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engine Casey drove that night, the 382, was a steam driven
Rogers Ten Wheeler with six drivers, each approximately six foot high.
Bought new in 1898 from the Roger's Locomotive Works, it was a very powerful
engine for the time. Casey reportedly called the 382 his "Old Girl
in High Heel Slippers".
ICRR records note
that Casey was originally assigned to the 638. Casey had first seen
the 638 at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago where it was on display as
the latest and greatest in technological advancement. Casey secured
permission to take the engine back to Water Valley where it was scheduled
to start work in the Jackson District. Casey drove the engine until
he transferred to Memphis in February of 1900. The 638
stayed in Water Valley.
In Memphis, Casey
inherited the "New Orleans Special" route from W. W. Hatfield and Hatfield's
regular engine was the 384. It is likely that Casey inherited the
384 as well. He may have just been in the 382 for this last
trip. Sam Tate was originally scheduled to take the run to Canton
that night but he was ill. Casey volunteered to make the return trip
and may have used Sam's engine as well. However, it is just as likely
that the 382 was Casey's regular engine. This further adds to the
odd history and mystique of the 382.
After the accident
at Vaughan, the 382 was taken back to Water Valley and repaired.
The above photo is of the 382 in Water Valley after repairs. Various
railroad men are posing with the train in front of the boarding house.1
It was put back into service by the Illinois Central Railroad where it
continued a notorious career.
After Casey's wreck,
numerous requests came to the ICRR for pictures of Casey in the cab of
the 382. None existed. The IC printed a photo in their magazine
claiming it was a picture of Casey in the 382. The Water Valley
Museum has this photo
on their web site along with the original photo before it was doctored.
Harry
A. "Dad" Norton was the next Engineer to occupy the cab of the 382.
Ironically, it was still assigned to the same run, the Memphis to Canton
leg of the New Orleans Special.1
In January of 1903,
train wreckers threw a switch into the Florence Pump Works on Mallory Avenue
in south Memphis and wired the lamp in a clear position. Norton
and the 382 went into the switch at high speed, tearing up a cut of box
cars and nearly demolishing the locomotive. Both Norton's legs were
broken and he was so badly scalded the Memphis newspaper, Commercial
Appeal, reported him fatally wounded. His fireman, J. W.
McDaniels of Water Valley, did die three days later.1
In September of 1905,
Norton and the 382 turned over in the Memphis South Yards. This time, however,
the train was moving slowly and Norton was uninjured.1
The 382 was renumbered
during its 37 years as 212, 2012, and 5012. Reportedly the
382 was to take five lives before it was retired from service in 1935.1
In 1980, the engine
was moved to the Casey Jones Village
in Jackson, Tennessee with country music singer Roy Acuff riding in the
cab.2 Since then, the engine
has been scrapped.1
Sources:
1
Bruce and Jack Gurner
2
The Casey Jones Village
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