Wreck of the Old 97

In 1903, a mail train running from Monroe, Virginia, to Spencer, North Carolina derailed near Danville Virginia. The engineer, Joseph "Steve" Broady, was under orders to make up time that had been lost during its previous run.

"97" was the train's number on the schedule, not the number of the locomotive. Like Casey Jones, who perished three years earlier on a high-speed run, Broady was filling in for another engineer on a locomotive he wasn't used to, under orders to get a train that was late when he climbed aboard back on schedule, or at least close.

Coming onto a trestle over a deep gorge, the train jumped the track with enough speed to crash on the far side of the gorge. Broady and eight other crewmen perished in the disaster.

This song, whose authorship was disputed for decades, became a staple of early Country and Western music. In fact Vernon Dalhart's 1925 recording is often credited with being the first million-selling "Country" record, though it's called a "Mountaineer's Song." In fact, it helped record companies to realize there was an audience for music with Appalachian tone and opened the door for artists like the Carter Family and Jimmie Rogers..

Here are the lyrics that are usually sung (several other verses are seldom performed)

They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia,
Saying, "Steve, you're way behind time.
This is not 38, but it's Old 97,
You must put her into Spencer on time."

He turned 'round and said to his black greasy fireman,
"Shovel in a little more coal,
And when I cross that old White Oak Mountain
You can just watch Old 97 roll."

It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville,
And the lie was a three-mile grade,
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes,
And you see what a jump that she made.

A telegram came from Birmingham station;
This is what it said:
That nice young man who drove old ninety-seven
Is lyin' down in Danville dead.

He was going down the grade making 90 miles an hour,
When his whistle broke into a scream,
He was found in that wreck with his hand on the throttle,
He was scalded to death by the steam.

Now, ladies, you must take warning,
From this time now and on.
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband.
He may leave you and never return.

You-Tube Videos of This Song

• Vernon Dalhart's 1925 78rpm record

• Johnny Cash's 1957 version

• Johnny Cash's 1964 version

• Flatt and Scruggs' 1963 version

• Boxcar Willy

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