Scalded to Death by the Steam: Authentic Stories of Railroad Disasters and the Ballads That Were Written About Them

by Katie Letcher Lyle

Describes a variety of famous train wrecks and traces the development of American folk songs based on these railroad accidents

Genres: History, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Nancy L Owens]

Very interesting and it is where I learned that "MTA" by the Kingston Trio is the same tune (at least in part) as "The Wreck of the Old 97" and some of the lyrics are similar also. I should have noticed that myself having heard both songs HUNDREDS of times!
I read this book in 2013. Had checked it out of the library and before telling a friend about it i discovered that the library no longer has the book.

[Flynt]

Great writing. Great research. Great subject matter. A railroad folksongs history book authored by an English professor who was also a professional folksinger with strong roots in railroading. I read this book when it originally came out in 1983 & just re-read it in the era of Goodreads. Stands the test of time.

[Darryl Updegrove]

An unusual book, and a sobering topic, but very interesting and well done. If you can get past the gory details of people scalded by steam, crushed, impaled, mangled, or dismembered, a very different look at a fading aspect if Americal history.

[Artie]

It gets a bit repetitive but parts of it are very interesting.

[Katie Ipfritsch]

There is an awful lot of scalding to death by the steam