Wreck of the Old 97

[Namerifrats]

Been doing a little reading online about it. Trying to find out exactly where Stillhouse Trestle was near Danville VA. I'm a Conductor for NS and I run from Linwood (Spencer) to Lynchburg VA on the same route the Old 97 was running. I know the mainline has been moved at least once since then because when we cross the Dan River there is an old stone railroad trestle to our left (heading north) that's been converted into a walking trail and less than a mile north the remains of the stone pylons from a trestle no longer there is visible from the mainline. I found two stories, one saying they derailed near Danville VA at the Dan River and another said they derailed near Cherrystone Creek. Cherrystone creek is several miles north of Danville and from the old photos I found online there appear to be alot of buildings around the wreck site so that may be in Danville. Just wondering if any of you have any more history on this.

[Mr_Ash]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreck_of_the_Old_97

Now you gave me somthing interesting to read about this morning

 From that says it crossed the Dan river and says there was a cotton mill at the base of the trestle that coule be the buildings in the photo

[Mr_Ash]

Score http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMC60

[NP Red]

Thanks for the links. I didn't know anything about the real wreck but I know the old song by heart. My parents collected antiques and among them was an old hand crank Edison phonograph. My favorite platter to but on was the "Wreck of the Old 97". My parents are long gone but we still play that song when the family gets together each year.

[Modelcar]

.....Now that's something different....Haven't heard that story related to in quite a while....Might develop into an interesting thread.  I've read a lot of stuff of it in the past, but not for some time now.....

[Anonymous]

So apparently, the wreck site is still undeveloped and has not been re-graded or filled.  It would be interesting to take that popular photograph to the site and find the spot where the photographer stood.

I have some reference books on the wreck, but from what I recall off hand, engineer Browdy (sp?) was a bit of a daredevil.  I believe it was his first run over the line or maybe just the first run with that train.  From what I understand, the regular engineer laid off, and Browdy made a pitch to the dispatcher, saying, "I'll put that train into Spencer on time, or I will sink it into hell."

There were some crates of canaries being shipped in the baggage car, and their destiny sure changed that fateful day as it suddenly found them standing in the trees and discussing the wreck below.  Reportedly, they lasted for several generations in that area.   

 

[Modelcar]

.....If some of the "landmarks" are still undisturbed at the site...it certainly might be possible to take a photo to the spot and compare.

Example:  I found a photo on the "net" that was snapped in 1940 over in Ligonier, Pa of one of their steam engines in storage on a storage track on the north side of town.  There are no more tracks there {where I thought it might be}, and checked it out back to where it was about 64 or so years after the photo was taken.  The original photo showed a bit of a house roof way in the background way back from the engine and I decided to see if I could find that location {and house}, as it might be today.....

The location I thought the engine was sitting is now a lumber yard and more houses in the area.

The answer is:  64 years later I did find that house {and photographed it}, and that proved {to me}, I did find the location that locomotive was sitting so many years ago.  And of course the house....Lucky it's profile was similar to years before.

[Namerifrats]

I checked out the second link of the VA landmark. That would put it almost behind Dundee yard in Danville VA, approx parralell to the current 234.3 milepost. If you look in the first picture of the current bridge, Dundee yard in way down where you see that crossing. Almost hard to see. I checked the location on Google Earth and somebod has the spot marked. Shows to be 0.93 miles from the current mainline. The old trestle used as a walking trail was apprarently built between the old mainline trestle the Old 97 ran on and the one we use now. Heres a couple of photos I took a while back. A couple of the current bridge and one of the old bridge. The veiw towards the old bridge, the wreck site should be located between the smoke stacks and the houses on the hill if anyone is interested. Thats looking west from the current mainline bridge over the Dan River.