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1900: Skilled engineer enters legend and immortal song(s). John Luther 'Casey' Jones, 37, a well-regarded engineer, died in a train wreck near Vaughan, Mississippi. He stayed at the controls trying desperately to stop the train, The Cannonball Express! hitting a stalled train on a blind curve. When Jones did see the other train, it was too late to prevent a crash, but with a collision imminent, he acted heroically. Pulling the whistle to warn anyone in the other train, he slammed on the brakes and ordered his fireman to jump from the train. Jones, too, could have jumped, but if he had, he wouldn't have been able to work the brakes and slow his train – in the process, saving every passenger on board. The only person who died in the wreck was Jones himself, standing by his post in order to save lives. When crews went into the wreckage they found Mr. Jones in pieces, but most notably his hands were still clenched to the brake handle and the whistle. Proof that he did his best to prevent further carnage right up to the end. It is by no means certain that his employers were as fond of Casey as he is in the hearts of those who have heard the legend. Damned by faint praise, the regard in which he was held by the railroad company is evidenced in the company's (CYA) report on the accident...

"Engineer Jones ... had a reasonably good record, not having been disciplined for the past three years ... Jones' work upto the the time of the accident had been satisfactory."

Casey left his stamp on history and became immortal in verse....and song And for our virtual rail roaders: http://www.virtualrailroader.com/volume_1/casey.html