The Wreck of the Old 97 was one of the most infamous railway disasters in American history, occurring on a stretch of the Southern Railway in Virginia. The train, No. 97, was tasked with transporting passengers and mail from Monroe, North Carolina, to Washington, D.C., and was running late. In an effort to make up for lost time, the engineer, William J. 'Casey' Jones, pushed the train to its maximum speed, despite the warnings about the sharp curve at the trestle. Tragically, the train was unable to navigate the turn, leading to its catastrophic derailment.

As the train tumbled off the tracks, it struck a series of wooden posts that supported the trestle, causing significant damage and resulting in multiple fatalities. Eleven individuals lost their lives, including the train's fireman, and many others were injured. The news spread rapidly, and the accident quickly became a national story, drawing attention not only for the tragedy itself but also for the heroism shown by Jones, who remained at the controls in a bid to save his crew and passengers.

The aftermath of the disaster saw the Southern Railway facing intense scrutiny regarding safety practices, speed regulations, and the pressures placed upon its engineers. Eyewitness accounts and intense media coverage helped to immortalize the story, and it wasn’t long before folk musicians were inspired to create a ballad about the tragedy, which solidified the Wreck of the Old 97's place in American folklore and culture.