Are there any upcoming events with Old 97?
There are no upcoming events. Check out this great new interview with Rhett in Forbes magazine — Rhett Miller On Creating Amidst Pandemic As Old 97’s Gear Up For Fall Tour. Hello everybody! I wanted to officially introduce myself. I’m Dorin. I will be the band’s new social media person.
What is the wreck of the Old 97 about?
The song “The Wreck of the Old 97” joins a long history of folk songs about disasters.
What happened in the Old 97 train crash?
The wreck of the Old 97 occurred on September 27, 1903, when the Southern Railway freight train called the Fast Mail (or “Old 97”) left the tracks and crashed at the Stillhouse Trestle outside Danville, Virginia, killing eleven people.
Rhett Interviewed in Forbes
Check out this great new interview with Rhett in Forbes magazine — Rhett Miller On Creating Amidst Pandemic As Old 97’s Gear Up For Fall Tour.
A Word From Our New Social Media Maven
Hello everybody! I wanted to officially introduce myself. I’m Dorin. I will be the band’s new social media person. I am SO excited to be taking on this role and helping to promote our FAVORITE band!A little bit about myself:
A Farewell from Jefe
Jefe here, with just a little behind-the-scenes news to share today. After over a decade I’m going to be stepping down from the day-to-day management of Old 97’s social media and web presence. It’s been a lot of fun and
What happened on September 27, 1903?
97, or the "Old 97," leaves the tracks and crashes at the Stillhouse Trestle outside of Danville, killing eleven people. The incident inspires the ballad "The Wreck of the Old 97.". December 1923.
What is the song "The Wreck of the Old 97" about?
The song “The Wreck of the Old 97” joins a long history of folk songs about disasters. Its lyrics lament the Old 97 as “the fastest train / Ever ran the Southern line,” and linger over the grisly details of Broadey being “scalded to death by the steam,” turning the story into a cautionary tale for wives, who shouldn’t scold their husbands lest the argument be the last words the couple has together. In 1959, the Kingston Trio recorded “The MTA Song,” about a man trapped on the Boston subway system, using the same tune as Dalhart’s version and continuing the tradition of updating the disaster ballad for changing times. The story of the wreck of the Old 97 lives on even in contemporary music through the country-rock band the Old 97s. Formed in 1993, the Dallas, Texas, band takes its name from the folk ballad.
How fast was the old 97?
In an attempt to preserve the train’s reputation for always being on time, engineer Joseph A. “Steve” Broadey reportedly increased the locomotive’s speed to 50 miles per hour, or a 10 mph increase over its normal speed. (Southern Railway officials later claimed he had pushed the speed as high as 70 mph.) As the train descended the curved tracks approaching the Stillhouse Trestle, Broadey was unable to reduce the speed, and reversed the engine in order to lock the wheels. The speeding train continued straight ahead as the tracks curved, soaring dramatically away from them before the locomotive and all four cars hit the rocky bottom of the shallow creek below.
How much did David Graves George get in the copyright suit against RCA Victor?
In the copyright suit against RCA Victor over "The Wreck of the Old 97," the district court awards David Graves George $65,295.56.
How many people died in the train wreck?
Eleven people were killed, including the locomotive crew and a number of clerks assigned to oversee the mail hauled on the train. Newspapers across the country ran photographs of the wreckage and reported on the thousands of people attending the scene of the accident, women fainting at the grisly sight of the debris, and firefighters summoned to put out the fires ignited by the steam engine. Two of the spectators were Fred Jackson Lewey, whose cousin Albion Clapp was one of the firemen called to the train, and David Graves George, a Pittsylvania County telegraph operator.
Where did the old 97 crash?
The wreck of the Old 97 occurred on September 27, 1903, when the Southern Railway freight train called the Fast Mail (or “Old 97”) left the tracks and crashed at the Stillhouse Trestle outside Danville, Virginia, killing eleven people. The accident became a sensation, with thousands of spectators at the scene, newspaper stories, …
What was the first million selling record?
His version of the ballad becomes the first million-selling record in the United States. March 11, 1933. The ballad , "The Wreck of the Old 97," produces the first major lawsuit involving copyright.