It was the first of two Robert Ardrey plays that were produced by the Group, the second being the more-famous Thunder Rock.

The director was Elia Kazan, the scenic design was by Mordecai Gorelik, and the title role was played by Charles Bickford.

Just before the closing curtain Casey collapses, realizing that he has been a slave to the railroad company for his entire life.

Again, according to White: "Ardrey had a genuine affection for ordinary human beings, whose language he loved and captured beautifully in his dialogue.

"[5]: 330–1 Ardrey, later remarking on the play in an interview in The Times, underscored the idea that he wanted to write about the working class characters as they were: It has never been an American tradition to speak truly of the people.

The praise, in general, focused on the strength of the writing, the accomplishment of the acting, and the impressiveness of the stage design.

Casey Jones is written with humorous insight into the character of odd and muscular men; the dialogue is spontaneously original; the scenes are comic and sympathetic.