Runaway Train Incident in Ohio

Date: May 15, 2001 • Location: Kenton, United States

A runaway train loaded with hazardous chemicals traveled driverless for 66 miles (106 km) through Ohio before being stopped near Kenton.

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.S. state of Ohio on May 15, 2001. Locomotive #8888, an EMD SD40-2, ran uncontrolled for just under two hours at up to 53 miles per hour (85 km/h) while pulling a train of 47 cars; 2 cars were loaded with molten phenol, a substance used in dyes and glues. It was finally halted by a railroad crew in a catch locomotive, who caught up with the runaway train and coupled their locomotive to the rear car. The incident inspired the 2010 movie Unstoppable.