Hi all

It was a runaway train movie maybe 1970-1980 but not sure, it was someone like robert shaw or george kennedy (but maybe neither) the main character was racing behind the runaway train and nearly caught it but was told to pull back as it was too late and the train would hit the end of the line station, but he had another go and hooked up with it and saved the day...

Can any body help please

Based on your description a few movies come to mind. My best guess is the 1974 version of "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" with Robert Shaw and Walter Matthau. This movie was remade around 2008 with Denzel Washington and John Travolta.

While I think this is a good bet to be the movie you are looking for, there is another possibility. In 1973, "Emperor of the North", a train movie with Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine and Keith Carradine, came out. Both Lee Marvin's and Borgnine's performances were quite memorable. So overpowering that when I think of a train movie in the 70's with big name actors, this one comes to mind. This one doesn't fit your description as well and Robert Shaw was in the 'Taking... ", but this does fit your remembering that a 'big name' actor was in the movie.

Hope this leads you to the right movie.

I'll throw in this though I haven't seen it for many years:

Runaway Train (1985)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runaway_Train_(film)

I'll try to think of other possibilities.