Over The Rails He'd Go

Train engineers at the turn of the 20th century took great pride in their train whistles. It was more than a simple noisemaker to sound an alert or other basic forms of communication. By finessing the whistle mechanism, engineers developed distinctive whistles so that people could recognize who was driving the train.

Casey Jones was well known among railroad workers for his peculiar skill with a locomotive whistle. Casey's whistle has been described as a long-drawn-out note that began softly, rose and then died away to a whisper, an inimitable method which became his trademark. Those living along his route became so familiar with it that upon hearing the call they would say, "There goes Casey Jones."

Casey was also so well known for being on time that people relied on his punctuality, combined with his unique whistle, to set their watches.

In the early morning hours of April 30, 1900, it was perhaps Casey's great desire to arrive at the advertised time that was his undoing.

Volunteering to make a return trip in place of another engineer who was ill, Casey started his last trip one hour and thirty-five minutes behind schedule. He was determined to make up the time. Starting the 188 mile journey in Memphis, Casey made up 60 minutes after the first 103 miles at Grenada, Mississippi. Upon reaching Vaughan, just 14 miles from the final destination of Canton, he was on schedule.

Canton would not be reached that day as Casey's train collided with a freight train that was unable to get out of the way because of another stalled train. Casey Jones was killed but has been immortalized as an American folk hero.