American folk figure. A C&O Railway engineer, he was fatally injured in a wreck two miles east of Hinton WV. The wreck inspired the song "Engine 143" which has been widely recorded by country singers from the Carter Family to Johnny Cash. Alley's family and friends did not care for the song because (1) there were many factual errors, (2) it implied he was recklessly operating his train, and (3) it made no mention of his courageous decision the remain with his locomotive and do all he could to prevent or mitigate the wreck. In this he was successful as his was the only life lost. The wreck is commemorated by a WV historical marker near Hinton and the circumstances of his death are carved on his tombstone.
Huntington WV "Daily Advertiser" Oct 23, 1890
The report reached the city this morning that train No. 4 (the vestibule*) had been derailed a short distance east of Hinton, and the investigation by the ADVERTISER shows that there was an accident to this train, but not so bad as first rumored.
At about 5 0'clock this morning the train ran into a rock, which had rolled on the track from the mountain above, two miles east of Hinton. The train was running at good speed, and the collision caused the engine and express and postal cars to be derailed. The engine was badly damaged, and in overturning caught the engineer, George Alley, of Clifton Forge, well known here, in some of the machinery, breaking his right arm and scalding him so severely that he died six hours after the accident occurred.
Two firemen, who were on the engine were also scalded but sustained no other injuries. No one else, either of the crew or passengers, was injured, though all of them had a shaking up and a bad scare. No particular damage was done to the passenger cars and at 9:30 the track was cleared and the train started east.
*The train was called the "Fast Flying Vestibule" of the FFV.
(Note: There are many sources of information regarding this incident which may be found in such places as the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Railroad History, County Music History, etc.)
American folk figure. A C&O Railway engineer, he was fatally injured in a wreck two miles east of Hinton WV. The wreck inspired the song "Engine 143" which has been widely recorded by country singers from the Carter Family to Johnny Cash. Alley's family and friends did not care for the song because (1) there were many factual errors, (2) it implied he was recklessly operating his train, and (3) it made no mention of his courageous decision the remain with his locomotive and do all he could to prevent or mitigate the wreck. In this he was successful as his was the only life lost. The wreck is commemorated by a WV historical marker near Hinton and the circumstances of his death are carved on his tombstone.
Huntington WV "Daily Advertiser" Oct 23, 1890
The report reached the city this morning that train No. 4 (the vestibule*) had been derailed a short distance east of Hinton, and the investigation by the ADVERTISER shows that there was an accident to this train, but not so bad as first rumored.
At about 5 0'clock this morning the train ran into a rock, which had rolled on the track from the mountain above, two miles east of Hinton. The train was running at good speed, and the collision caused the engine and express and postal cars to be derailed. The engine was badly damaged, and in overturning caught the engineer, George Alley, of Clifton Forge, well known here, in some of the machinery, breaking his right arm and scalding him so severely that he died six hours after the accident occurred.
Two firemen, who were on the engine were also scalded but sustained no other injuries. No one else, either of the crew or passengers, was injured, though all of them had a shaking up and a bad scare. No particular damage was done to the passenger cars and at 9:30 the track was cleared and the train started east.
*The train was called the "Fast Flying Vestibule" of the FFV.
(Note: There are many sources of information regarding this incident which may be found in such places as the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Railroad History, County Music History, etc.)
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