In the early 1900’s, train wrecks occurred frequently in the United States. Tragic to those who experienced them firsthand, these accidents were much talked about by townspeople and onlookers–but it was the ballad which was responsible for immortalizing an accident’s fame.
Perhaps no ballad composition has touched more Americans than the song describing the wreck of mail train No.97. “Old 97,” which consisted of four cars and locomotive No.1102, crashed on September 27, 1903. Running behind schedule, Engineer Joseph A. Broady was trying to make up time as his train approached Danville down a three-mile grade. In what would be a fatal move, it was only when Broady realized he did not have enough air pressure to slow the train for an upcoming curved trestle that he reversed the engine to lock the wheels. Horrifically, “Old 97″ vaulted off the trestle, and 11 people were killed.
Although largely forgotten, ballads such as “Old 97″ give us a rare and romantic glimpse into America’s past–a past that has been largely forgotten by today’s generation.
“The Wreck of the Old 97″ was initially recorded commercially by Virginia musicians G. B. Grayson and Henry Whitter, but when it was released by light-opera singer Vernon Dalhart, it became the first million-selling record in the United States.
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