History: May 15 (#4)

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Arts & Culture Contemporary War & Conflict

May 15, 2001 A CSX EMD SD40-2 8888 rolls out of a train yard in Walbridge, Ohio, with 47 freight cars, including some tank cars with flammable chemical, after its engineer fails to reboard it after setting a yard switch. It travels south driverless for 66 miles (106 km) until it was brought to a halt near Kenton. The incident became the inspiration for the 2010 film Unstoppable.

Commentary

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

On May 15, in the year 2001: A CSX EMD SD40-2 8888 rolls out of a train yard in Walbridge, Ohio, with 47 fr eight cars, including some tank cars with flammable chemical, after its engineer fails to reboard it after setting a yard switch. It travels south driverless for 66 miles (106 km) until it was brought to a halt near Kenton. The incident became the inspiration for the 2010 film Unstoppable. The CSX 8888 incident, also known as the Crazy Eights incident, was a runaway train event involving a CSX Transportation freight train in the U.

Commentary

Source: Internal

Why May 15, 2001 matters: A CSX EMD SD40-2 8888 rolls out of a train yard in Walbridge, Ohio, with 47 freight cars, including some tank cars with flammable chemical, after its engineer fails to reboard it after setting a yard switch. It travels south driverless for 66 miles (106 km) until it was brought to a halt near Kenton. The incident became the inspiration for the 2010 film Unstoppable. What began on this day left a lasting mark on history. The effects were felt immediately and continued to shape events, ideas, and lives long afterwards.

Commentary

Source: Internal

Historical context: May 15, 2001 The 21st century has already seen profound shifts: the digital revolution has connected billions while reshaping politic s and culture; climate change has emerged as a defining crisis; and new powers have risen to challenge the world order that followed the Cold War. The event on this day: A CSX EMD SD40-2 8888 rolls out of a train yard in Walbridge, Ohio, with 47 freight cars, including some tank cars with flammable chemical, after its engineer fails to reboard it after setting a yard switch. It travels south driverless for 66 miles (106 km) until it was brought to a halt near Kenton. The incident became the inspiration for the 2010 film Unstoppable. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSX_8888_incident (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)