On this day in 2001, a freight train towing 47 cars, 22 of them fully loaded and two containing hazardous chemicals, ran uncontrolled for nearly two hours after an engineer attempted to exit and return to the train while it was moving slowly. You may use this page to discuss runaway trains and other transportation mishaps, or explore your own areas of freewheeling, off-topic discourse. Find previous discussions in the Open Thread archive. Excepting the entreaty that you remain on topic, all of Slate’s usual commenting policies apply. If you depend on this community and Slate’s journalism, please consider joining Slate Plus.

Source: New York Times May 15, 2023 12:02 UTC