Real-Life 'Unstoppable' Heroes Share Story Of Runaway Train

Thursday night, a few hundred people are getting a sneak peak of the locally filmed action movie, "Unstoppable."

But train conductor Terry Forson and engineer Jess Knowlton -- as well as many Ohioans -- saw the first cut live.

The movie is based on the real-life runaway train in northwest Ohio in 2001. Forson and Knowlton got control of the train and are credited with saving thousands of lives that day.

Forson said officials at the time asked the pair, "'Would you be willing to catch this train?' and I looked at Jessie and I said, 'I'm in if you're in.' He said, 'I'm in.'"

The train was carrying hazardous materials and took off without anyone aboard. Forson and Knowlton had to literally catch the train and stop it.

The men had just returned this week from watching the premiere in Hollywood, with Chris Pine starring as Forson and Denzel Washington staring as Knowlton.

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Forson said, "It's just weird to watch the movie and see parts of our lives -- Jessie and I's lives on the railroad up on the screen. Stuff that really happened to us in the movie!"

A line in the trailer is word-for-word a phrase Knowlton often said: "In the class you get an 'F' if you fail. Out here you die. You get killed. That's true."

If the train had derailed, both men agree that the outcome would have been much different. After running wild for nearly 70 miles, the train was stopped. And on Friday, everyone in the country will be able to see the silver screen's version of the pair's heroic effort.

Previous Stories: November 10, 2010: Local Extras Share "Unstoppable" Filming Experience September 22, 2010: Bellaire Residents Anticipating "Unstoppable" Movie January 6, 2010: State Says Ohio's New Movie Tax Credit Pays Off November 23, 2009: 'Unstoppable' Stopping Traffic In Steubenville November 13, 2009: 'Unstoppable' Filming To Delay Traffic In Martins Ferry November 13, 2009: School Apologizes For Not Warning About Bus Changes During Movie Shoot November 9, 2009: Hollywood Crews Film Denzel Washington Movie In Bellaire November 9, 2009: 'Unstoppable' Stopping Traffic November 6, 2009: Route 7 To Be Restricted Next Week For Filming Of 'Unstoppable' October 12, 2009: Bellaire Casting Call To Be Held Tuesday