Casey Jones, Iconic Locomotive Engineer and American Hero | Teamsters Casey Jones, Iconic Locomotive Engineer and American Hero Headline News Next week, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) will celebrate its 150th anniversary at a May 8 event in Detroit. We've been counting down great moments in the history of North America’s oldest union, but April 30 marks a different kind of event—the anniversary of the death of John Luther "Casey" Jones, an American hero and one of the BLET’s most legendary figures. Jones, an engineer and member of the union’s Division 99 in Water Valley, Miss., sacrificed his own life in 1900 to save his train full of passengers from a horrific crash. There was a stalled freight near Vaughan, Miss., and conditions were wet and foggy. As Jones’ train, No. 382 (the “Cannonball Express,”), rounded a bend, the train’s fireman Sim Webb spotted several cars on their train’s track. Brother Jones told Webb to jump, but Jones stayed aboard to try and slow down the train.

Facing certain death, Jones stayed behind the throttle and was able to reduce the speed of his train enough to save many lives — except his own. Reports of the accident state that a bolt or a piece of splintered lumber hit Jones in the throat, leaving him mortally wounded. Crewmen from the other trains carried Jones on a stretcher for half a mile to the depot. There, lying on a baggage wagon, Jones died. While a few passengers were slightly injured, no other deaths resulted from the accident thanks to the bravery and self sacrifice of Casey Jones. The Illinois Central railroad tried to pin the accident on Jones, but others—including his fireman Webb—fought that claim. In the minds of Americans, Jones was a hero, and newspaper reports hailed him as one. "The Ballad of Casey Jones," written by his friend and fellow railroad worker Wallace Sanders, became a folk music standard. It was later re-recorded by such artists as Mississippi John Hurt, Pete Seeger, and Johnny Cash. There was also a movie, a television series and even an animated cartoon based on his life. None of these projects resulted in a financial windfall for Jones’ wife and three children.

However, they received payments from two union life insurance policies from the Brotherhood’s Locomotive Engineers Mutual Life & Accident Insurance Association, and eventually a settlement from Illinois Central. There was no pension, as the Railroad Retirement system was not established until 1937. BLET honors the legacy of Casey Jones as a shining example of the steps its members have and continue to take to keep their passengers, cargo, and the public safe. It is this kind of exemplary service we will be celebrating in Detroit next week. Sign Up For Action Alerts Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Please try again or contact 1.888.780.6763 Please leave blank The Legend of Casey Jones | Lionel Tracks The Legend of Casey Jones November 20, 2015 Source: Water Valley Casey Jones Railroad Museum Casey Jones. We all know his name. Many of us have heard at least one of the songs about him, by performers as diverse as the Grateful Dead, Pete Seeger, Gillian Welch, and AC/DC. To us 21st century dwellers, he is nearly mythical.

But not many of us know the truth about Casey Jones: the legendary train engineer whose heroic actions spared the lives of a train-full of passengers while sacrificing his own. John Luther “Casey” Jones was born on March 14, 1863, and came of age when steam locomotives were the height of modern technology. From the beginning, Casey wanted to be an engineer — which, in today’s terms, would be akin to being a fighter pilot. Even more to the point: just as many consider piloting an intangible talent, made of equal parts experience, knowledge, and natural aptitude, the same could be said of engineering in the steam age. The machinery was complex and often temperamental, and the technology was continuously evolving. By all measures, for the trains hauling the first passengers and cargo throughout the rapidly expanding U.S., the risks were high. Casey began his ascent to train engineer in the 1880s, first working as a brakeman and then a fireman, stoking engines on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad before switching to the more prestigious Illinois Central in 1887, when a mass illness unexpectedly created a shortage of rail crews.

It wasn't until 1900 that Casey was finally rewarded with a passenger line of his own, when an engineer position opened on “The Cannonball Express” between Chicago and New Orleans. It was at this new position that Casey would meet his good friend Simian Webb, the fireman who would eventually immortalize Casey with a song that millions would come to know and love. Casey's new line was called The Cannonball Express for a reason. The passenger trains moved fast and their engineers were expected to be on time. Always. On the night of April 29, 1900, Casey had just finished service on his regular route (the Number 2 northbound from Canton, Mississippi, to Memphis, Tennessee) when he was asked to fill in for another engineer on the southbound Number 1, right back to Canton. With almost no sleep, Casey went back out on the rails in the dead of a foggy, wet night, eager to make up time after being delayed in station. After speeding through the darkness (and making up lots of time), Casey Jones descended on the depot in sleepy Vaughan, Mississippi... and headlong into an accident that would enshrine his name in myth and legend.

Unknown to him or his crew, two trains were stuck in a traffic jam at the Vaughan station. As described by the Water Valley Casey Jones Museum: As No. 83 and No. 72 hurried to… clear the north passing track switch for Casey, an air hose broke on the fourth car behind the engine on No. 72; No. 72 could not move. No. 83 was blocked by No. 72 and he could not move. Several cars of No. 83's train were still out on the main line above the north switch. Fireman Kennedy on No. 72 was closest to the broken hose so he rushed back to change it. Before he could get the hose on, the crash came. (Casey's) No. 382 crashed through the caboose, and several cars lunged crazily to the left and came to rest on the engineer's side pointing back from whence she came. Casey was mortally wounded by a bolt or piece of splintered lumber having struck him in the throat (information available later has shown that eyewitnesses reported that a metal bolt struck Casey in the neck). A stretcher was brought from the baggage car on No.

1 and crewmen of the other trains carried him the one-half mile to the depot. There, sadly, Casey died, after having stayed onboard to slow No. 382 (from about 75mph to about 35mph, miraculously) and, in the process, saving countless lives. His heroics did not go unnoticed either, by the public or his peers. It speaks volumes that his funeral was an event in itself, attended by 15 enginemen who rode nearly 120 miles just to pay their respects to their fallen comrade. The blame game ensued, with the Illinois Central officially concluding that it was Casey's fault (of course). Subsequent, independent investigations have since exonerated the skilled engineer, instead faulting a flagman from the stalled freight trains. And in the end, Casey’s reputation lives on in music. It was crewman and friend, Sim Webb, who lived to write a song that immortalized the man who saved his life. Today, we still have Webb’s “The Ballad of Casey Jones” and scores of other variations that keep Casey's memory alive — hear Johnny Cash’s version here . For more on Casey Jones, check out this link .

The Quick 10: 10 Famous Trains | Mental Floss The Quick 10: 10 Famous Trains Image credit: Like us on Facebook It was this month in 1900 that Mr. John Luther Jones (that's Casey to you and me) lost his life while manning the Cannonball Express. As you'll see in a second, although he was killed in a train collision, his heroic act saved the lives of all of the passengers and crew aboard, so I think it's fitting that we honor him by talking about famous trains today. Also, I think my dad will like this one because he works for the railroad and has developed an affinity for trains over the years. Hi, dad! Without further ado"¦ 1. The Cannonball Express, AKA the New Orleans Special, was Illinois Central Railroad's fastest line back in 1900. Casey Jones (so called because of his hometown "“ Cayce, Kentucky) volunteered to make the Memphis, Tenn., to Canton, Miss., route when the usual engineer turned up sick. The train was already 95 minutes behind schedule, but Casey loved a challenge and was excited to see if he could get the train on time.

It's what he was known for, after all "“ his extreme punctuality. Legend has it that people would set their watches based on when Casey's famous whistle sounded as it passed through their town (he had a distinct train whistle). Anyway, it was looking like he had a pretty decent chance of making it to Canton "on the advertised," when tragedy struck: a train in Vaughan, Mississippi, was stuck on the tracks when it should have been pulled off to the nearby house track. An air hose had apparently broken and locked the brakes in place. Casey couldn't see the train on the tracks in advance because he was coming around a curve, but he did what he could to slow the train as much as possible and sounded the whistle continuously to warn the other train. He told Sim Webb, his fireman, to jump for it. He stayed in place until impact, still trying to slow the train as much as possible. Although he had slowed it from 75 mph to 35 mph, his position on the train and the force of the impact killed him, probably instantly. But thanks to his efforts, he was the only fatality. 2.

I knew the Orient Express had been around for a while, but it's older than I thought: the first run was on June 5, 1883 from Paris to Vienna. At that time it was known as the Express d'Orient. Later that year, the route was expanded to include stops in Romania and Germany and by 1889 was going as far east as Istanbul. Services were halted during WWI, but in 1919 they expanded again to include Milan, Venice and Trieste. WWII interrupted service again, but they were resumed in 1945. You can still take the Orient Express from Strasbourg to Vienna, and you can recreate the path by taking a few other trains. But, sadly, the Direct Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul ended in 1977. Or you can recreate the experience by reading some of the famous books it has been mentioned in "“ Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, of course, but also Bram Stoker's Dracula, From Russia With Love by Ian Fleming, and Stamboul Train by Graham Greene, among others. 3.

The Hiawatha trains, which ran from Chicago to Minneapolis, first appeared on the tracks in 1935. They were named after Longfellow's "The Song of Hiawatha." There was the Twin Cities Hiawatha, which ran straight from the Windy City to the Twin Cities; the North Woods Hiawatha, running from the main line through parts of Wisconsin; the Chippewa-Hiawatha, which ran through a different part of Wisconsin; the Midwest Hiawatha from Chicago to Omaha; and the Olympian Hiawatha, which took passengers all the way from Chicago to Seattle. Those have all terminated at this point, but you can still get from Chicago to Milwaukee using the Hiawatha Service, which should get you between the two cities in about 90 minutes. 4. The California Limited is another oldie. She started her route in 1892, going from Chicago to L.A.

What's fun about this one is that she was the first to feature "the best Fred Harvey meals on rails." The Fred Harvey Company was a chain of railroad restaurants "“ the first was in Topeka in 1876, but by the 1890, Fred set up a lucrative deal with Santa Fe Railroad to open up a bunch of his eateries along their routes and as a result they could be found about every 100 miles. I guess they were like the Waffle Houses of their day. Except Waffle House seems to be slightly more ubiquitous. Eventually the service spread to Santa Fe's dining cars, which had food and service staffed by the Fred Harvey Company. Fred and Santa Fe went their separate ways in the early "˜30s when Fred realized he could make more money by going beyond one line; in fact, he started to go off of the railways entirely, setting up restaurants over Illinois Tollway Oases. 5. The California Zephyr is one you can still ride in its entirety from Chicago to Emeryville, California.

The Zephyr was one of the first to be billed as a mini-vacation in and of itself; in the late "˜40s you would even find Zephyrettes on board. About 12 women were assigned to each train and they were tasked with doing just about anything (within reason, people, within reason) to make sure that their passengers had a relaxing trip "“ including babysitting and serving as tour guides. The Zephyr that rides the rails today isn't the original, but if you want to see a replica of the real thing, head to Disney's California Adventure, where a fake Zephyr houses a bakery and ice cream counter near the front of the park. 6. The Rock Island Rockets were notable because they were some of the first diesel-powered trains. And they had a line called the Des Moines Rocket, which ran from Chicago to DSM. I like to give the 515 a shout-out whenever I can, so consider my duty fulfilled for the week. Other Rockets ran from Chicago to Peoria, Fort Worth to Houston, Minneapolis to Kansas City, and Kansas City to Denver. 7.

The North Coast Limited started operations on April 29, 1900 "“ the day before Casey Jones made his fateful run on the Cannonball, but wasn't anywhere near the disaster "“ the North Coast Limited ran from St. Paul to Puget Sound. In her heyday, the NCL was known for consistently having the best dining car service in the business "“ fresh flowers adorned the tables set with linen table cloths. 8. The Orange Blossom Special is pretty well known thanks to the Ervin T. Rouse song that was later the name of a 1965 Johnny Cash album (which Johnny covered on the album). It ran from New York to Miami. Ervin T. Rouse and Chubby Wise saw the Orange Blossom when it was in Jacksonville, Florida, and were inspired to write a fiddle tune about it (Chubby was a legendary bluegrass fiddler)"¦ at least, that's the story. Records show that the train they saw was a streamlined train, which wouldn't have been the Orange Blossom, which used heavyweight Pullman sleepers, diners and coaches.

If they did indeed see a streamlined train, it was likely the Silver Meteor, a streamlined train with stainless steel coaches. Here's a double whammy for you: Mr. Cash performing both Casey Jones and Orange Blossom Special (he uses the harmonica instead of the fiddle). 9. The Royal Blue was the B&O Railroad's passenger train between NYC and DC starting in 1890. And it was royal indeed "“ one railroad historian called it "An inspired blend of majesty and mystique." The interiors of each car were made of mahogany, the cars were heated and lighted and the windows were made of leaded glass. The chefs were trained in France and prepared duck and terrapin. In the "˜30s and "˜40s they served meals on Dresden China and decked out the cars with glass chandeliers and colonial-style furnishings (they called it the "Martha Washington" series). FDR liked to ride the Royal Blue when he was in office, often taking a special presidential train from D.C. to the family estate in Hyde Park, New York.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip tried the train in 1957, but even their glamour wasn't enough to keep the line afloat "“ its last run departed from Washington Union Station at 3:45 p.m. on April 26, 1958, and was covered by Edward R. Murrow for CBS. 10. The Marrakesh Express is a real train, in case that Crosby, Stills & Nash song ever had you wondering. Graham Nash took the train from Casablanca to Marrakesh in 1966 and booked himself a posh first-class seat, but found himself bored and went back to sit with the "ducks and pigs and chickens." Do you have any memorable train rides to tell of? Tell us all about it in the comments. I'm afraid I have nothing to contribute this time, although I'm suddenly inspired to take a cross-country train trip! April 24, 2009 - 11:35am Casey Jones Railroad Trail Casey Jones Railroad Trail Home Casey Jones Railroad Trail In the beginning . . . Casey Jones spent his boyhood days in the small town of Cayce, Kentucky.

It is from this little town that the engineer received his famous nickname, Casey. It was also in Cayce, that the young man fell in love with the railroad and began to dream of becoming en engineer. Cayce had only a small rail station, a telegraph office, and an old water tank situated beside on long stretch of railroad track on the outskirts of town. Stationed beneath the water tank, the boy would watch the trains as they stopped for water and ask eager questions of the crews. Though Casey has been long gone from his boyhood home, a monument to the engineer stands in Cayce today, recalling a young man enamored with a dream of the railroad. The Ballad of Casey Jones The Railroad Man... Jackson, Tennessee is the home of Casey Jones. Casey Jones came to Jackson with the M & O in 1881. The city was the hub of West Tennessee and the place where the M & O crossed the Illinois Central Railroad, making it an important transfer point. Casey met his wife, Janie Brady, at the boarding house in which he stayed and decided to make Jackson his permanent home.

He married Janie in Jackson in 1886 and bought a house located on Chester Street in which to raise a family. Today, the house is a museum dedicated to the engineer and the railroad he loved. The historic Home and Museum are located in Casey Jones Village in Jackson. The engineer is also buried in Jackson. His grave with it's memorial marker can be seen in Mount Calvary Cemetery. A plaque honoring the engineer also hangs at the cemetery gates. The true heart of the story of Casey Jones lies in Jackson, Tennessee where the memory of the brave engineer continues to persevere. Joining the Railroad... In 1878, Columbus, Kentucky served as the northern terminal of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. At the age of 15, Casey arrived in Columbus to join the M & O as a telegrapher. Though not much grander than Cayce, Columbus was a wonder to the young railroader. When not busy with his work, Casey spent his time in the train yards examining and admiring the powerful engines and he became ever more eager to find his way into the cab of one.

After becoming an accomplished telegrapher, Casey was given the opportunity to work as a brakeman on runs from Columbus and Jackson, Tennessee. Riding the Rails... In 1890, Casey became an engineer with the ICRR and began to make runs between Jackson, Tennessee and Water Valley, Mississippi. Water Valley boasted an ICRR terminal and roundhouse. Trains, both passenger and freight, often made stops in the little town on their way north and south. From 1890 to 1899, Casey ran his engine into and out of the little town. For a brief time, Casey and his family lived in Water Valley but later returned to their home in Jackson. Today, Water Valley is home to a Casey Jones Museum. The museum was founded in 1999 and houses the Casey Jones collection of Mr. Bruce Gurner, one of the world's foremost Casey Jones historians. The Cannonball and the Last Ride... In 1888, Casey left the M & O to join the Illinois Central in Jackson Tennessee. The ICRR ran through Memphis, Tennessee and the city was a prominent stop for trains running both north and south along the railroad.

In January 1900, Casey was assigned to the "Cannonball Express" running from Memphis to Canton, Mississippi. The trains of the "Cannonball Express" were scheduled to run fast along the 188-mile route filled with dangerous stretches and curves. Many engineers avoided the run, concerned for their safety. It was from the Poplar Street station in Memphis, that Casey Jones, with his fireman Sim Webb, started for his last ride. Sim Webb made his home in Memphis and often rode as fireman with Casey. Sim survived the wreck which killed Casey and spent the remainder of his life sharing his account of what happened that famous night. Sim is buried in Memphis. The Train Wreck... Vaughan, Mississippi had a small station where trains would often pass each other on the tracks by sidelining. On the early morning of April 30, 1900, rushing down the tracks to make up lost time on a run of the "Cannonball Express," Casey Jones approached the station at Vaughan. In the damp and fog, three trains were arranging a saw-by to let the Cannonball pass when an airhose burst on one of the trains, leaving four cars on the mainline.

Unaware, Casey continued forward when without warning the lights on the stranded caboose shone through the darkness. Casey ordered Sim to jump as he tried desperately to slow his train. At 3:52 a.m., the roar of the colliding trains echoed across the Mississippi countryside and Casey Jones became a legend. A marker identifies the site of the wreck at Vaughan. The town also houses a Casey Jones Museum, in operation since 1979, in an old depot. WMTH CORPORATION PO BOX 51153 BOWLING GREEN, KY 42102 PHONE (270) 781-6858 FAX 781-2949 Classroom FULL HISTORY STORIES The legend of Casey Jones Train wrecks have always been a part of the American landscape, but this one captured the essence of an era like no other. While most were known for the number of people killed and the carnage created by the wreck, this one took only one life and did little damage by comparison.

That one death, however, struck at the nations heart and would launch an era in American folklore  one that would tell of the life and times of the American railroad men and give birth to a Tennessee treasure we would come to know as Casey Jones. John Luther Jones was born March 14, 1863 in southeast Missouri. While he was still a small child, the Jones family moved and settled in Cayce, Kentucky where his father found work. The railroad was an integral part of his youth and John Luther Jones was fascinated with the trains. As a rough and tumble boy growing up in Kentucky, John Luther Jones picked up the nickname "Cayce" from his hometown, which he would always spell in later years as Casey. He was tall for his day at 64" with dark hair, gray eyes, and a slim build. His size and strength, however, made him a natural for the often brutal work of railroad life. When he was 25-years-old, "Casey" Jones took a job with the Illinois Central Railroad as a fireman. The job meant him moving to the city of Jackson, Tenn. where he met and fell in love with a local girl named Janie Brady.

The two settled in the city, bought a home with the stereotypical white-picket fence, and began raising a family. In 1888, the couple had a son named Charles. A daughter would follow four years later and a third child was born in 1896. During this time, Casey Jones had settled into his job and earned a promotion to Engineer. He quickly became one of the most popular engineers on the railroad. He was described by those who worked with him as a colorful character who knew his job inside and out. One of his trademarks was his ability to manipulate the steam whistle on the engines he drove. When other railroaders would hear the distinctive melodies, they would immediately know it was Casey Jones in the engine. In the 1890s, railroad companies were regarded as part of the American epic of western settlement and the profits made by them were huge as were the responsibilities to keep America running on time. They prided themselves on punctuality and engineers who knew the train engines well enough to keep the schedule. While this often meant pushing an engine to its limit, many railroad executives would "look the other way" and disregard passenger complaints so long as the train kept its schedule and brought everyone in safely.

America had quickly become a nation whose economic and social survival depended on the railroad. In addition to their service value, they were also considered one of the nations biggest employers. Railroad workers were a loyal group and often shared their companys problems as many found themselves locked in state and federal battles over land and regulations. It led to a sort of railroad subculture where everyone knew everyone else and reputations were made and often broken. After Jones had put in numerous years working as a freight and passenger engineer between Jackson, Tenn. and Water Valley, the engineer was transferred full-time to the Memphis to Canton, Miss. run as part of the Illinois Centrals southern passenger train. The popular train was nicknamed "the Cannonball Express" and had a reputation for keeping its timetable. On April 29, 1900, Casey Jones pulled ICR Engine number 382 into the Memphis Station from Canton, Miss. at 10:00 p.m. Casey and long-time associate Sim Webb, who worked as the engineers fireman stoking the steam-generating coal stove, jumped off the train and started gathering their gear to return home after a successful run.

The 25-year-old black fireman had become a close friend of Casey and both were regarded as one of the railroad lines best teams. Both men looked forward to getting home and catching up on some long-overdue sleep. They went to the "checking-in" office to deliver their reports when Casey heard someone say that engineer Joe Lewis had fell ill with cramps and would not be able to take his train out that night. Casey and Sim Webb were asked if they could take the run and cover for Lewis. The men agreed to take the train the 180 miles to Canton, Miss. After the two made a meal of sandwiches and coffee, they drove their train to the Poplar Street Station where they discovered the six-car southbound Cannonball was running 95 minutes behind schedule when it finally pulled into Memphis. After coupling their locomotive to the six passenger cars, Casey Jones and Sim Webb pulled out of the station at 12:50 a.m. heading south for Canton. The rail-line had given the men a clear track  meaning that other engines were being notified to move to side tracks so Jones and Webb would have a straight shot to the Mississippi station.

As Casey Jones pulled out of Memphis, he laid down on his trademark six-tone calliope whistle and everyone within earshot knew Casey Jones had pulled out and was headed south. J.C. Turner was the Conductor of the train and realized the engineer would have to go fast to make up the schedule and appease some grumpy passengers. Although the weather had been rainy and foggy for two weeks and it was unusually dark that night because of heavy clouds, he felt confident about the tracks ahead. A light rain was falling, but considered unimportant to the trains progress. In fact, the Conductor knew that with the Jones-Webb team in the engine, the odds were great for a record run to make up the lost time. As Casey Jones cleared the Memphis station, he opened up the engine and began building speed. Engine 382 steamed up nicely and used very little fuel. It was soon clipping along the southbound tracks at a mile a minute. Jones first stop was at the Sardis station and then one at Grenada, Miss. The engine was warmed up and moving at incredible speed.

Casey was known for being fearless in putting the spurs to the train and getting all he could out the steam-generated engines. He roared into the Winona station, then Durant, and on south towards Canton. Along the way, word had been given to other engineers to move their trains aside and let Jones pass. As he pulled the engine out of Durant, Jones reportedly yelled to Webb: "Oh Sim, the old girls got her high-heeled slippers on tonight !" The train roared on towards Vaughan, Miss. As they were approaching, Casey Jones and Sim Webb noticed it was close to 4 a.m. They had made up all of the lost time but one minute. Jones pushed the throttle forward past 70 miles an hour to make up the 60 seconds. The track approaching the train was a long winding section above the city with a sidetrack that began where the curve ended. Unknown to Jones and Webb, two freight trains were being transferred over to the sidetrack as ordered, but having a hard time. During the transfer, one of the trains had ruptured an air hose forcing the other train to halt  leaving its caboose and three other freight cars blocking the main line.

Two flagmen had been dispatched by the railroad to take up position on the track and warn oncoming traffic of the delay and "torpedoes" were placed on the tracks. The "torpedoes" were huge glorified firecrackers that would detonate with a loud retort and warn engineers, who did not see the flagmen, that danger was ahead of them. Jones and Webb were in the engine talking about the new whistle that had been placed on the train in Memphis. After joking about waking the town of Canton, Miss. with the new noisemaker, Webb bent down to throw coal into the stove and heard the deafening "bang" of the torpedo placed on the track. Webb immediately jumped to the gang-way on the engineers side and looked down the track. He saw a flagmen waving the red and white lights along the rail line. Webb then ran to the other side of the compartment and saw the markers on the caboose ahead of them still on the tracks. Casey Jones, who was sitting in the engineers chair of the train, was on the deeply curved side of the track and couldnt see up ahead of his speeding train. Webb yelled out to him: "Look out !

Were gonna hit something !" Both men knew at once there was no way to completely stop the train. As the train sped towards the caboose, Jones yelled at Webb to jump from the train and save himself. Without thinking for his own safety, Jones immediately stood up, kicked the chair he was sitting in out of the way, and started pulling the air brakes as hard as he could. The wheels began screaming as Jones tried to bring the six-car train to a halt. As they approached the stranded cars on the track, Webb got as low as possible on the engine gang-way and, at close to 56 miles-per-hour, leapt from the speeding train. Engine 382 with Casey Jones at the throttle plowed into the back of the stranded caboose and two others cars containing corn and hay  all the time applying the brakes of the speeding train to minimize the impact on his passengers and blowing the trains piercing whistle to warn those on the track he couldnt stop. The crunching sound of metal and the screaming sounds of the wreck brought people from throughout the small Mississippi area. Webb, who was knocked unconscious from his fall, was taken to the nearby station where he came around 35 minutes later.

John Luther "Casey" Jones, however, was killed instantly. His battered and broken body was found in the engine with his hand still clasped to the air brakes that stood between him and mortal disaster for his passengers. To everyones surprise, including the most hardened railroad veteran, Jones last act had shown unbelievable courage. Because he had refused to leave his post and save himself, he had prevented his passengers from being killed or even seriously injured. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported the accident the next day and relayed the news of Jones death. "...The engineer was killed outright by the concussion," they wrote. "His body was found lying under the cab with his skull crushed and the right arm torn from its socket. The fireman jumped in time to save his life. A man working in the mail car was thrown against the side of the car having two of his ribs broken by the blow, but his condition is not considered dangerous... He lived at Jackson, Tenn. where his remains were shipped. He leaves a wife and three children." A passenger named Adam Hauser wrote an article in the New Orleans Times Democrat the day after the accident praising Jones.

"If the speed of the train after the torpedoes went off was accurately judged by the mail clerk," wrote Hauser, "Engineer Jones did a wonderful as well as an heroic piece of work at the cost of his own life. I imagine that the Vaughan wreck will be talked about in roadhouses, lunchrooms, and cabooses for the next six months, not alone on the Illinois Central, but on many other roads in Mississippi and Louisiana." In the official reports filed by the Illinois Central Railroad, company superintendent informed his superiors that the investigation showed John "Casey" Jones to be solely responsible for the accident by having disregarded the flagmen stationed on the tracks. It also listed railroad company settlements with those who were injured in the accident. oSimon Webb, Fireman Train No. 1, body bruised jumping off Engine 382 $5.00 oWm. Milller, Express Messenger, slight injuries $25.00 oW.L. Whiteside, Postal Clerk, jarred $1.00 oR.A.

Ford, Postal Clerk, jarred $1.00 In addition, complete statements were taken from Fireman Simon Webb and others on the tracks on April 30, 1900. For those who knew how the railroad operated in those days, a different story of the wreck began making the rounds. A black blues singer named Wallace Saunders, who had worked for many years with the ICR as an engine wiper and knew the colorful Casey Jones, penned a song about the wreck a few days later. The tune began working its way across train yards from Mississippi to Maine to California. The song, which was written out of love by the blues singer, became one of Americas leading folksongs of its day. Wallace Saunders never received anything for it except the recognition of having wrote it. Its popularity led to it being incorporated into a vaudeville act in the early 1900s. Nine years later the song was actually published and rose to become one of Americas most popularly sung folksongs and an icon that would signify the life of Americas romantic railroad era. Jones widow and three children remained in the town of Jackson. In later years, the children grew up and relocated to other cities in West Tennessee.

Mrs. Jones, Sim Webb, and others were interviewed countless times by journalists wanting to tell the "true" story of Casey Jones. Their stories, however, had a reverse affect. The actual facts surrounding the accident that killed him became confused with numerous other legends of American culture and the myth was born. The story of April 30, 1900 became a fixture in American railroad lore. When asked why the story of Casey Jones is so popular, American historians will give you a thousand different answers. "I think it was just one of those things that captured the American imagination," said one University of Tennessee professor. "In a day where people truly made their fortunes off of the backs of the poor and cared little for anything but their own fortunes, here was a simple working man who gave his life to protect people he didnt know. To the people of the day not used to hearing such stories, he was a hero. To those who worked on the railroad, he was considered a textbook company man that set the standard for others to follow. Also, train wrecks have always been good news copy. Newspapers across the south and midwest carried the story, which made Casey Jones Americas first real railroad hero.

As the nations train service evolved and became invaluable to society, Casey Jones story, usually embellished with each telling, became larger than life and eventually drifted into the realm of American mythological figures like Paul Bunyan and John Henry. " The "Ballad of Casey Jones" did indeed become a tune taught to school children across America and the legend of the railroad engineer is one of the most told tales around the world. It got another big boost from Jerry Garcia and the popular recording group "The Grateful Dead" when they recorded an underground version of the song that became one of their trademark performance numbers. There are numerous books, Internet web sites, and articles on Casey Jones life available in bookstores and local libraries. One of the best is "A Treasury of Railroad Folklore" published by Bonanza Books in New York in 1989. Casey Jones Home in Jackson, Tenn. was eventually made into a state historic site and turned into a museum featuring numerous artifacts from his life and times. The home was moved from its original location on East Street in Jackson and relocated to its present position on Casey Jones Lane just off Interstate 40.

While there are other exhibits and museums featuring the Tennessean, the Casey Jones Village in Jackson celebrates the life and times of Americas favorite engineer like no other. Within the village, visitors get a chance to witness railroadings "steam-age" while they tour the museum and see a life-sized replica of Engine 382. In addition, others can book a night in an old railroad sleeper car nearby to see what it was like in the days of train travel. The 500-seat restaurant called the Old Country Store across the parking lot is truly one of the most popular places to eat in the West Tennessee city and features numerous artifacts and information on Casey Jones colorful life. The restaurant and store is patterned after a turn of the century general store and confectionery, which also features numerous Americana artifacts, including many from the Old West. In addition, the village features the Casey Jones Train Store  a model train and memorabilia shop where collectors can tour and purchase numerous items. The store is one of the most popular of its kind in North America and draws railroad hobbyists from around the world.

Casey Jones Village also has a 3,000 seat amphitheater, the Alpine Christmas Shop, and The Cheese Factory, which has also earned a name for itself across the south. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the summer and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the winter months. Although it may sound like a modest assortment of specialty shops and attractions for a state historic site, the number of visitors Casey Jones Village in Jackson, Tenn. draws every year is phenomenal  even by Tennessee standards. Casey Jones Village is consistently rated each year as one of Tennessees top ten tourist attractions and attracts people from all over the world  a lasting memorial to a dedicated train engineer whom history has deemed unforgettable. Casey Jones Casey Jones By John Garst "Casey Jones, the Brave Engineer," was published in 1909 by T. Lawrence Seibert (words) and Eddie Newton (music). The cover calls it the "Greatest Comedy Hit in Years" and "The Only Comedy Railroad Song." The text, set to a sprightly tune, tells a story of the death of engineer Casey Jones in a train wreck.

~ammem_I0tT:: is right interesting. He uses his own tune but he says he was given the text as a ballet. Thanks to those who've supplied "brave" as the word I couldn't understand in fourth line of the third verse. Some historical background: John Luther "Cayce" Jones started in railroad work as a "cub operator," then became a brakeman, a fireman (a job he held for several years), an engineer in freight service, and finally an express passenger/mail-train engineer for the Illinois Central, IC. In 1900, IC's fast express passenger and mail trains between Chicago and New Orleans were designated Nos. 1-4. On Sunday, April 29, 1900, Jones came into Memphis early in the morning on No. 2. His regular schedule had him going out again on No. 3 the next morning. However, he was called that evening to replace Sam Tate, who was sick, on No. 1, scheduled to leave Memphis a bit before midnight. The train was late coming in, so Jones and Webb, in Engine 382, left at nearly 1 a.m.

on Monday, April 30, 75-90 minutes behind schedule. (There is confusion over whether or not this was Jones' regular engine - see ~ball.htm .) They made a passenger stop at Calhoun Street and then struck off through the countryside. By the time they reached Durant, Mississippi, 151 miles south, they were only about 30 minutes behind schedule. At Goodman, eight miles south of Durant, they "took siding" to allow No. 2 (northbound) to pass. (Who was the engineer for No. 2? How many engineers were assigned to the Memphis-Canton runs of Nos. 1-4?) Coming out of an "S" curve as they approached Vaughn, Mississippi, 15 miles south of Goodman, they saw the red warning lights of a train on the main line just ahead. Jones threw on the emergency brakes and told Webb to jump. Webb was knocked unconscious when he hit the ground, and when he came to 30 minutes later, he was told that Jones was dead.

The engine had plowed through 3 1/2 rear cars of a freight train that was parked partly on the siding and partly on the main line, there being insufficient room on the siding for all of it. The wreck was at 3:52 a.m. The flagman of the freight train and others said that all the regulations for warnings had been followed. Webb at first said that he thought he might have heard warning torpedoes go off, but later he denied hearing them. Neither he nor Jones saw flares, flags, or a flagman, he said. Even so, the official railroad investigation, conducted a month later, accepted that regulations had been followed and blamed Jones for the accident. Webb, Jones' widow, and possibly others blamed the flagman, John Newberry, whom they believed to have been negligent in his duties. Come all you railroaders if you want to hear A story about an engineer, Casey Jones a-was the rounder's name, It was on a heavy eight wheeler pulling an IC train. The addressed audience is "railroaders," not "rounders," as in the popular song.

Casey is "an engineer," not a "brave engineer." He, unlike the addressed audience, is a "rounder." Railroad Avenue, by Freeman Hubbard, has an extensive glossary of railroad terms in the back. "Rounder" is not among them. On WWW sites I find "rounder" defined as follows: Rounder is American slang for an habitual criminal or drunkard. Rounder is American slang for a transient railway worker. Rounder: A hustler, a thief, one who's been around the block, as "He's an old rounder who's cut a few corners in life." Rounder: Renown burglar Rounder: a New York slang term for a man given to the company of the "demi-monde." One who is well acquainted with the town, especially the shady side of it. Bruce Gurner says, at ~long.htm : "If we did not already know that Casey was not the rounder the song would have you believe, we know it now." Whatever the exact meaning of "rounder" might be in "Casey Jones," it is a derogatory term. The engine was a ten wheeler. IC (Illinois Central) is correct.

Casey got up about a half past four, Well, he kissed his wife at the station door, Jumped in the cabin with his orders in his hand, Saying, "This is a trip to the holy land. Sim Webb stated that they were called at 9-10 p.m. with their double-up assignment to train No. 1 and the news that it was running late. Jones could have "got up about half past four." That would have allowed for plenty of sleep. Versions that have, "Caller called Casey 'bout a half past four," contradict Webb. Webb stated that Jones spent part of the day installing a new whistle. He could have done this after "half past four." One might suppose that he would install the new whistle on his own engine. Some of the confusion about engine assignments might be resolved by the information that the new whistle was, or was not, on the wrecked engine. Not "promised land," as in common versions, but "holy land." (A few other versions have this.) A trip to the "promised land" would be a premonition of death, but a trip to the "holy land" might suggest something else, perhaps Jones' inordinate pride in his job.

"Pride goeth before a fall." Stopped on the square at the corner of the main, Three polices asked him his name, "My name is written on the back of my shirt, "I'm a brave engineer and I don't have to work." They stopped for five minutes at Calhoun Street. I'm not sure why "polices" should be especially interested in his name, but Casey gives a surly reply. I don't know whether or not all employees of the IC had their names written on the backs of their shirts. If not, and if Casey did, this might emphasize his egotistical side. Anyhow, it is not the narrator of the song, but Casey *himself*, who calls Casey a "brave engineer," obvious bragging. "I don't have to work" may refer to his former labor as a fireman. Paul Stamler writes, "I suspect a modification of the floating line, 'I'm a natural-born easeman, I don't have to work' (easeman = someone with great sexual talent)." If so, then the song writer must expect the listener to make the connection with the familiar verse, further demeaning Jones.

Furry Lewis sang several "Kassie Jones" verses with tag lines, "On the road again / I'm a natural born eas'man, on the road again." His ultimate verse is "I left Memphis to spread the news / Memphis women don't wear no shoes / Had it written on the back of my shirt / Natural born eas'man, don't have to work." Here this verse seems to be an intrusion, not connected to the railroad story. It could easily be the older model on which Holbert's third verse is based. Perhaps Lewis recalled it as a more familiar verse than the one in Holbert and reverted to the original. (Is retromutation a good word?) Pulled out his watch and a-looked at the time, Says to the fireman, "This engine's behind, "I'll run this train, I'll leave the rails, "For I'm ten hours late with the southern mail." Casey states here that he will be reckless, "I'll leave the rails." This sounds like, "I don't give a damn about the passengers." "Ten hours late" is wrong, it was 75-90 minutes.

"Southern mail" is right, it is what the train was often called. It was also known as the "Cannonball Express," but it is not clear that this name was in use at the time of Jones' wreck. Some versions of the song, however, name the "Cannonball" or "Cannon Ball." 'Round the curve, a-saw a passenger train, Both head lights were a-shining the same, Turned to the fireman, says, "Pick out a place to jump, "The Number 1's a-coming and it's bound to bump." "Round the curve" is right. "Passenger train" is wrong, it was a freight. I don't know what "Both head lights were a-shining the same" might means, but "Both *red* lights" would make perfect sense and be accurate. The caboose of a train stopped on the main line would display two red lights. That is, in fact, what Webb says they saw. Thus, "head lights" is probably a mutation of an earlier "red lights." Webb said repeatedly that Jones told him to jump.

The train being driven by Jones was indeed "Number 1." When the news reached home that-a Casey was dead, His-a wife and chillun was asleep in the bed, "Lie still, chillun, and-a take your rest, "For we'll draw a pension at your daddy's death." Jones died at 3:52 a.m. His wife and children might well have been asleep when the family was contacted. The matter-of-fact statement, attributed here to Mrs. Jones, is another jibe at Jones. In the Seibert version the line, "you [children] got another papa on the Salt Lake line," caused Mrs. Jones great distress. No indications have surfaced that either Jones was unfaithful. On another "moral" front, Cayce Jones was a teetotaler.

Casey said before he died, There's two more trains that he'd like to ride, "Look on the map and you will see "The Southern Pacific and the Sante Fe." I see no particular significance here, but this verse makes a connection with other, perhaps earlier, songs, e.g., "Jay Gould's Daughter." Although this text includes several minor errors, when compared with historical facts, it gets a lot right: "Stopped on the square" (stopped at Calhoun Street) "Number 3 daily on the schedule card (Jones' regular run) "This engine's behind" (so it was) "southern mail" (correct popular name) "'Round the curve" (they saw the parked train as they rounded a curve) "Both head lights" (correct as "both red lights") "Pick out a place to jump" (Jones told Webb to jump) "Number 1's a coming" (Jones was driving train No.

1) "wife and chillun was asleep" (it was very early in the morning) "we'll draw a pension at your daddy's death" (she drew pensions from two railroad brotherhoods and perhaps one from IC) "back to shoveling coal" (Jones had been a fireman) This must have been written by someone with intimate knowledge of the facts of the case and Jones' career. Furry Lewis' version has a few features of this text, enough to convince me that it could have derived, in part, from this one. These considerations lead me to believe that the Holbert text is a very early version. In Long Steel Rail, Norm Cohen gives the 1908 version, which also contains many correct facts. It shares about 7 couplets with Holbert (18 total in Holbert, 20 in 1908). It opens: Come all you rounders, for I want you to hear The story told of an engineer. Casey Jones was the rounder's name, A heavy right-wheeler of a mighty fame.

Fireman says, "Casey, you're running too fast, "You run the block-board the last station you passed." Jones says, "Yes, I believe we'll make it through, "For she steams better than ever I knew." Verses 9 and 10 are moralizing: Poor Casey Jones was all right, For he stuck to his duty both day and night. They loved to hear his whistle and ring of number three, As he came into Memphis on the old I. C. Headaches and heartaches, and all kinds of pain, Are not apart from a railroad train. Tales that are in earnest, noble and grand, Belong to the life of a railroad man. 1908 is schizoid in its attitude toward Jones.

In verse 1 he is a "rounder" (along with the addressed audience), in verse 5 he is "running too fast" and "run the block-board the last station." Verse 6 contains, "I'm going to run her till she leaves the rail / Or make it in on time with the Southern mail." In verse 8, "He's a good engineer, but he's dead and gone." In verse 9 he is "all right," "stuck to his duty," and provided something people "loved." Verse 10 implies that this tale is "earnest, noble and grand." Absent from 1908 are several of the Holbert jibes at Jones: "My name is written on the back of my shirt / I'm a brave engineer and I don't have to work," "we'll draw a pension at your daddy's death," and St.

Peter's judgment, "You've run your engine so brave and bold / I'll send you back to shoveling coal." Haywire Mac's version is also schizoid, implying that Jones was beloved ("The women stood cryin', both colored and white") but reckless ("I'll roll her till she leaves the rails") and careless ("I was there to tell the fact, They flagged him down but he never looked back.") This leads me to suspect that competing versions of the ballad circulated early on, one denigrating Jones and the other glorifying him, or at least that the ballads varied considerably in their mixtures of praise and ridicule. Wallace Saunders is said to have written his song as a "tribute" to Jones, whose death was to him a "supreme tragedy" (Freeman Hubbard's words in his book, Railroad Avenue). Hubbard writes this immediately after quoting a close variant of the 1908 version, in which Jones is a "rounder" who runs a "block-board" and threatens to "run her till she leaves the rail," hardly the stuff to inspire admiration.

My suspicion is that the 1908 version is a mixture of an earlier one (perhaps Saunders' original) that glorified Jones with one like Holbert, which vilifies him whole-heartedly. One version would represent the views and feelings of those who believed that Jones' actions were proper and that the blame lay with Flagman Newberry. The other would represent those who accepted Newberry's claims to have followed regulations and blamed Jones for his own death and endangering the lives of others. This would run parallel with early versions of "Stack Lee," some of which are sympathetic to Stack Lee Shelton, saying that he was good and loved by all, and others of which paint him as evil personified. In that case, political and personal motives were at work: Shelton was a Democrat, his victim Billy Lyons a Republican, and there had been previous violence to Lyons' relatives, perhaps by Democrats. In the case of Cayce Jones, it would have been the IC and Newberry's supporters against Webb, Jones' widow, and many of the common people of the region.

How did "Casey Jones, the Brave Engineer" become the "Greatest Comedy Hit in Years" and "The Only Comedy Railroad Song" to authors Seibert and Newton? They picked up verses and versions that ridiculed Jones and included them in their rewrite: "brave engineer," "rounder," "run her till she leaves the rail," and "we're gonna reach Frisco but we'll all be dead." Since folk versions ridiculed Jones, it must have seemed acceptable to make a "comedy hit" out of the story of his death. They appear to have replaced the pension statement with "you've got another papa on the Salt Lake line." I doubt that this is a general theory of the tendency of songs of tragedy to turn into songs of humor.

However, I note that The Great Titanic, which today children at camps sing with great fun, involves a story in which pride went before a fall: "They said it was a ship that / Water could never leak through." The song takes the proud builder to task: "God with His mighty hand / Said that ship it could not stand / It was sad when that great ship went down." The title, The *Great* Titanic, also seems to be taking a shot at the builder. Perhaps the author meant *large*, or perhaps he/she was merely quoting what the Titanic was commonly called, but it sounds as if the "great" Titanic was meant to be a challenge to God, so the song, perhaps written by a preacher, criticizes the mortal but egotistical builder. Perhaps this seed of ridicule is what allows even grown-ups to enjoy roaring out these lines at parties, Little children lost their lives, It was sad when that *great* ship went down Casey Jones - Tall Tale Heroes Tall Tale Heroes More Stormalong Casey Jones Jones, Casey, 1864-1900, American locomotive engineer celebrated in ballad and song, probably b. Jordan, Fulton co., Ky.

His real name was John Luther Jones, but at the age of 17 he went to Cayce, Ky., and there he was employed as a telegraph operator; from the name of the town he was given the nickname "Casey." In 1888 he entered the service of the Illinois Central RR as a locomotive fireman and soon (1890) was promoted to engineer. He was famous among railroad men for his boast that he always brought his train in on schedule and for his peculiar skill with a locomotive whistle. Given the "crack" assignment of driving the Cannon Ball express from Memphis, Tenn., to Canton, Miss.--a particularly dangerous run on which several accidents had occurred--Casey Jones was determined to bring the overdue train in on time but met with disaster. On the morning of Apr. 30, 1900, confronted with a stationary freight train ahead of his speeding locomotive at Vaughan, Miss., he ordered his fireman to jump. He applied the brakes, and although the Cannon Ball crashed and Jones was killed, the passengers were saved. A fellow railroad worker, Wallace Saunders, soon composed a popular ballad about him; one version of it, Casey Jones, was published by T.

Lawrence Siebert and Eddie Newton. Monuments commemorating Jones stand at Cayce, Ky., and Jackson, Tenn. He was buried at Jackson, Tenn. "Jones, Casey." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Columbia University Press, 2000. Reproduced in Kids InfoBits. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Suggested Reading Title: Casey Jones by Stephen Krensky, 2007 Description: Presents the life of the railroad engineer who was famous for always bringing his train in on time and whose brave actions during his last ride on the Cannonball Express saved the lives of all of the passengers and inspired the well-known ballad. Ages: 0-8 *information from NoveList Plus Title: Casey Jones by Allan Drummond, 2001 Description: Illustrations and rhythmic text tell how the famous engineer, Casey Jones, risks his own life to save others. Ages: 0-8 Review: Ages 5-8. This retelling of the story of railroad engineer “Casey” Jones focuses more on the development of railroads than on Jones himself.

Soft watercolor illustrations capture the feeling of movement and adventure that railroad travel inspired in the 1800s. The scenes of the nighttime journey and the fiery wreck of the train are both beautiful and disturbing. The rhyming text moves between the story of the railroad and the story of Casey and his fateful trip. Its length may bore younger listeners; older ones, however, will want to stick around for the dramatic ride and will be interested in the author’s note about origins of the story and how it achieved the status of a legend. (Reviewed February 1, 2001) -- Marta Segal, BookList *information from NoveList Plus Title: Casey Jones , by Andrea Smith, 2011 Description: Tells the story of the railroad engineer who died while successfully working to save the lives of the rest of the people on his passenger train when it collided with a stopped freight train.

Ages: 9-12 Review: (The following is a combined review for CaseyJones; Daniel Boone; Davy Crockett; Jim Bowie; Johnny Appleseed; Paul Bunyan; and ) Gr 2 – 5 — There are not many good biographies about American legends available, and readers will find this graphic-novel series unique and interesting. The information about these six trailblazing men who influenced American history in some way is clearly presented in large, brightly colored panels and through dialogue between the characters and corresponding captions. The books all contain character guides and helpful back matter. Ideal for reluctant readers and fans of legends, lore, and history. --Rita Meade (Reviewed November 1, 2011) (School Library Journal, vol 57, issue 11, p73) *information from NoveList Plus Title: I Dream of Trains by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Loren Long, 2003 Description: The son of a sharecropper dreams of leaving Mississippi on a train with the legendary engineer Casey Jones.

Ages: Pre-K to 2nd grade Review: Gr 3-5 –This powerfully illustrated picture book looks at legendary engineer CaseyJones through the eyes of a fictional black child who toils in a cotton field near the railroad tracks. In low, reverential tones, the text speaks both of the folk hero's mystique and the narrator's eagerness to experience Casey's big world. The man's status as a pioneering symbol of harmonious race relations appears within the story and in an eloquent epilogue suitable for older readers. Johnson's treatment of Casey's tragic, heroic death is particularly respectful and moving. Long's moody acrylic paintings, mainly in subdued tones, are a sterling accompaniment to the book's provocative prose.–Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC --Catherine Threadgill (Reviewed October 1, 2003) (School Library Journal, vol 49, issue 10, p126) *information from NoveList Plus

Question: What was the name of the Illinois express on which Casey Jones lost his life in 1900
Answer: The Cannonball Express