipers trying to shoot out a small switch box, they should have had multiple snipers shoot the fuel tank so full of holes that all of the fuel would drain out and the diesel engine would have stopped because of fuel starvation. The helicopter could have done the same thing.



You want to see another good (funny) movie about a runaway train, watch "The Silver Streak" with Richard Pryor. It will make you laugh!!!

Answer 2

Personally, I do not know specifically, but my son is having a second interview with the RR and some of our friends work for BNSF and our understanding is it is unrealistic.



Let's put it this way: the film may have some historical basis, but the film took a great deal of "poetic license". For instance, the "derailer" that you mention: notice how close the cop cars are that get "riddled" with the "shrapnel" from that derailer? Only a State Patrol could be so arrogant as to put the cars so close to such a thing...but really no way would any agency put their cars alongside a track where a derailer was. It is nothing more than a sensational movie.



Good Luck

Answer 3

That action picture (via the sound of it!), like maximum of others concerning railways (which contains "The Taking of Pelham 123") is so packed with misrepresentations as to be little greater effective than a fairy tale. As has been reported, you are able to no longer prepare AND keep power on (no be counted what the source) except the "deadman's gadget" (cope with or treadle) is stored in operation, and as quickly because of the fact the equipment on the prepare detects that it extremely isn't any longer in operation the brakes are utilized - frequently an "emergency" application to deliver the prepare to a halt in as short as distance as achievable. Pretending that none of that takes place and the prepare continues to be decrease than power whilst unmanned ("Jack and the Beanstalk" is yet another stable fairy tale), then a signalman or administration room operator will (regionally or via distant administration) divert different site visitors off the direction and then divert the "runaway" right into a ineffective-end - in a distant area/section if achievable to dodge too lots collateral injury and then they could deliver the emergency centers to "%. up the products" OR.... reported signalman could perform any derailers on the direction - regardless of if it extremely is exceptionally no longer likely that there could be any - different than spring-operated catch-factors which might derail something working away backwards down a slope.. i'm reminded of a 'short' action picture entitled "the costliest breakfast in the international" the place a lone driving force parks his loco in a siding and then is going for his breakfast interior of which the brakes leak off and the loco rolls down a steep incline accumulating velocity - and you are going to be able to observe the action picture for something of the story - regardless of if it extremely isn't any longer likely in all probability because of the fact that loco - having been signalled right into a siding - could have then been risk-free via the signalman (etc) working "catch factors" which might derail the loco if it tried to go away reported sidings without the splendid "permission" for regardless of reason - regardless of if it substitute into only the driving force attempting to pass the outlet sign at threat - so which you spot, those action pictures are "relaxing" to observe and probable get the blood dashing slightly - yet are so inconceivable as to be impossible.