The Ballad of Casey Jones and The wreck of the Old 97' by Johnny Cash
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- Опубликовано: 1 апр 2025
- Johnny Cash Singing "The Ballad of Casey Jones" and "The Wreck of the Ol' 97" in Ridin' the Rails, The Great American train story.
Credit- Ridin' The rails, The Great American Train Story
I do not own any of this, Credit goes to there Respectful owner(s)
I do highly recommend you watch that though, I'll link the video in the pinned comment.
ruclips.net/video/aW1X4bk31ik/видео.html Here you go, as promised
@@DixieRailfanner6133
I remember that when I was a kid
In all my nearly 50 years Ive never hear anyone come close to singing or telling stories like Johnny Cash He was truly a legend and an icon who will always be loved and missed and whos music will live on for generations to come
He's probably the only singer who has a genre named after him ...Johnny Cash Genre
@@brucelennon9224 yes youre right
He's my favorite singer. I fell in love with his music as a child when Grandma played his record 'Orange Blossom Special' have loved him every since
Agreed
Jim Croce legend 👍
In the true story of Casey Jones, he practically threw his fireman off the train, the fireman said that he heard the whistle blow non stop from the second he left the train to the second jones hit the caboose on the stopped train. When they cleared the wreckage. Casey's body was still jammed into his seat and his hand was still holding the brakes
I would have loved to be a locomotive engineer, I operate stationary equipment and when those safeties lift it sounds like a train
Oh yeah. It sounds fun until you run low on water and decide to go up or down a hill😅 Google what happens I dare you
@@Kaminari_Kitsunokami I have a pretty good idea lol
@@johndonovan6855 Isn't physics just fun lol
@Kaminari_Kitsunokami That is what Injectors and Feed Pumps are for. Going up a hill makes water roll back to cover the crownsheet, that's not the problem. It's before you crest the grade that the Fireman needs to be cognizant of his water level so when it rolls forward it doesn't expose the crown when going *DOWN* hill. That is the problem. Even before 49 CFR Part 230 was written, the standard was the very bottom of the sight glass's visible zone has to be at least 2 inches above the highest point of the Crownsheet. So even if the water briefly leaves the glass but you can still see it in the very bottom of the fitting, there is still water over the crown. Later Engines that had Thermic Syphons in their fireboxes also were less prone to low water damage due to the syphons continuously splashing water onto the crown sheet and cooling it if the water ever reached that low level.
My mother's father and father's father both were employed for the Pennsylvania Railroad in the steam locomotive "heyday" if you would. This song commemorates those days!! God bless your soul Johnny Cash and may you rest in peace.
In 1996 (I think it was), on a trip to the Boy Scout National Jamboree at Ft. A. P. Hill south of Washington, DC, we stopped in Jackson, TN, to let our 15 Scouts tour the Casey Jones Museum. All their elementary school years they had sung the Ballad of Casey Jones, never knowing the man and the event were real. On our way back to Dallas several days later, we let the boys talk us into stopping at a Hooters in Charlotte, NC. (We thought if people can take their wives and grannies there, we can take the boys.) The troop marched in in full Scout uniform; all were perfect gentlemen. We told their parents when we got back in town. No one objected. We also toured the foundry that makes axes for the BSA. Each Scout got a free hand axe. It was a fantastic trip.
Amazing story, thanks for sharing
My Grandfather, who arrived in 1900 raised me, and I know every word and cadence to this song. Sends chills, air stands up on my arms. Born too late.
Woah, your grandfather is really old!
I'm with you there... born too late.
I have fond memories of my Grandfather in his old wooden rocking chair with my four year old brother on one knee and me on the other. Grandpa would recite The Ballard of Casey Jones to us, complete with whistle sounds from an old wooden whistle he had whittled. Grandpa passed in March of 1955.
Operating a steam locy is one of my life's dreams
Johnny Cash's rendition is the best. I'm a retired conductor, 43 years. We had an engineer named Steve. To bust his chops we would play "The Wreck of Ol' 97 "over the PA system.
That's amazing, how was your time as an Engineer?
@@DixieRailfanner6133 The railroad had its ups and downs. I started as a tower man with the Erie-Lackawanna, transferred to train service when the towers were closed in favor of remote operations. The Con-Rail days were terrible so I transferred to NJ Transit in 1987. Steady hours, good pay and benefits. I worked a lot of non passenger as well as passenger assignments. I was a union officer for 11 years and terminal president for BRCF for 20 years. Retired as a conductor May 1, 2013.
Wow, thats amazing- thanks for sharing
@@DixieRailfanner6133 When a good friend of mine died, in a tiny one room cabin, his Saxophone was leaning up against the stove. When I moved into that same cabin, about a week after Billy Kevany's death, another late friend of mine had a Saxophone player do a loud rendition of "Melancholy Baby" from the top on 99 stairs in that Echo Park shack. I hid under the covers that whole night. Bastards.
Johnny cash is a legendary country singer who will be very very missed love you Johnny Cash 🎉gone but never forgotten
Long ago there was a TV series called Casey Jones, about this engineer. A favorite of mine.❤
I had not heard those lyrics before, so thanks. Johnny has the voice.
Your most certainly welcome
There was a 50’s TV series starring Alan Hale Jr.
Cash is the biggest legend in country music. no one comes close.
Except maybe Marty Robbins
@@michaellavery4910 Tom T. Hall has entered the chat.
I agree about Tom T Hall and I have to add Waylon in there too. Hank Sr. and Jr. as well.
The legends of railroad and railway songs for Great Britain and America is Johnny Cash and Dave Goulder.
1:40 RIP Casey Jones:(
Man in black can tell a story like no other
Im 61 and baby sit in rural s.dak.when i was 14.grew up with sat.night live.best thing in the world.god bless the whole crew and loren micheal.brillany satire.😊😊😊😊
Thank you, Johnny Cash for sharing that story with us. May the stories of the railroad be rememberd forever, Till all are one.
I wish I had that kind of talent.
THE OLD BLACK AND WHITE CASEY JONES SERIES WAS SHOWN ON BBC IN THE LATE 60'S AND EARLY 70'S IN THE UK AND WAS THE MOST WATCHED ALONG WITH CHAMPION THE WONDER HORSE AS WE NEVER FULLY WENT TO COLOUR TV UNTIL EARLY 80'S IN UK
If you search on RUclips you can hear original recording of Casey's fireman Slim. As a kid I thought they had more time from seeing the train to impact. But listening to Slim describe the event, it seems it was only seconds from sighting the train to impact.
A gentle correction. The fireman's nick-name was "Sim," not Slim. It was short for "Simeon" Webb, his given name.
@robertmiller5217 Roger. I always thought it was slim, like Slim Pickens played Pet Bracken in the Disney film the great locomotive chase.
@@natejones902 I got a chuckle out of that, since when I was a kid I thought it was 'Slim' as well. A nickname in the same spirit as 'Sport" or "Slick" or "Junior".
LONG LIVE CASEY JOHNES AND THE OLE 97
IKR!! BUTT: 97 IS DEAD!! AND SCRAPPED!!
The greatest storyteller of all time
And you had the last bit of that song you can hear the sadness in Johnny cash's voice it's like he telling us he didn't deserve to die in the way he did but at least he went out a hero in a way
Growing up in Danville, VA I walked that rail line. The only thing left is the rail bed. Walked it from Mt. Hermon all the way into town to the sign that still marks the wreck site (near my aunt’s house). Found a railroad spike but lost it a very long time ago…
That's neat
WOW first time I've heard that compilation of that song. Great.!
Yes, these 2 songs were put together for this part, they actually go great together imo
The haunting sound of that moaning whistle really gets to me!!
It's the "scalded to death by the steam" for me
love johnny cash
Same, amazing singer
I didn’t know you made this video until now nicely done
From Country, Folk and Gospel NOTHING compares to the man in Black.
I miss you so much Johnny Cash!
The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore not like they did back in 1954, still get far away look in my eye, when I hear an old train in the night!
My friend Scott's grandpa was a yard bull for the Southern Railroad in the Spencer yard. He was feared by the 'bos and tuned up plenty of them for destroying Railroad property
Hyou sure make me old love this. Song
Johnny cash is a legend
Truly a classic ❤
Come on you rounders if you wanna hear
The story about a brave engineer
Casey Jones was the roller's name
On a 6-8-wheeler course he rode to fame
Caller called Casey about half past four.
He kissed his wife at the station door.
He climbed in the cabin with his orders in his hand.
Said, "This is the trip to the Promised Land."
[Chorus]
Casey Jones climbed in the cabin.
Casey Jones orders in his hand
Casey Jones leaning out the window
Taking a trip to the Promised Land
[Verse 2]
Through South Memphis Yards on a fly
Rain been a-falling and the water was high
Everybody knew by the engine's moan
That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones
Well, Jones said, "Fireman, don't you fret"
Sim Webb said, "I ain't a-giving up yet"
We're eight hours late with the southbound mail
Be on time or we're leaving the rails.
[Chorus]
Casey Jones climbed in the cabin
Casey Jones orders in his hand
Casey Jones leaning out the window
Taking a trip to the Promised Land
[Verse 3]
Dead on the rail was a passenger train
Blood was a-boiling in Casey's brain
Casey said, "Hey, look out ahead.
Jump, Sim, jump or we'll all be dead"
With a hand on a whistle and a hand on a brake
North Mississippi was wide awake.
IC Railroad official said,
"He's a good engineer to be a-laying dead."
They give him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Sayin', "Steve, you're way behind time.
This is not '38, this is old '97
Put her into Spencer on time."
Well, he turned and said to his big greasy fireman.
Hey, shovel on a little more coal.
And when we cross that white oak mountain
Watch old '97 roll.
It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
In a line on a three-mile grade
It was on that grade that he lost his airbrakes
See what a jump he made!
He was going down the grade makin' 90 miles an hour
And a whistle broke into a scream.
He was found in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle
Scalded to death by the steam
Now all you ladies you better take a warning
From this time on and learn
Never speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband
He may leave you and never return.
Great songs, Casey Jones, in school, you may have heard of him with Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan!, Casey was real!
This was so emotional......
AND LONG LIVE AMERICAN STEAM!!!🚂
Johnny Cash, Roy Acuff, and Boxcar Willie 👍!
So this is where the song came from for the Good'n'Plenty candy ad with Choo-Choo Charlie growing up in the 60's 70's. Grateful Dead did their own song about him.
Nicely reenacted story - I've always loved driver and mate in cab type shots. Train of Events has some beauties.
0:22 Casey Jones 1:43. The wreck of the old 97
***I LOVE TRAINS***
****THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS VIDEO****
Your most certainly welcome
@@DixieRailfanner6133 THANKS !
This is probably the closest thing to a recreation of Casey's wreck on film that I've been able to find. I wish someone would make a high-budget docudrama about his life with real steam locomotives. If it were restored, I think Texas & Pacific 316 would make a decent stand-in for 382, or maybe Nevada Northern 40.
Well there’s a good amount of 68 inch drivered 4-6-0s. You could choose any of them and they’ll be pretty close to old 382.
wreck of 97 3:00
Right I’d be like Top Gun but with trains
Actually Clinchfield railroad #99 is dolled up as 382 she would work she's the closest thing we got of the original 382 The only noticeable things is the roof, Valve gear and wheel spacing between each set of drivers.
C&NW 1385 4-6-0 ALCO 1907, was used in a different music video 📹; but built 7 years after CANNONBALL wreck!! I.C.RR. 382 had regular D valves above pistons.
Yet CNW 1385 still has Moderne Spool valves slanted in below Smokebox.
Also I.C. 382 had 69" D. Drivers. While 1385 has 63" D. Drivers. Layer donated to the MID-CONTINENT RR MUSEUM in North Freedom near Wisconsin Dells!!
In 1982 to 1986 the 1385 was repaired in Green Bay Wisconsin at the CNW Roundhouse and used on many different excursions around the Midwest of Wisconsin and Illinois.
And since 2001 (?) is rebuilt with 100% BRAND NEW WELDED BOILER!!!!! 1385 might run soon in 2024A.D.!!-! ALL ABOARD.!! HIGHBALL 👋 TOOT-TOOT!!
i love this song
Johnny Cash loved trains. He even did a commercial for Lionel years ago.
Yeah, I've seen that commercial on yt one time I believe
The thing about "The wreck of 97" that the song doesn't tell is the the brass hats forced the engineers on "fast mail" trains to take risks to make up time - because the railroad would face a penalty for every minute the mail was late
Sounds like the titanic
@@Audioobscure Not as many fatalaties...
Thank you for the Casey Jones portion.
Your welcome
There is a beautiful children’s book, “Casey Jones’s Fireman: The Story of Sim Webb” written by Nancy Farmer illustrated by James Bernardin. It fictionalizes the story of Sim Webb (and yes, he really was black) in a wonderful way.
Mr. Webb was a well spoken guy. Available on youtube is a recording of an interview that he gave about the famous wreck in 1955.
@@sheilatrachtenberg8997 I understand that Casey's wife Janie didn't like one of the version's of the song about him. I understand that she ran a boarding house for some years
Where can I find this version of The Ballad of Casey Jones
Is it just me or does anyone else notice icr 382 and old 97 are savannah and Atlanta 750
Back when American Steam ruled the rails!
Edward is one of the oldest engines on the island of sodor and the only one who can keep 2 tricky tank engine twins named bill and ben who work in the clay mines and quarries near the docks in order
Old ‘97 1:44
Yesssssssssssssss
Nice video
-Bella
Thanks
We'll always Casey Jones and Steve Brody.of thre old 97.🛤🚂🚃🚃🚃
We'll always rememner Johnathon Luther Jones and Steven Brody.engineer. of the old 97, both of the I llonios Central RR.
The definition of Americanna
And the water tender makes it very obvious
We can be kind!!!
i didnt know it but Casey Jones was a real person
Yeah, famous railroad hero at that haha
The lone ranger with his fearless indian friend tonto the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early west
All aboard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All aboard let’s go
I love storytelling songs. Johnny is gone, but the bass singer with Voiceplay (Geoff "Jeff" Castellucci) is doing his bit to keep the old ballads fresh and heard on his solo channel - see this month's release of Big Iron at ruclips.net/video/v9RGO8IVO6g/видео.html
(Read his video description for details.)
When and How/Where was this music video first released?
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Is it just me or was the pacific seen in the video numbered as 382 Savannah and Atlanta 750 in disguise?
Im not sure
@@DixieRailfanner6133 Well, it came to my head because of the wheel arrangement and the water tender behind it with southern on it.
Im pretty sure that your right, the film used many locomotives, and I do believe that the train used for IC 382 was S&A 750 as when you look at the video and look at a picture I found, the wheels with the whitewall matched, and the gold bands on the dome look the same so I do believe your right
It was. First thing I noticed when one could see the rooster comb smoke lifter whilst he was kissing his wife at the station door. Once they showed the engine running it confirmed it. The whistle sounds match two. Behind it is an SR water canteen following by Atlanta Chapter Club Car (ex-Southern baggage car) 4061, “QUEEN & CRESCENT CLUB”, plus another club owned baggage car. A 1080 series Southern steam programme coach is on the rear. The first whistle may be 290’s, and the “Ol 97” bit sounds like 750’s 5 chime.
Today is The Brave Engineer, Casey Jones' birthday.
Neat
Hand on the brake
Caseys hand was found brake and whistle
❤️
Casey Jones
What about these lyrics?
Casey’s wife sat on her bed ah cryin
Got a message that old Casey was dyin
She said “Hush you children
And hold your breath
‘Cause we’re gonna draw a pension
From you Daddy’s death.”
Ballad
Casey said, right before he died
“There’s a few more rails that I’d like ride…”
The fireman asked “Boy what can that be?”
“But the Sothern Pacific”
“And the Santa Fe.”
Ballad
Ain't heard those
Casey Jones wreck happened in my home state in Mississippi
That's really cool
Sad
❤
Because the two locomotives are 4-6-0s not 4-6-2s
What is this from I feel like it came from a documentary
Pinned Comment
Thanks Dixie
Hi guys. Got teased with this song more times than I care to count.
Young blood: Trains...😂
97 was 1102
Huge Johnny Cash fan but I actually like Mac Wiseman’s rendition of this song better.
Ain't heard that version, I guess I'll check it out
😦😦😞😞😖😖😖😭😭😭😭😭
Wait, I don’t understand this. Johnny describes two different wrecks in this song who was the second guy
The other wreck was the wreck of the old 97'- Danville VA in September of 1903, the song was the first song on the American music market to sell over 1 million copies (according to a video I watched by the NCTM), it was a famous wreck in which the engineer [Steve Brody] was running a mail train over safe speeds towards Spencer NC- hours behind, he was going to fast and plunged off the stillhouse trestle in Danville
38 is a 97
A little bit of fault to this song. Sim webb told casey first of danger. Casey could not see where he was seated. Listen to sim webbs accounts online. A truer hero there never was though. The bible says greater love hath no man than this that he should lay down his life for a friend.
Great story, great song, great performance. BUT both crashes could have been avoided if the USA had adopted "lock, block and brake."
Yeah, but speed also has to be factored in, the 97' wreck probably would have been avoided completely if Brody was going at an safe speed sadly he wasn't, he was going down the grade at a higher speed than he should have, and he was new to Southern Railway's tracks so he didnt know the still house trestle was up ahead, so when he took that turn, of course SR #1102 and it's cars jumped the tracks leading to the now infamous wreck, as for Casey, he was exceeding safe speeds too, trying to make up time, of course brakes were applied and I believe that it might have affected a little bit in slowing down the train but weight also has to factored in so, if the brakes were used, they might not have been able to slow it in time to avoid the crash
I’m talking about 382 not 1102
K, cool
🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡😭😭😭
he couldnt carry a tune in a barrel but he had spot on rithym (sp)
Hope you aren’t talking about J.C.
A newer version of steamboat bill it would seem
4501 ?
most likely it is 425
I thought this was about the vigilante
Umm, no?
I think he crashed at 3:50 AM um lost my mind idk bruh talk about that later lol bye
Alright
rhrythm
The old strikebreaker 🤮
Man, that is terrible.
Bobo
Casey jones was a sob drove a doubleheader thru an open switch
Love this video it says it all about earlly rail roading.🛤🚂🚃🚃
Thanks, if you haven't I'd recommend the video it came from, I have it in the pinned comment
love johnny cash
We all do my friend