Casey Jones was a young man in a time period that no one today could even imagine. Where stress, hard work, and making the company that you worked for happy, doing an impossible amount of work while also sticking to the companies safety and productivity rules and doing so most of the time on little to no sleep for sometimes 30+ hours straight was all a part of daily life. The railroad companies knew this but as long as profits were up why change anything? Over his career Jones had a small list of incidents but I didn't hear of any of them resulting in death or even injury or loss of revenue and on the night of his famous last ride he was doing those same things he did on every run.. trying to get there on time on little sleep and fate lead to what transpired. It is worth remembering that Casey Jones was a hero in the end. He told his fireman that he'd better jump and stayed in his seat with his hand still gripping the brake even in death in an attempt to slow the behemoth down. His heroic actions made what could have been much worse into just one sad and unnecessary death.. his own. Rest in piece John Luther "Casey" Jones.
I was among last generation to actually see live steam at work (they were just starting conversions to diesel.) As a young boy I dreamed of day I'd operate 1 of those mighty machines. Still recall the smells, sight, sounds, & vibrations like it was yesterday. It was like those engines were alive, they even "talked" to you.
That flagman was John M. Newberry. He was drunk, and only went back 1/4 mile when he was supposed to go back at least a full mile! His wife was Janie, and he had three kids, George Helen, and Johnny. Johnny was killed in WW1. His fireman was Simeon Taylor Webb and (his) wife's name was Pearl.
Engineer Charlie Creager is also at the controls in a long Coast Starlight cab ride/ride along video here on TH-cam, titled Amtrak Coast Starlite #14 Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.
Jones was probably no more reckless than many of his peers of the era. Railroading was hard, dirty, dangerous work & you were often under pressure from upstairs to keep tight schedule & even ignore possible safety hazards.
Not making excuses for Casey Jones, but Casey Jones was unfortunately under pressure all the time to be on time. At that time you were given the ultimatum to be suspended for being reckless and wrecking on the job, or be fired for playing it safe and being late. All the engineers were reckless without a choice at that time. Not so sure I would buy the flagman's story. According to Sim Webb, there was no flagman. Even if there was, there's no way Casey could see him on time with him being on a left hand curve. Even if he did see him from a distance, the flagman wasn't far enough for Casey to see him and be able to stop on time. Sim Webb should've been rewarded. If Sim Webb doesn't see the caboose, it's a far worse wreck.
Casey Jones was a young man in a time period that no one today could even imagine. Where stress, hard work, and making the company that you worked for happy, doing an impossible amount of work while also sticking to the companies safety and productivity rules and doing so most of the time on little to no sleep for sometimes 30+ hours straight was all a part of daily life. The railroad companies knew this but as long as profits were up why change anything? Over his career Jones had a small list of incidents but I didn't hear of any of them resulting in death or even injury or loss of revenue and on the night of his famous last ride he was doing those same things he did on every run.. trying to get there on time on little sleep and fate lead to what transpired. It is worth remembering that Casey Jones was a hero in the end. He told his fireman that he'd better jump and stayed in his seat with his hand still gripping the brake even in death in an attempt to slow the behemoth down. His heroic actions made what could have been much worse into just one sad and unnecessary death.. his own. Rest in piece John Luther "Casey" Jones.
I was among last generation to actually see live steam at work (they were just starting conversions to diesel.) As a young boy I dreamed of day I'd operate 1 of those mighty machines. Still recall the smells, sight, sounds, & vibrations like it was yesterday. It was like those engines were alive, they even "talked" to you.
That flagman was John M. Newberry. He was drunk, and only went back 1/4 mile when he was supposed to go back at least a full mile! His wife was Janie, and he had three kids, George Helen, and Johnny. Johnny was killed in WW1. His fireman was Simeon Taylor Webb and (his) wife's name was Pearl.
Engineer Charlie Creager is also at the controls in a long Coast Starlight cab ride/ride along video here on TH-cam, titled Amtrak Coast Starlite #14 Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.
Jones was probably no more reckless than many of his peers of the era. Railroading was hard, dirty, dangerous work & you were often under pressure from upstairs to keep tight schedule & even ignore possible safety hazards.
350 psi….. Did I miss something… The Big Boy pops off at 200psi… I believe these 1800’s locos popped off at 125-150… Regardless great episode!!
Not making excuses for Casey Jones, but Casey Jones was unfortunately under pressure all the time to be on time. At that time you were given the ultimatum to be suspended for being reckless and wrecking on the job, or be fired for playing it safe and being late. All the engineers were reckless without a choice at that time. Not so sure I would buy the flagman's story. According to Sim Webb, there was no flagman. Even if there was, there's no way Casey could see him on time with him being on a left hand curve. Even if he did see him from a distance, the flagman wasn't far enough for Casey to see him and be able to stop on time. Sim Webb should've been rewarded. If Sim Webb doesn't see the caboose, it's a far worse wreck.
Great Series !