Audio problem: At the end of the movie, after Manny has disconnected the locomotive from the rest of the train which is slowing down, when it stops we can hear it screech. It shouldn't as the train slows down naturally without the help of the breaks, which additionally, as it had been mentioned (by the woman), are not working. (01:45:30)
Runaway Train (1985)
1 audio problem - chronological order
Directed by: Andrey Konchalovskiy
Starring: Jon Voight, Eric Roberts, Rebecca De Mornay, Kyle T. Heffner
Continuity mistake: When Signal Maintainer 40 opens the door to the truck while Barstow is trying to reach him over the radio, the wind is howling so loudly. However, a few seconds later when he goes to sip his coffee and hears the train whistle, he rolls down the window to listen and there is no wind. Then, when Barstow commands him to "line her through," he opens the door and the wind is howling again.
Manny: You do what you have to do, I'll do what I have to do. Whatever happens, happens.
Trivia: In the original script Manny was supposed to be a convicted killer but writer Edward Bunker changed it to a safe-cracker because he didn't feel the other prisoners would respect a killer.
Question: Why would the loco derail if the siding switch was set to the siding where the freight train went?
Answer: It wouldn't derail, it would break the bolt on points - the part of switch that moves, causing the points.