I know you’ve been asking, is he really going to continue with that silly “train song a day” feature? The answer is yes, I’m not done yet. I hope you’re enjoying these.

There really was a Casey Jones, John Luther “Casey” Jones. He lived from 1863 to 1900 and he was a railroad engineer from Jackson Tennessee who worked for the Illinois Central. We all know his name because on April 30, 1900, he was killed after the Cannonball Express, the passenger train he was operating, crashed into a stalled freight at Vaughan Mississippi.

The Ballad of Casey Jones is perhaps part of our genetic code, even all the way up here in Canada. It was even morphed into a bit of a pop hit when the Grateful Dead sang, “Drivin’ that train, high on cocaine…”

Here are The Dead

Now let’s go back aways and listen to Billy Murray and Chorus

There was even a tv show starring Alan Hale in the late 50s.

I could post a lot of versions of this tune, but I’ll stop after Johnny Cash. Johnny also does the Orange Blossum Special in this clip. That kinda makes this a two train song day. I know I’m spoiling you, friends. Har!