Wreck of Old 97

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They gave him his orders in Monroe Virginia
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Sayin' "Steve you're way behind time
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This is not 38, this is ol' 97
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You must put 'er into Spencer on time!"

Steve, he said to his black and greasy fireman

"Jes' shovel in a little more coal,
And when we cross over White Oak Mountain
You can watch ol' 97 roll!

Oh it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville

For the line has a three-mile grade
It was on that grade that he lost his airbrakes
You can see what a jump that he made.

He was goin' down grade makin' 90 mile an hour

When the whistle broke into a scream!
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
All scalded to death by the steam

A Telegram came from Washington station

And this is how it read
That brave engineer who ran 97
is a-lying in Danville, dead.

So come all you ladies, you must take warnin'

From this time on and learn
Never part on harsh words with your true lovin' husband
For he may leave you, and never return