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Heroic actions subject of a film
(by Linda Dillman, staff writer - December 28, 2009)
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| Conductor Terry Forson, actress Rosario Dawson, and train engineer Jess Knowlton. |
Looking back over a year filled with anguish following the death of his beloved wife, Hollie, Jess Knowlton is looking ahead to 2010 and the debut of a movie influenced by his heroic actions nine years ago.
In May 2001, Knowlton, a train engineer, along with two other railroad employees, stopped an unmanned locomotive and 46 cars heading toward Kenton, Ohio.
According to the United Transportation Union, a pair of the train's tank cars were loaded with thousands of gallons of hazardous molten phenol acid, a toxic paint and dye ingredient.
"We were going north out of Columbus," recalled Knowlton of the incident that drew national attention to the 1971 Canal Winchester graduate and his conductor Terry Forson. "We stopped for a passing train ahead of us, which was picking up people along the way to promote safety awareness. They had a lot of police in place at the gates, who were protecting the crossings for the Operation Lifesaver ride. We kept hearing noise on the radio, but wasn't sure what it was all about."
It turns out the noise was frantic talk about a train that left a Toledo yard unmanned after its engineer disembarked to throw a track switch and a safety alertor was annulled.
"They first thought there was an ill engineer on board," said Knowlton. "We were told to get to a siding and we wondered what was going on. They tried to temporarily derail the train, but it blew right through the temporary detailers. They finally told us we had a runaway train coming toward us. We made it to the siding, turned the power off, and got off. The other train went by us, empty, at 58 mph."
The chase
Knowlton and Forson jumped back on their train, powered up the engine and were told to throw the rulebook out the window as they began their pursuit of the unmanned locomotive (#8888).
"We pushed our engine up to 67 mph (the maximum is 70 mph)," said Knowlton, "I ended up breaking the handle off the whistle. We caught up with the train at a point where we only had a half mile before going downhill (and picking up speed). The 8888 wouldn't have made it because of an "S" curve in Kenton.
"It would have derailed. We were in full brake and it was in full throttle when we tied on at 40 mph. It was so strange to see people standing at railroad crossings watching what was going on like it was the Fourth of July because of all the news coverage. It was a dangerous situation."
Knowlton and Forson brought the runaway engine and cars through Kenton at 25 mph and then slowed it down to 10 to 13 mph before trainmaster Jon Hosfeld jumped on board the 8888 and shut it down.
As a result of their actions the three men were honored by former President George Bush, the governor, secretary of transportation, interviewed on national news programs, and received awards for heroism.
On to the silver screen
Actress Mimi Rodgers read a story about the incident in a copy of "Readers Digest" and suggested 20th Century Fox make it into a movie. Knowlton discussed the idea with a Fox representative and ironed out a contract with CSX.
Tony Scott, director of the movies "Top Gun," "Enemy of the State," and "The Taking of Pelham 123," met with Knowlton and Forson for the first time in Toledo and discussed the incident and the men's relationship for background research. The pair also were flown out to California to continue discussions.
Denzel Washington signed on to portray a character based on Knowlton, Chris Pine is the young conductor, and Rosario Dawson rounds out the cast of lead actors in the film about the incident, "Unstoppable." According to Knowlton, Washington is an older engineer being forced out of his job, but not ready to retire, when he saves a town from the runaway train.
"Tony Scott is a fantastic person, the kind you want to be around," said Knowlton. "It's been a real roller coaster ride this year. When Hollywood first called about a contract, I said I'd get back to them. I ran into my wife's room and said 20th Century Fox just called. She didn't believe me and redialed the number on my phone. She was my rock, my best friend. She passed away on July 5 this year after 33 years of being together. She was never able to make it out to California with me."
Knowlton recently returned from a cast party in Pittsburgh following the end of principal photography for the film. Location shooting took place in Stark and Butler counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
"The revenue for the movie in Ohio was $14.7 million," stated Knowlton in detailing the film's financial impact on the state. "Fox spent a half million a week. They call Ohio a film-friendly state. It made me feel good that people in Butler and Stark counties made a little money from the movie.
"We are hoping this doesn't turn out to be a bad movie because a lot of railroad people are going to see this movie."
The tentative release date for the PG-13 "Unstoppable" is Nov. 10, 2010.
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