It is based on the true story of the wreck of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway's Fast Flying Virginian (FFV) near Hinton, West Virginia in 1890.
[3] The FFV, the Chesapeake & Ohio's luxury passenger train, was heading east to Washington, D.C. in the early morning of 23 October 1890 when it struck a rockslide three miles outside Hinton in Summers County, West Virginia.
[7][8] In fact, the young engineer, whose father and four brothers all worked for the C. & O., was hailed a hero for his attempt to prevent the crash.
[10] Over the years, variations of the song, most based on the Carter Family version, have been recorded by dozens of artists, including the Kossoy Sisters, Dave Alvin, Joan Baez, Norman Blake, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, David Grisman, Roger Miller, Michael Nesmith, Ralph Stanley, Townes Van Zandt, and Doc Watson.
[14] Folk singer Dave Van Ronk recorded a parody of "Engine One-Forty-Three" in 1960 under the title "Georgie and the IRT".
The song's lyrics, written by crime writer Lawrence Block, poked fun at New York City's subway system.
When she arrived at Hinton the engineer was there His name was Georgie Alley, with bright and golden hair, His fireman, Jackie Dickerson, was standing by his side, Waiting to get orders, both in the cab to ride.
— Railroad Man Magazine, 1913[18] An undated broadside of the song remains true to the 1913 version, except the engineer's last name is Allen and the crash site is in Virginia.
When they got to Hinton the engineer was there, George Allen was the young man's name with light and curly hair, His Faithful fireman Jack Dickerson was standing by his side, Waiting for the local train in a cab for two to ride.
— Broadside, sung by Billy Briscoe[19] The song, as recorded by the Carter Family in 1929, was based on lyrics written down by A.P.