Fast Mail (Southern Railway)
Encyclopedia
The Fast Mail was a Southern Railway steam train that on the September 27, 1903 derailed at Stillhouse Trestle in Danville, Virginia
. The train consisted of two postal cars, one express car, and one baggage car. The accident inspired the famous railroad ballad - Wreck of the Old 97
. As mentioned in the song, the old 97's locomotive (Southern Railway #1102) did make it to Spencer, North Carolina
. It was hauled to the Southern Railway Spencer Shops where it was repaired and placed back into regular service for many years afterwards.
Southern Railway's Train 97 had previously been in another fatal accident earlier in the year of 1903. On Monday, April 13, Train 97 left Washington, DC at 8 AM en route to New Orleans, Louisiana
. As the train approached Lexington
the train struck a large rock on the rail causing the train to derail and become ditched killing the engineer and fireman. The locomotive pulling the train is unknown. Southern #1102 had yet to be delivered to the railroad at that time.
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
. The train consisted of two postal cars, one express car, and one baggage car. The accident inspired the famous railroad ballad - Wreck of the Old 97
Wreck of the Old 97
Old 97 was a Southern Railway train officially known as the Fast Mail. It ran from Washington DC to Atlanta, Georgia. On September 27, 1903 while en route from Monroe, Virginia, to Spencer, North Carolina, the train derailed at Stillhouse Trestle near Danville, Virginia...
. As mentioned in the song, the old 97's locomotive (Southern Railway #1102) did make it to Spencer, North Carolina
Spencer, North Carolina
Spencer is a town in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States, incorporated in 1905. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 3,355.-History:...
. It was hauled to the Southern Railway Spencer Shops where it was repaired and placed back into regular service for many years afterwards.
Southern Railway's Train 97 had previously been in another fatal accident earlier in the year of 1903. On Monday, April 13, Train 97 left Washington, DC at 8 AM en route to New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. As the train approached Lexington
Lexington, North Carolina
Lexington is the county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,953. It is located in central North Carolina, twenty miles south of Winston-Salem. Major highways include I-85, U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 70, U.S. Route 52 ...
the train struck a large rock on the rail causing the train to derail and become ditched killing the engineer and fireman. The locomotive pulling the train is unknown. Southern #1102 had yet to be delivered to the railroad at that time.