J. Craig Thorpe (American, B. 1948) "Mississippi Locomotive" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original which appeared on the Fleetwood Legendary Locomotives of the 50 States Mississippi Commemorative Cover postmarked April 30, 1995. On April 30, 1900, at the hamlet of Vaughan, Mississippi, the Illinois Central's New Orleans express slammed into a freight train stalled on the main line. The accident caused no serious injuries to passengers, but it did claim one crew member's life -- that of John Luther Jones, the express train's engineer. Although he was just one of more than 6,000 railroad employees killed on the job that year, the ill-fated driver became an American folk hero -- better known as Casey Jones. On the evening of April 29, Jones had just finished a seven-hour run to Memphis, Tennessee, when he was implored to take the run of an ailing engineer. Nearly two hours later, with the New Orleans express 95 minutes behind schedule, he took over the throttle of No. 382, his favorite engine. Bound for Canton, Mississippi, Jones would have to exceed the normal speed of 35 miles per hour to make the 190-mile trip on time. When he reached Grenada, Mississippi, 102 miles into his journey, Jones had already made up 60 minutes along the uncongested route. However, as he came racing down the "S" curve leading into Vaughan at an estimated 75 mph, the engineer encountered the standing No. 83. Jones' fireman saved himself when he jumped from his post, but Jones stayed with his train and perished in the cab of No. 382. Although he has been immortalized in song and railroad folklore, there are many who now believe that Jones was a careless daredevil who put a railroad timetable ahead of the safety of his passengers. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 17 x 14.25 in. Unframed. (B14784)