They had just left the point at Kittanning
Freight number Twelve Sixty Two
She traveled right on down the mountain
Brave were the men in her crew
The engineer pulled at the whistle
For the brakes wouldn't work when applied
The brakeman climbed out on the car tops
For he know what the whistle had cried
With all of the strength God gave him
He tightened the brakes with a prayer
But the train kept right on down the mountain
And her whistle was piercing the air
On down the grade she was racing
She sped like a demon from Hell
The engineer blowing the whistle
The brakeman was ringing the bell
The engine was broken in pieces
The freight cars were thrown far and near
And a mile up the track laid the wreckage
The worst wreck in many a year
They were found at their posts in the wreckage
They died where the engine had fell
The engineer still held to the whistle
And the brakeman hung on to the bell
Westmoreland Museum of American Art
221 North Main Street • Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: (724) 837-1500 • Fax: (724) 837-2921
Click on the title of the song to view the lyrics.
