The Return of Casey Jones
Cast & Crew
John Mccarthy Jr.
Charles Starrett
Ruth Hall
Robert Elliott
George Hayes
Jackie Searl
Film Details
Technical Specs
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)
Synopsis
The story of expert railroad engineer Casey Jones, known as a hero to all railroad men, is especially remembered by engineer Jimmy Martin, who, at age ten, was living on the the Middle Division line when Jones crashed and died. Seventeen years after the train wreck, Jimmy is best friends with Timothy Shine, who worked with Jones and also idolizes him. When Jimmy learns that America has entered the war, he tells his girl friend, Nona Winters, that he is going to enlist, and she is proud of him. Jimmy's mother, however, faints at the news of her son's enlistment, and Jimmy is warned by her doctor that he must reconsider his enlistment if he wants her to live. Jimmy does not enlist, but all his friends do and he begins to feel guilty. He is soon subjected taunts from enlisted men and is even punched by one for being "yellow." Because of the war, freight trains with provisions are being rushed to the East, and Jimmy's job is to see to it that his train gets there as fast as possible. One day, Jimmy's train speeds down a hill out of control because he forgot to adjust a braking device. While trying to stop the train by climbing out of the engine and loosening the sand pipes, Jimmy slips and falls from the train, which careens over a precipice a mile down the road. When Jimmy is rescued, the conductor accuses him of jumping off the train instead of saving it, and Nona begins to believe that he acted cowardly. Nona leaves him for "Wild Willie" Bronson, an enlisted man, and the whole town comes to think of Jimmy as a coward. After being demoted from his job, Jimmy, now a fireman for the line, is spurred into action when Shine's train goes out of control. Jimmy sees that his pal is unable to stop the train, then takes over from Shine and, with a vision of Casey Jones to inspire him, manages to save the train from a wreck. When he returns to the station, Jimmy is celebrated as a hero and wins his old job and his old sweetheart back.
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Director
John Mccarthy Jr.
Cast
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/CharlesStarrett.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Charles Starrett
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/RuthHall.79602.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Ruth Hall
Robert Elliott
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/GeorgeGabbyHayes.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
George Hayes
Jackie Searl
George Walsh
Margaret Seddon
G. D. Wood
George Nash
Anne Howard
Crew
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)
Film Details
Technical Specs
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Many references are made in this film to actual U.S. railroad engineer Casey Jones (1863-1900), who, on April 30, 1900, sacrificed his life to save passengers and crew members aboard a speeding train that collided with a freight train. According to the studio pressbook for the film, Charles Starrett performed all his own stunts. The pressbook also notes that actress Ruth Hall was cast in the film as a result of her success in the film The Kid From Spain.
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