When local officials took steps to secure rail operations from Hornell to Corry, Pa., they may not have pictured the track they thought could help area businesses would one day be on the silver screen.

The Denzel Washington film, "Unstoppable," is being filmed this week on Western New York and Pennsylvania rail lines, however.

The 20th Century Fox Film is based on a runaway train and the measures taken to stop it before damages occur as a result of the train, reports its Web site. Filming for the movie began last month in Ohio, and WNYP track will be used in Olean and through Pennsylvania including Emporium, Eldred and Port Allegany this week, where schools and students will also be filmed. According to the film's Web site, the action, drama thriller will be released in November 2010 and involves a rail company's workers trying to stop an unmanned train carrying toxins before it derails and wipes out an area.

Carl Belke, president and chief operating officer for WNYP said Twentieth Century Fox representatives had been researching railroads in the north east for a few years to find one with the track and scenery they were interested in using for the film.

They found it on WNYP tracks predominantly in Pennsylvania, he said. Belke said the track to be used in the film is Class I, mainline quality that had speeds and signals film crews were looking for, in addition to "the lay of the land."

Belke said not only will the filming be profitable for WNYP, but, he said, it is beneficial to the area, too.

"It's great for the communities where it's happening," he said, adding some work will be done in Olean, where equipment and machinery is also being stored. The influx of crews that are using restaurants and hotels in the communities where WNYP track is and the movie is being shot can only be beneficial for the communities.

"We're the local railroad; we want to help out anyway we can," he said.

Twentieth Century Fox officials could not be reached to comment Tuesday or Wednesday.

Once to be abandoned by Conrail, the lines remain operational by WNYP, under the eyes of the Southern Tier Extension Rail Authority, which began in 2001. WNYP began operating the east-west line and later began operations on north-south line. The two cross in Olean, although WNYP offices are located in Falconer and Olean.

"It's terrific," said Don Rychnowski of Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board, which oversees the authority. He said doing a movie on the rail line is not just good for that company, but, rather, he said, "it's great publicity for the Southern Tier area."