In the only known photo of legendary engineer John Luther “Casey” Jones at the throttle of a locomotive, Jones and fireman J. W. McKinnie are ready to take Illinois Central 2-8-0 638 out for a break-in run after a shopping at Water Valley in summer 1898. Less than two years later, Jones perished in a wreck made famous in song.
Robert Ward, C. B. Gurner collection
Glad to see that this photo is finally a photo of the day.