According to the wiki article, Casey was speeding along at 75 MPH when his companion spotted the stopped train ahead while they were going a 1.5 mile curve in the track. When his friend shouted there was something on the track Casey ordered him to jump. Casey threw the engine into reverse and engaged the air breaks, and amazingly because he held his post he slowed the train from 75 to 35 before impact.

For Those that don't know the Story: John Luther "Casey" Jones was engineer of the "Cannonball Express" passenger train. One night during a thunderstorm, another train, ahead of Jones on the track broke down and stopped. Jones tried to stop, and blew his whistle not only as a warning to the other train, but his own passengers. He told the men with him to jump out, but he stayed on the brakes. He slowed his train enough, that when they hit, only he was killed, all his passengers lived.

John Luthor Jones, Casey to his friends, was probably the greatest engineer of his time. He was a wizard on the throttle and could play a symphony on the whistle. His dedication to his duty and getting to his destination on schedule is still admired to this day.

March 14th is Casey Jones Birthday. He was born on this day in 1847. His dramatic death, trying to stop his train and save lives, made him a hero; he was immortalized in a popular ballad sung by his friend Wallace Saunders, an African-American engine wiper for the IC.

Jonathan Luther "John" "Casey" Jones (March 14, 1863 - April 30, 1900) was an American railroad engineer from Jackson, Tennessee, who worked for the Illinois Central Railroad (IC). As a boy, Jonathan Luther Jones lived near Cayce, Kentucky, where he acquired the nickname of "Cayce," which he chose to spell as "Casey." On April 30, 1900, he alone was killed when his passenger train, the Cannonball Express, collided with a stalled freight train at Vaughan, Mississippi, on a foggy and rainy night.

Whats really sad about this cartoon is that the ending isn't how the story really ends. This cartoon was based on the real Casey Jones's death. Because he didn't leave his train he saved the lives of everyone on the both trians except for himself. Story has it he was found still clotching the whistle cord and brake. A stretcher was brought from a baggage car and crewmen of the other trains carried his body to the depot, a half-mile away. This man was, no IS A TRUE HERO! RIP Casey Jones!

I love this cartoon. The 'Curses! Foiled again!" made me laugh :)

Interesting Fact: Casey Jones was a real person. An engineer who saved a passenger train he was driving from a disastrous crash by manning his engine and putting on the brakes even though it still ended up ramming a cargo train ahead on the track. The crash killed him, but the passengers onboard survived with minor injuries.

I remember watching this on the American legend's video this was my favorite one out of the four

I still sing parts of this from time to time. No one ever knows what I'm talking about. "Plowin' through the water! Caasseeeeyyyy Jooooooonnneess! Plowin' through the mud!"

I remember this from my childhood! This one and the Paul Bunyan one always seemed to belong together in my little head.

A cartoon that testifies to Walt Disney's non-anorakish interest in railways. A cartoon that also contains the message that persistence pays off.

A child of the late 1950s my mum spent all the house money she had to buy for me this magnificant mix of a cappella voices and music. It remains close to my heart to this day. Be sure to point out to your kids the animation bit where the 'switcher' has to direct the trains on the tracks where they are going...yet another industry, and its jobs, lost to the digital age.

1:18 "THEY'RE OFF!" Dat adult joke though. XD

Egad! This is a fun cartoon. Jerry Colonna gives a pretty funny delivery here. I imagine if they made this today, an additional danger Casey would face would be a car or truck on a railroad crossing, either stalled or just trying to beat the train!

Whats real amazing is that the wreak happen in 1900 and this short was made in 1950, almost exactly 50 years after it happened, props to Disney for their timing

That's some serious TF2 Engineer level repairing skills there

Watched this as a kid in the '80s & just found it again. One of the most memorable cartoons.. haven't really forgotten much at all, and remembered almost every line. Amazing!

74 years ago, this masterpiece was made. Thanks Walt Disney. Rest In Peace Casey❤❤

This old cartoon had an amazing amount of detail that was correct! No railroad-loving kid would'a been disappointed! I'm surprised the animators went through the trouble of getting so much stuff right...

6:10 "hey Casey, the Sherriff is near!"

Casey Jones was a real person, but an also interesting thing is the girl tied on the tracks was loosely based of a real near accident. Except it was a little girl who froze in fear as she was on the tracks right as Casey was coming after her friends darted across the track. Casey then ran to the cowcatcher and caught the girl in his hands. Another thing that happened in real life was the crash at the end, except it was a head on collision, but rather two freight trains facing each other tried getting on the same siding, Casey told everyone on board including his fireman, Sam Webbs, to jump while he applied the brakes and blow the whistle, nothing worked and there crash ending up killing him, he was the only death in the crash. His heroism and effort to be on time no matter what the cause was made him an American hero and legend.

"waddaya know? she-mail!" 😂😂

Casey's accident: Happened at night during a storm. It was a rear end collision with a doubleheader of freight. Also, he died in the accident.

Headaches and heartaches and all kinds of a pain. They're just a part of the railroad game.

Glad to see my idea went to good use!

A Classic Disney cartoon! Remember watching this as a kid. Brings back nice childhood memories.

The shot at 1:36 really surprised me - not used to seeing that sort of perspective used in older cartoons.

This was my fave cartoon as a kid in the 80's. I was obsessed with Trains, and I loved all of the various environments Casey goes through in this.

R. I. P Casey Jones (1864 - 1900)

5:10 engineer bro goin’ over the speed limit 💀

“What do you know? Shemail!” Lol

The Brave Locomotive brought me here ahaha

This is the best cartoon about trains ever! I sometimes like to hum the yard scene. And at 1:23 at the right does anyone notice the CNW boxcar? All the other rolling stock had made up companies on them but this one closely resembles the CNW logo and the scheme.

Jerry Colonna's delivery makes it so easy to watch it multiple times.

I loved this cartoon as a kid, although that freight train slowly coming up the hill always managed to scare me (mainly the sound it made).

that narrator is as mad as the March Hare. Oh yeah, he IS the March Hare

The Ballad of Casey Jones: as sung by the March Hare and the Card Painters.

Even after 17 years, I can still remember the first time I watched this video and I thought it was brilliant then as much as I do now. I honestly believe that this helped to direct my life into the railroad.

This is such a crazy short. Most of it can be attributed to Jerry Colonna's madcap narration!

Probably one of the funniest depiction of a dastardly Whiplash I've ever seen. Egad always sound so urgent but ol' fun

He who wrecks a train on the hillside is not on the level. *BOOM* Going down.

And this is why I love trains so much as kid and adult too and I got really good at engineering and tech when I was growing up

Ah, nostalgia. Thanks a lot, Disney! Way to make me feel old!

My question is has anyone ever been tied to the railroad tracks before the film industry took off?

As soon as you hear the "IT'S A MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORNIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!" You realize you just started watching one of the best shorts evar! EEEGAAAAAD!

That part where Casey climbed up on top of the cab with the shovel to paddle the train would probably be something I would do. A great cartoon in tribute to the greatest engineer in the history of the world.

I remember watching this as a small child

One of the other engineers on the roster was "W. Kimball", or Ward Kimball. He was one of Disney's best-known animators, and was also quite the railfan.

This was back when Disney cartons made for kids could still make adults laugh, not groan. Also, kinda interesting how they ended this with a happy ending. If I remember right, Casey died.

The best cartoon short Walt ever made! It was enough that I watched this when I was in the kindergarden age and since then; I´ve fallen in love in Trains! Especially steam driven!

Been watchin it since i was born

3:17 the ol bad guy tie up damsel to the train track routine . How traditional.

1:41 Note the name W. Kimball. He was a Disney animator who gave Walt the idea of having his own live steam layout around his yard. Ward Kimball also had a full size steam locomotive at his house.

very nice and the old cartoons are always so nice...ahhh I needed to see this after a while😌☺️

Still watch in 2013! xD 63 years! Great video FTW

Egad! Casey was 10 minutes late. But at least he delivered the West mail. Whew! Next time, take the train!

3:04 that cows got some real attitude 😤

5:25 I find it soo interesting how the boiler, being soo overloaded and overheating, doesn't explode. It just bulges and expands, while throbbing, and bursting it's ribbing off. It looked soo pent up with pressure, but instead it just deflated..

Wonderful cartoon thank you 😊

To everyone complaining that this is not accurate to the real story of Casey Jones, it says right on the opening card that the short is based one "The Ballad of Casey Jones," a song two guys wrote. Blame the two guys for getting it wrong, not Disney.

"Ya gotta keep schedule, oh ya gotta keep schedule, oh ya-BETTER LOOK OUT CASEY!!!" best line

Casey Jones looks and has the number 2 just like Edward

1:55 "Nice day😀...1:56 wasn't it?😁

GOIN THROUGH THE WHATYER XD luv it. SHEMAIL XD

The Brave Engineer came out the same time as Cinderella in 1950

1:22 - 1:40 that would make a fun game. Route the speeding train out of the yard. Each level more challenging than the last.

The brave badass engineer

Anyone watching this in 2019?

But, but, but Casey Jones worked for the Illinois Central and was bound for New Orleans, when he rear ended a freight train at Vaughan, Mississippi. Two freights had been see-sawing in order to let three passenger trains through, as I recall. Casey's was the last one.

This brings back happy memories! My little brother and I would watch American Heroes all the time and we would act all of the stories! Casey Jones was my brother's favorite!

Cool! And those 2 trains... wow.

6:22 so long he said when he is still on the locomotive.

¿Somebody in 2024-2025?

2:53 i love the way the train was flexing like that as it screeched to a stop and the way it was speeding at 4:57

I was born on 2003, and this was on Disney Channel when I was 6 - 10 Years old. Old disney cartoons that where made during the 1950's 60s? where all aired. Thanks so much Disney for making my childhood the best ever. And also at Cartoon Network, All the Old Tom and Jerry episodes where Aired aswell.

4:34 my favourite part

4:40 Gotta move that gear up

Man I friggin LOVED trains when I was young I must've watched this cartoon daily!

One of my favourite cartoons when I was 4 years old...Glad I finally found it !

Thumbs up if at any point you quoted Scotty from Star Trek: "I'm givin' her all she's got, Captain!"

what do you know she-mail! lmao

20 years ago, I used to watch this 10 times a day from a video tape with swedish subs and polish dubbing...it was my favourite cartoon :)

Ah Yes! Jerry Colona! Had one of the funniest voices ever! Great Memories!

All we had to do was follow the damn train Casey Jones! (CJ)

People who think why is the mail so important is that the mail train sometimes have money in them.

Wow! This was my favorite cartoon ever when I was little! I was such a train fanatic! This really brings back memories...

“What now brown cow?” Me and my mom love that line.

4:23 Who Will Win Some Bandits With NO guns Or Some Train Driver

I love the jokes! "hi ho silverware" "oh, she mail" "prognosis: smokes too much"

It was nice to watch it again. Thanks!

Casey Jones is a national hero, but this cartoon kind of depicts him as a fool during the moment of the crash. The cartoon shows him as distracted and unaware of the inevitable crash. Where in reality he told his fireman to jump while Casey stayed with the train and died with his hand on the brakes attempting to slow it. With that said, I still love the cartoon; just not end part.

New world record for steam locomotives: 1950 km/h

"She-mail?" Pretty risqué reference for 1938, isn't it?

I love how old Disney cartoons are so puny!

I have always loved this cartoon. I rank it up there with "The Little House". Both Disney Classics. Thanks for posting.

5:35 how slow my dad is

Hahahaha, is this fate or what? I've been looking for this for years (literally) and now I stumble upon it by misstake while looking at other things.

I remember watching this back in 2009 2011 2012. So many memories.

This is one of the most brilliant animated shorts I have ever seen.