Engine 143

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    Along came the F15, the swiftest on the line,
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    running o’er the C&O road just twenty minutes behind,
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    running into Cevile, head porters on the line,
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    receiving their strict orders from a station just behind.

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    Georgie’s mother came to him with a bucket on her arm,
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    saying, “ My darling son, be careful how you run.
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    For many a man has lost his life in trying to make lost time,
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    and if you run your engine right, you’ll get there just on time."

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    Up the road he darted, against the rocks he crushed,
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    upside down the engine turned and Georgie’s breast did smash,
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    his head was against the firebox door, the flames are rolling high.
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    “I’m glad I was born for an engineer to die on the C&O road."

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    The doctor said to Georgie, “ My darling boy, be still,
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    your life may yet be saved, if it is God’s blessed will."
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    “Oh no," said George, “ that will not do, I want to die so free,
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    I want to die for the engine I love, one hundred and forty three."

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    The doctor said to Georgie, “ Your life cannot be saved,
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    murdered upon a railroad and laid in a lonesome grave."
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    His face was covered up with blood, his eyes they could not see,

    and the very last words poor Georgie said,
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    was, “Nearer, my God, to Thee."