Factual error: At the end of the movie, when the new time machine built into a steam locomotive begins flying and departing, the train signals are still running and the barrier crossings are still down. The train signals should have stopped once the flying time machine locomotive was off the tracks.
Suggested correction: Train signals generally stop once the end of the train is a good distance away from the road where the signals sit, by sensors. In the film, the train is too close to the road and by lifting up in the air, the sensor to stop the signals were never reached by the train.
Plot hole: Although Marty rips the fuel line, not all the fuel would have drained out of the tank. Only the fuel that was already in the fuel line would have leaked out, meaning it could simply be patched, bled and the engine would run without a problem.
Suggested correction: A cut fuel line could absolutely drain the tank. Even if not a direct route with respect to gravity, it could still create a siphon effect and drain the tank.
Factual error: In 1885, Hill Valley and its surrounding areas are shown as having a desert climate, when in both 1955 and 1985, the climate is grassland. In reality, Nevada County, California (where Hill Valley is supposed to be located) is and always has been grassland and forests, not arid desert.
Suggested correction: Hill Valley is in Hill County, as stated at the activation of the clock in 1885.
Deliberate mistake: In the duel with Marty, when Tannen gets fancy spinning his gun, when he places it in the holster the grip is facing forward. They then use effects to turn the gun so the grip is facing back. (01:26:44)
Suggested correction: No, the gun is spinning on his finger and goes into the holster with the grip facing towards the back, which is completely consistent with the spin of the gun.
