Vernon Dalhart's lyrics are actually:

THE WRECK OF THE NORFOLK AND WESTERN CANNONBALL
(Cleburne C. Meeks)

The Cannonball was westbound on the Norfolk-Richmond Run,
The brave man at the throttle was Harry Covington.
His cheerful fireman on the left, was Robert Covington.
They did not know that this would be their last successful run.

There's nothing like railroading, Bob, when once you pull the mail
I mean to run this Cannonball the fastest ever sailed.
I mean to break the record for speeding up the line.
Make Petersburg at 6:15, and Richmond right on time.

She pulled right into Petersburg, running right on time.
Switched over on the ACL for Richmond on the line.
Brave Harry at the throttle of engine twenty-nine.
Sped right on into Richmond with the Cannonball on time.

Next morning the Cannonball left Richmond right on time
Brave Harry at the throttle of good old twenty-nine.
His cheerful fireman on the left, was shovin' in the coal.
When Harry looked in the fire box door, the burning blaze did roll.

A freight train on the ACL at Dunlop on the line,
Was backed in on the siding for the Cannonball on time.
The brave crew on the Cannonball never knew the switch was wrong
And crashed into the freight train on the ACL that morn.

Poor Bob and Harry Covington died when the engine crashed
Threw Bob against the boiler head, as the tender's body smashed,
Threw Harry from his seat box, by the boiler he did fall,
He died a daring engineer, running on the Cannonball.