Brakeman Hal
Well-Known Member
Everybody's favorite is probably "Wreck of the Old 97", based on the true story of Southern Railway's mail train #97, pulled by a new 4-6-0 engine, with engineer Steve Broady at the throttle, on September 27, 1903 outside of Danville, Virginia.
The words tell the story of an engineer who had to run his train too fast, to make up for 47 minutes of lost time to get to the mail's delivery point. The train lost its airbrakes on a 3-mile grade, and was making over 50mph when it entered the Stillhouse Trestle, which had a 15mph speed limit at its entrance. (The song said it was making 90mph, but this was proven incorrect.)
The 45-foot high trestle had a tight curve, and when Broady's loco entered it, the rails were torn from the ties and #97 plunged to the bottom of the ravine, killing Broady and 10 others.
My favorite line is the last one, which says:
"Ladies, you must take warning from this day on and learn,
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband,
He may leave and never return!"
Several Country singers have recorded this, including Hank Snow and Johnny Cash...check it out!
Brakeman Hal
The words tell the story of an engineer who had to run his train too fast, to make up for 47 minutes of lost time to get to the mail's delivery point. The train lost its airbrakes on a 3-mile grade, and was making over 50mph when it entered the Stillhouse Trestle, which had a 15mph speed limit at its entrance. (The song said it was making 90mph, but this was proven incorrect.)
The 45-foot high trestle had a tight curve, and when Broady's loco entered it, the rails were torn from the ties and #97 plunged to the bottom of the ravine, killing Broady and 10 others.
My favorite line is the last one, which says:
"Ladies, you must take warning from this day on and learn,
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband,
He may leave and never return!"
Several Country singers have recorded this, including Hank Snow and Johnny Cash...check it out!
Brakeman Hal
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