Comments on: Casey Jones 150th Birthday Celebration

By: Jack Gurner

Jack Gurner — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:16:28 +0000

The line attributed to Casey: “Jump Sim, Jump!” came from Sim Webb and it is believed that he said that to justify his leaving the train. Jones would have made every attempt to stop the “Cannonball” (there was never a Cannonball, but that’s another story) because he knew that if he hit the back of 83 he would be so fired. And, it would have been better to have slowed the train and taken the hit, than to jump off into the pitch black night not knowing what you would land on. If he had ducked down, he would have missed the piece of wood that came through the window and would have lived…and probably found other employment. Jones would have been too busy that night to have worried about Sim. Imagine an airline pilot turning to his copilot as they head for the ground and saying, “Golly, why don’t you head to the back of the plane while I try to pull us out of this pickle.” I suspect if there had been a flight recorder-like device, Jones would have been heard to say the same two words every pilot says right before impact.

By: Grant

Grant — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:49:46 +0000

In reply to Jack Gurner. No arguments here! Just because he managed not to kill anyone else, due to his own hi-jinxs, shouldn't make him a hero. That being said, he could have bailed with Sim...

By: Jack Gurner

Jack Gurner — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:56:25 +0000

Interesting piece. The story of John Luther “Casey” Jones is a fascinating one. He was a well respected man in his time. His peers selected him to be master of the lodge (The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers). Did the wreck make him famous? No. It was just one of hundreds in that year. It was actually unremarkable. What made him famous was the song. Was he a hero? Interesting question. Who was responsible for the wreck? Casey was. He was going way to fast in violation of the railroad’s rules. Casey’s job that night was to get his train from Memphis to Canton in the usual amount of time. It was his idea to attempt to make up the time. The people who knew him believed he was looking for the bragging rights for making the fastest run. And, he did. He was on time when he got to Goodman, the last station before Vaughn.

None of the above makes his story any less interesting. Visit us in Mississippi at the Water Valley Casey Jones Railroad Museum.

By: Grant

Grant — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:25:12 +0000

Thank you for your kind words. I am glad you enjoyed it.

By: gpcox

gpcox — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 09:17:48 +0000

Oh, this is fantastic work.