On this day, John “Casey” Jones, a steam train driver, died when his train collided with a stalled freight train in Vaughan, Mississippi. Casey had worked his way up from brakeman to fireman, to engineer on the prestigious “cannonball” passenger run from Chicago to New Orleans, and he had a widespread reputation for his exceptional punctuality. On the night in question, the service was running late and Casey was trying to make up for lost time. As he was approaching Vaughan station, he saw that the rear wagons of a stationary train were protruding on the line ahead of him. It was too late to avoid a collision. Casey told his fireman to jump off the train while he remained on board doing everything he could to reduce the impact, saving the lives of all the passengers on board, except for his own. He died a hero and many singers from Johnny Cash to the Grateful Dead have since sung tributes to his memory.
I must say. U must be a history buff as how I am. Despite an Alan Hale Jr tv show of Casey Jones, and how Disney did an animated short called âThe Brave Engineerâ, Iâd be happy if there can be a motion picture about Casey Jones. Of how he did it.
Under no circumstances, it canât be Disney or 20th Century Studios doing it. No CGI too. And I know just the person to portray him. Dominic Sessa. That troubled teenager from âThe Holdoversâ.
Thanks for your feedback. Actually, I’m not a history buff, I’m just enjoying delving back in time and picking up stories about which I knew very little or even nothing at times. In this case I knew the name Casey Jones and had a vague idea about his story because of all the songs, but I didn’t know the details. I hope these short snippets of historical events will inspire some people to do a bit of research and find out more about what actually happened and how heroic some of these people really were.
I understand. And I believe in you.
What Hollywood really needs to focus on, are movies that tell us what else happened in history. Other than this WW2 & Cold War crap đŠ.
If there can be new motion pictures đď¸ on WW1, or perhaps films on tall tales & legends (Casey Jones, Pecos Bill, Johnny Appleseed, John Henry, & Ponce De LeĂłn for example), then that would be great. Under no circumstances, NO CGI. And NOT be made by Disney, since they ruined âThe Lone Rangerâ & âStar Warsâ.
So far, Betty Hutton did a grand job as Annie Oakley in âAnnie Get Your Gunâ. And John Wayne as Davy Crockett in âThe Alamoâ.