The story of the Runaway Train on BBC Radio 4

On Sunday 18th October 2009, BBC Radio 4 broadcasts Runaway Train: “March 9th 1987 began as a normal day for railwayman Wesley MacDonald as he made up a train of 50 cars of ore at a mine in northern Canada. But that all changed when the brakes failed to hold the load and Wesley suddenly found himself aboard a runaway train. This programme tells the story of what happened next, featuring actual audio footage of the radio communication between him and the rail traffic controller as he wrestles with the decision on whether to jump or take his chances onboard.”

Ash International released the full recording of the conversations that took place between Wesley, the driver of the runaway train, and Alfie, his controller, in 1994 as Ash 1.9. This vinyl edition is deleted, but the audio may be downloaded as a MP3 by clicking here.